NY A04253

Expands accidental death benefits under General Municipal Law Section 208-b to include surviving domestic partners and dependent children of domestic partners for police, fire, and certain emergency medical personnel outside New York City.

Amends Retirement and Social Security Law sections 61, 361, and 361-a to recognize domestic partners as equivalent to spouses for accidental death pension benefits, with benefits continuing to dependent children of domestic partners until age 18 or 23 if students.

Defines "domestic partner" across multiple sections as a person in a formal domestic partnership, formally recognized in employment benefits, or mutually interdependent for support, excluding blood relatives and those under 18.

Modifies sections 501 and 601 of Retirement and Social Security Law to include domestic partners and their dependent children as eligible beneficiaries for accidental death benefits in teachers' retirement systems, applicable only to systems outside New York City.

Takes effect immediately and applies only to members who die on or after the bill's effective date; estimated costs of approximately 3 times salary for employees' retirement system members and 12 times salary for police and fire members.