NY S06641

Increases the special accidental death benefit by 3% for surviving spouses, children (under 18 or students under 23), or parents of deceased public safety members who died in the line of duty prior to 2025

Applies to members of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System and New York City Retirement Systems (police, fire, sanitation, corrections, emergency medical technicians, and other uniformed positions)

Updates the benefit escalation schedule in both the General Municipal Law and Retirement and Social Security Law, shifting all percentage increases up by one year and adding 2025 at 0.0%

Effective date of July 1, 2025, with the highest benefit increase (313.2% of salary) applying to deaths from 1977 or prior

Estimated annual cost of approximately $920,000 for the state/local system ($170,000 state, $750,000 local employers) and $8.5 million for NYC retirement systems in the first year