New York Senate Bill S07916

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/14/25
• Refer: 5/14/25
• Report Pass: 5/27/25

Caption

Relates to the establishment of a twenty-two and one-half year retirement program for members of the New York city employees' retirement system employed as emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians and to the establishment of such program for such members who are subject to articles 11 and 15 of the retirement and social security law.

Impact

The implementation of this bill would notably change the retirement landscape for EMTs in New York City. Under this program, eligible EMT members, upon completing the requisite service period, would receive retirement benefits equal to 50% of their final average salary for the first 22.5 years of credited service. Furthermore, for each additional year beyond that period, members would earn an increment of 2% up to a maximum of 5 years. This structured approach to retirement aims to offer financial security to those who have dedicated a substantial portion of their careers to emergency services.

Summary

Bill S07916 proposes the establishment of a 22.5-Year Retirement Program specifically for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) working within the New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS). The program aims to provide EMTs with the opportunity to retire after 22.5 years of service, thereby acknowledging the demanding nature of their work. This bill is especially significant as it caters to the specific needs of EMTs, aligning their retirement options with those of other public service professions that require intense commitment and often hazardous conditions.

Contention

Potential points of contention surrounding Bill S07916 include concerns regarding its fiscal implications for the city and whether such programs should be extended to other job titles within the public sector. Critics may argue that the bill could contribute to increased pension liabilities and affect budget allocations, while proponents maintain that the benefits are justified given the nature of the risks encountered in EMT roles. The proposed retirement program could also lead to discussions about fairness in retirement benefits across different public service sectors.