A00902 Summary:

BILL NO    A00902 

SAME AS    SAME AS S03627

SPONSOR    Weprin (MS)

COSPNSR    Brindisi, Jaffee, Titone, Colton, Raia, Benedetto

MLTSPNSR   Abinanti, DenDekker, Giglio, Graf, Gunther, Lavine, Markey, Mayer,
           McDonough, Montesano, Ra, Rivera, Saladino, Schimel, Skartados,
           Tenney, Thiele, Weisenberg, Zebrowski



Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of public employee
retirees and their dependents or reducing the employer's contributions for such
insurance; defines employers to include the state, municipalities, school
districts, and public authorities and commissions.

A00902 Actions:

BILL NO    A00902 

01/09/2013 referred to governmental employees
01/08/2014 referred to governmental employees

A00902 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A902

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to prohibit public employers from diminishing
the health insurance benefits and  contributions  of  certain  retired
public employees

PURPOSE  OR  GENERAL  IDEA OF BILL: This bill would prohibit state and
local governments from diminishing the health  insurance  benefits  of
retirees  below  the level of benefits that are in place 30 days after
this act shall become law.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  Section 1: Prohibits  the  State  and
local  governments  from  diminishing the health insurance benefits of
retirees and their dependents, as well as  the  employer  contribution
toward  such health insurance, below the level of benefits in place 30
days after this act shall take effect. This bill  does  not  apply  to
school  districts  and  BOCES  because they have been recently covered
under the current law.

Section 2: Grants precedence to collective bargaining agreements.

Section 3: Provides for future retirees from positions not subject  to
a collective bargaining agreement.

Section  4:  Ensures  that  a public employer which does not now offer
health insurance benefits to retirees is not required to do  so  under
this bill.

EXISTING  LAW:  Chapter 729 of the laws of 1994, as amended by Chapter
22 of the Laws  of  2007  and  the  laws  of  2009,  prohibits  school
districts   and   BOCES  from  diminishing  retiree  health  insurance
benefits, unless there  is  a  parallel  diminution  affecting  active
employees.  Article  XI of the Civil Service Law provides that retires
from the State and participating agencies in the New York State Health
Insurance Plan  (NYSHIP)  shall  receive  the  same  health  insurance
benefits as negotiated with active employees. There is no existing law
protecting   health   insurance   benefits   of  retirees  from  local
governments.

JUSTIFICATION: Given the  increasing  costs  of  health  care,  health
insurance  coverage  is of tremendous importance to retirees and their
dependents.

Although there have been a  number  of  attempts  to  protect  retiree
health  coverage,  there  is  no consistent standard for all retirees.
Education retirees are now protected  by  a  law.  Some  workers  have
retired   under   union  contracts  with  stronger  protections.  Many
retirees, however, have no protection. This  bill  creates  a  uniform
standard  of  protection  which  applies  to  all  retirees  and their
dependents, unless covered by a more favorable union contract.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  A.7060-A held for  consideration  by  ways
and means in 2010
S.6029B  in  2007 01/12/11 referred to governmental employees 01/04/12
referred to governmental employees 05/01/12 reported referred to  ways
and means


FISCAL  IMPLICATIONS:  None.  This  bill  merely requires the State to
continue the level of benefits which it is now providing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 30 days after it shall have become law.

Bill S3627-2013 / Same as A 902

Actions

BILL NUMBER:S3627

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to prohibit public employers from diminishing the health insurance benefits and contributions of certain retired public employees

PURPOSE:  This bill would prohibit state and local governments from diminishing the health insurance benefits of retirees below the level of benefits that are in place 30 days after this act shall become law.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Prohibits the State and local governments from diminishing the health insurance benefits of retirees and their dependents, as well as the employer contribution toward such health insurance, below the level of benefits in place 30 days after this act shall take effect. This bill does not apply to school districts and BOCES because they have been recently covered under the current law.

Section 2: Grants precedence to collective bargaining agreements.

Section 3: Provides for future retirees from positions not subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

Section 4: Ensures that a public employer which does not now offer health insurance benefits to retirees is not required to do so under this bill.

EXISTING LAW:  Chapter 729 of the laws of 1994, as amended by Chapter 22 of the Laws of 2007 and the laws of 2009, prohibits school districts and BOCES from diminishing retiree health insurance benefits, unless there is a parallel diminution affecting active employees. Article XI of the Civil Service Law provides that retires from the State and participating agencies in the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) shall receive the same health insurance benefits as negotiated with active employees. There is no existing law protecting health insurance benefits of retirees from local governments.

JUSTIFICATION:  Given the increasing costs of health care, health insurance coverage is of tremendous importance to retirees and their dependents.  Although there have been a number of attempts to protect retiree health coverage, there is no consistent standard for all retirees. Education retirees are now protected by a law. Some workers have retired under union contracts with stronger protections. Many retirees, however, have no protection. This bill creates a uniform standard of protection which applies to all retirees and their dependents, unless covered by a more favorable union contract.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2012: S.4371 - Referred to Civil Service and Pensions / A.2007 - Referred to Ways and Means 2011: S.4371 - Referred

to Civil Service and Pensions / A.2007 - Referred to Governmental Employees

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  None. This bill merely requires the State to continue the level of benefits which it is now providing.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  30 days after enactment.