The New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA), representing 18,000 firefighters across New York, today acknowledge the signing of two important changes to the state’s retirement and social security law.
One, A.9562-A (Abbate), S.7628-A (Golden), extends the deadline for firefighters to file a “notice of participation” in rescue and recovery efforts following the 9-11 attacks. The second, A.9392 (Abbate), S.7120 (Golden), provides for automatic enrollment in the state’s optional retirement system for new firefighters.
NYSPFFA leaders, however, called attention to two other bills awaiting delivery to the governor’s office – A.9541 (Abbate), S.7176-A (Golden), and A.9162 (Abbate), S.7716 (Young).
The first bill would extend from two to five years the deadline to file an application for disability benefits resulting from certain cancer diagnoses. Firefighters are diagnosed with a variety of cancers at rates higher than experienced in the general population. The latter would fix an unintended flaw in the Tier V pension system, which went into effect in 2009. The flaw pertained to inconsistencies in the way the law requires contributions for certain individuals’ retirement plans.
“We are pleased to acknowledge Gov. Cuomo for signing two of our four priority bills into law,” said NYSPFFA President Mike McManus. “Now we strongly urge the Legislature to present the bills to the governor and for Gov. Cuomo to sign them, as well.”