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A 7971

Allows for certain participants in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations to be eligible for disability benefits

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Weprin

Expands eligibility for disability benefits to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, and cleanup participants, defining who qualifies and enabling more claims under state rules.

PRINT NUMBER 7971B
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 7971

Summary — A.7971 (Print 7971B) — Eligibility for Disability Benefits for Certain World Trade Center Operation Participants

Overview / Purpose

A.7971 (sponsored by Assemblymember David Weprin) would expand eligibility for disability benefits to "certain participants in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations." The bill’s stated intent is to make additional individuals who participated in post‑9/11 operations at the World Trade Center site eligible for disability benefits under applicable state disability/disability‑retirement rules.

Key provisions (based on bill title and available metadata)

  • Extends eligibility for disability benefits to specified classes of persons who engaged in rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site.
  • Presumably defines who qualifies as a “participant” (for example, but not limited to, uniformed first responders, other municipal/state employees, volunteers, and contractors) and the timeframe of covered activity; the precise definitions and qualifying conditions are contained in the bill text (Print 7971B).
  • Alters existing benefit rules or presumptions so that covered participants may apply for and receive disability benefits (which could include disability retirement or other statutory disability payments) related to injuries or illnesses arising from their WTC service.

Note: The full bill language is not included in the materials provided here. For exact eligibility criteria, covered conditions, effective dates, and benefit formulas, consult the official bill text of A.7971B.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals who performed rescue, recovery, or cleanup work at the World Trade Center site and who are not currently eligible for disability benefits under existing law but meet the bill’s qualifying definitions.
  • Public employers, pension systems, and disability programs potentially responsible for administering and paying benefits to newly eligible claimants.
  • Potentially, employers or agencies that retain records for verifying participation and exposures.

Legislative status & timeline

  • Introduced: April 16, 2025 (referred to the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees).
  • Print versions: 7971A (printed 5/16/2025) and 7971B (printed 5/21/2025).
  • Committee actions: Amended and recommitted to Governmental Employees on May 16, 2025 and May 21, 2025 (resulting in Print 7971B).
  • Current status (per provided metadata): Print number 7971B after committee amendment and recommitment (May 21, 2025).

Sponsor and related measures

  • Primary sponsor: Assemblymember David Weprin.
  • Related/companion bills: S.7831 (Senate companion). Prior‑session related bill: A.9113.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Fiscal: Expanding benefit eligibility may increase costs for pension/disability systems and public employers; an official fiscal note (not provided here) would estimate those costs.
  • Administrative: Agencies may need to verify participant status, reopen or adjudicate claims, and implement new presumptions or standards of proof.
  • Substantive: Could address long‑standing health and disability claims arising from WTC operations by clarifying eligibility and streamlining access to benefits for affected workers and volunteers.

For precise statutory changes, definitions, eligibility criteria, and fiscal estimates, review the full text of A.7971B and any accompanying fiscal and memos from the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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