Bill > S07314

This bill amends existing law to allow surviving spouses of New York City police pension fund members to retain accidental death benefits even after remarriage. Currently, surviving spouses lose certain death benefit payments if they remarry, but this legislation would modify that restriction. Specifically, the bill changes the definition of "eligible beneficiary" in the retirement and social security law to ensure that surviving spouses of police pension fund members can continue receiving both the Special Accidental Death Benefit (SADB) and non-SADB portions of death benefits after remarrying. This means that if a police officer dies, their spouse would continue to receive 100% of the officer's salary as a death benefit, regardless of whether they remarry. As a result, other potential beneficiaries like dependent children or parents would lose eligibility to these non-SADB death benefits if the remarried spouse is still alive. The bill would apply to surviving spouses currently receiving benefits and for members who die on or after the bill's effective date, with no expected changes to employer contributions to the pension system.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7314