Bill > A08179

This bill specifically addresses the retirement calculation for Joanne Halverson, a teacher in the South Country school district who has been employed since September 1999 and is set to retire in June 2025. During the Covid-19 pandemic, her salary was significantly reduced due to the cancellation of extracurricular events and summer schools, which would typically negatively impact her final average salary (FAS) calculation. The bill allows her 2020-2021 earnings to be included in her FAS calculation, even though these earnings did not exceed the average of the previous two years by more than ten percent, as would normally be required under Tier III retirement system rules. The bill stipulates that no contributions to the New York State Teachers' Retirement System will be returned to Halverson, and all past service costs associated with implementing this act will be distributed among participating employers in the system. The fiscal note indicates that the annual cost to employers would be approximately $6,000, and the act is set to take effect immediately, providing a tailored solution to mitigate the pandemic's financial impact on Halverson's retirement benefits.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8179