Bill > S04772

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that allows for the revocation of public pensions for certain public officers convicted of specific crimes or through impeachment. The bill defines "public officer" broadly, including elected officials, gubernatorial appointees, government administrators, department heads, municipal fiscal officers, judges, and high-level policymaking employees. Under the proposed amendment, if a public officer is convicted of a felony directly related to their official duties, their pension may be reduced or revoked following a court hearing that considers factors such as the crime's severity and potential hardship to dependents. Additionally, the bill mandates that any public officer convicted through impeachment will have their public pension membership automatically revoked, and this provision applies retroactively to include officers already convicted on impeachment charges. The amendment would only apply to crimes committed after the date of voter approval and requires the legislature to enact implementing legislation that considers the interests of justice. The bill also makes a technical modification to the impeachment provisions in the state constitution, updating language and explicitly adding pension revocation as a potential consequence of impeachment.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4772