Special: Legislative Agenda

UFA Legislative Chairman and Vice President Jim Slevin reports the following: The UFA continues to move forward on its 2003 legislative agenda. Binding Arbitration has passed both houses and will be sent to the Governor for his signature soon. Many of our other bills are moving out of committee and will be ready for floor votes. Others have passed in one house. More Bills will be added as the session progresses. For those bills below that have numbers you can click on them to get the latest update.

S00867 Cancer Bill Expander – A3471: Need Home Rule from NYC Council SLR 11
Amends provisions of original "cancer bill" to include cancers involving the neurological, breast and reproductive systems as being presumed to be incurred in the line of duty; extends presumption until June 30, 2005.

A2532 - 1127 Repeal - S3349
Repeals a New York city charter section that is inconsistent with the repeal of the city earnings tax on nonresidents and provides for reimbursement of the excess amounts collected under such charter section; provides that this bill not impair any contract or collective bargaining agreement executed prior to the date this act shall have become a law.

WTC Presumptive Disease Bill – Introduced awaiting printing
Provides that any injury, illness or disease which was caused by exposure to any elements in connection with the World Trade Center Attacks of September 11, 2001, even after retirement, be presumptive evidence that, unless proven otherwise, such disability was covered by an accident in the performance and discharge of duty.

S00864 MTA Fare Waiver - A5889
Provides fares free of charge to certain members of the fire department of the city of New York on passenger transportation facilities operated by certain public transportation authorities if they are performing their official duties or on their way to or from performing their official duties.

A5985a TBTA Toll Elimination – No Same As
Provides that no toll shall be charged to any police or firefighter employed by city of New York to use a project under jurisdiction of Triborough bridge authority.

A7163 May Borrow 100% of Pension Fund contributions
Provides that certain members of the NYC Fire Department pension fund may borrow an amount up to one hundred percent of their accumulated contributions.


A6797 Acing out of Title Accidental Death Benefit - S3967
This bill is intended to give New York City police and firefighters killed in the line of duty while acting in a higher rank the same benefit afforded those serving in that higher rank.

A6798 Pension Based on Application Date or Retirement Date
Bases retirement allowance of certain members on the higher of the earnings in the year preceding retirement and the earnings in the year preceding application date.

A5435 Line-of-Duty Widows COLA - S3903
This legislation extends the escalation of a cost of living increase of approximately 3% for all line-of-duty widows or widowers for fiscal year 2002-2003.

A5790 Credit to siblings on Civil Service Exams - S3975
Grants additional credit in the amount of 10 points on competitive examinations to siblings of firefighters and police killed in the line of duty as a natural or proximate result of the World Trade Center attack on 9/11/01 or as a natural or proximate result of rescue efforts conducted in response thereto.

A04296 211 Waiver
Will allow retired NYC Firefighters to be re-employed in the public sector without a diminution of retirement benefits.

Tuition waiver – A - Lentol/S- Padavan
Requires regulations to permit tuition waivers for up to two courses per semester/quarter for Firefighter students in baccalaureate higher degree SUNY/CUNY programs.

A4430 VSF-COLA Offset Elimination - S2660
Authorize COLA payments to VSF recipients.

A7929– Accidental Disability retiree with less than 20 years - S4125
Allows New York City Fire and Police who retire with less than 20 years service for accidental disability to get credit for 20 years if he or she would otherwise complete 20 years except for accidental disability.
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S159 Additional Paid Military Leave Time - A5959
Authorizes an additional sixty days or fifty-two working days military leave for public employees who are absent on military duty; such leave to be in addition to any leave authorized for such employees in state contract.

A6281/S 3214a (2002) – Military Time Credit in Peace Time
Provides credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for military service rendered during times of peace.

Taylor Law Reform Legislation
Various pieces of Taylor Law reform are being introduced by the NYS AFL-CIO and will be made available to our members as it is introduced.

2003 Extenders -

Binding Arbitration - S2316 - A4971
Passes Both Houses – Will be sent to Governor for Approval
Extends binding arbitration under PERB for an additional 2 years.
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Tier II – S2318 - A07099
Extends Tier II pension status to all new firefighters for an additional 2 years.

Temporary Benefits Extender – S2319 – A7098
Heart Bill, Cancer Bill, ITHP

All of our extenders have been introduced and are moving through committee’s quickly. We expect them to be voted on soon.

Fraternally,