Relates to service retirement of uniformed members of the New York city fire department pension fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson

FDNY uniformed members may retire normally after 20 years, aligning their rules with other NYC police/fire pension funds.

REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

Summary of Bill S 10405 (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

This bill amends the Retirement and Social Security Law to adjust the service retirement eligibility for uniformed members of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) pension fund. It clarifies that FDNY uniformed members may elect a normal service retirement in lieu of an early retirement option after meeting certain service requirements. The aim appears to align FDNY uniformed retirement provisions with other police/fire pension structures within New York City funds.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1: Amends Subdivision d of section 505 (as added by a 2025 law) to state that police/fire members of the NYPD Pension Fund and the NYCDPF Pension Fund shall be eligible for a normal service retirement benefit in lieu of an early service retirement benefit after completing twenty years of service, per subdivision d of section 503. This creates parity that allows a standard retirement option after 20 years for those groups, superseding other conflicting laws.

Section 2: Amends Paragraph 2 of subdivision b of section 510 (as amended in 2012) to specify the timing for eligibility:

For police/fire members generally, NYC uniformed correction/sanitation revised plan members, and investigator revised plan members (and their beneficiaries), the first day of the month following the date on which they complete or would have completed 25 years of credited service.
For uniformed members of the NYCDPF pension fund and their beneficiaries, the first day of the month following the date the uniformed member becomes eligible for service retirement benefits. This creates distinct retirement-trigger timelines, distinguishing FDNY uniformed members from others eligible at 25 years and aligning them with their own fund’s retirement eligibility.

Section 3: Effective date—the act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

Uniformed members of the New York City Fire Department pension fund (FDNY) and their beneficiaries.

Other related NYC police/fire pension participants referenced in the amendments (e.g., NYPD police, NYCDCPF/other revised plans) insofar as the changes harmonize eligibility language with them.

Pension fund administrators and any retirees or prospective retirees who rely on the specified eligibility ages/years of service.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (no delayed phase-in stated).

The act was referred to the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions for consideration.

The sponsoring Senator is Robert Jackson (with cross-reference to a related sponsor).

Practical impact

FDNY uniformed members may elect normal service retirement after 20 years of service (instead of or in addition to any earlier “early retirement” options), potentially changing when they qualify for retirement benefits.

Clear, distinct retirement eligibility timelines for different NYC uniformed groups may lead to easier administration and planning for members and beneficiaries.

The changes may affect retirement benefit calculations, the timing of benefit commencements, and fund budgeting/planning due to shifts in eligible cohorts.