NY A08810

Extends special accidental death benefits for children of deceased uniformed public employees (police, fire, corrections, EMS, sanitation, etc.) from the current age limits (18, or 23 if a student) to their entire lifetime, provided they were under age 25 when the member died

Replaces gendered terms "widow/widower" with "surviving spouse" throughout the statute

Applies to deaths occurring on or after the effective date; children of NYPD members who died before the effective date may apply within one year if they were under 21 at time of death and are currently under 30

Protects current beneficiaries by prohibiting any reduction in benefits without the beneficiary's consent

Estimated to increase employer contributions by approximately $100.9 million in the first fiscal year (2026), decreasing to $12-15 million annually in subsequent years, with a total present value of increased benefits of approximately $194.6 million across NYCERS, Police, and Fire pension funds