Bill > S07397

This bill provides a special legal provision for Liliana Fernandez-Clemente, the widow of Daniel Clemente, who was a member of the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) and died before finalizing his retirement paperwork. The bill allows her to file a new service retirement application and option election form on her deceased husband's behalf within one year of the act's effective date, with his retirement date retroactively set to December 8, 2024—one day before his actual date of death. Under this legislation, Liliana can select a joint allowance full option for the retirement benefits. By filing this application, she will waive any rights to the pre-retirement ordinary death benefit, and any previously paid death benefits will be deducted from the future service retirement benefit. The state of New York will bear the additional costs associated with this special provision, which are estimated at approximately $634,000 as a one-time payment. The bill is specifically tailored to address the unique circumstances of Daniel Clemente's incomplete retirement process and provides a legal mechanism for his widow to secure the retirement benefits he was in the process of pursuing before his death.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7397