WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 9255

Grants certain county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service beyond twenty-five years

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson

Provides enhanced pension benefits for Nassau County fire marshal personnel beyond 25 years, increasing from 50% to a tiered up to 75% of final average salary.

SUBSTITUTED BY A10250
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 9255

Overview

  • Bill: S 9255 (2025-2026 Session, New York)
  • Introduced by: Senator Jackson (co-sponsor: Robert Jackson)
  • Committee: Civil Service and Pensions; later referred to Finance
  • Status: As of the provided text, discharged from committee and advanced to Rules; substituted by A10250; awaiting further floor action
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill amends the retirement and social security law to grant enhanced pension benefits for Nassau County employees who hold certain fire marshal positions.
  • Specifically, it targets county fire marshals and related titles for enhanced service retirement benefits after 25 years of creditable service.

Key Provisions

  • Eligibility and Benefit Structure (Nassau County Fire Marshal-related roles):
    • Positions covered: county fire marshal, supervising fire marshal, fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, assistant chief fire marshal, chief fire marshal, and division supervising fire marshal (as defined in section 89-w of the law).
    • Current baseline: 50% of final average salary (FAS) after 25 years.
    • New enhancement: For years of service beyond 25 years, the benefit increases by one-sixtieth (1/60) of FAS for each additional year of creditable service, including non-fire marshal county service.
    • Cap: Total annual pension cannot exceed 75% of FAS.
    • For service beyond 25 years, the incremental benefits apply to both fire marshal and non-fire marshal service, but total cannot exceed 75% of FAS.
  • Funding and Costs:
    • Past service costs to implement the act would be borne by Nassau County and may be amortized over ten years.
    • Fiscal note estimates:
    • Nassau County annual cost increase starting FY 2027: approximately $45,000.
    • Expected annual cost impact: about 0.5% of salary (variable year-to-year).
    • Immediate past service cost: $629,000 (one-time payment), with option to amortize over 10 years (~$80,300 per year).
    • Basis for estimates: 42 affected members as of March 31, 2025, with total annual payroll around $7.2 million.
  • Legislative Design and Administration:
    • The bill explicitly states it is not subject to the appropriation requirement of section 25 of the Retirement and Social Security Law, meaning funding for these benefits is not tied to annual appropriation in the same way as other benefits.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Nassau County employees holding designated fire marshal titles:
    • County fire marshal, supervising fire marshal, fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, assistant chief fire marshal, chief fire marshal, and division supervising fire marshal.
  • The measure focuses on service rendered beyond 25 years, providing enhanced benefits for long-serving personnel.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill has progressed through committee stages and is moving toward floor action:
    • Referred to Civil Service and Pensions (Feb 18, 2026)
    • Reported and committed to Finance (Mar 10, 2026)
    • Discharged from committee and committed to Rules; substituted by A10250; ordered to third reading (June 4, 2026)
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon enactment (no waiting period specified).

Financial Implications

  • Nassau County would face:
    • A one-time past service cost estimated at $629,000.
    • Ongoing annual cost increases roughly $45,000 starting in 2027.
    • Long-run annual cost variability, estimated at about 0.5% of salary for the affected group.
  • Statewide fiscal impact is limited to Nassau County; the bill specifies past and ongoing costs are borne by the county.

Key Takeaways

  • The bill broadens and accelerates pension accrual for Nassau County fire marshal personnel beyond 25 years of service, applying a tiered increase to FAS up to a 75% cap.
  • It imposes a one-time past service cost and modest annual ongoing costs on Nassau County, with the benefit tied to both fire marshal and non-fire marshal service for longer-serving employees.
  • The act is designed to be effective immediately upon enactment and not subject to certain annual appropriation requirements.

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

Sign in to ask a question.