Senate Bill S3954

                                BILL NUMBER:S3954

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the military law, in relation to the service credit time of
military personnel

PURPOSE:
This bill would allow any person who is a member of any public
retirement system of the state, called up for active duty military
service during any period from September 11,2001 to the present time,
to be awarded full pension credit, for all time so employed on active
duty, as if such person was employed full time in their public
employment, during the time of such active duty service, regardless
of whether such person receives any wages or salary income from such
public employment during such active duty service.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Specifically, this bill would add section 244-b of the military law to
provide that:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any
person, who is a member of any public retirement system of the state,
called up for active duty service as a member of the:

a. Naval militia;
              

b. New York State Guard;
c. New York National Guard;
d. Reserves; or
e. United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or
Coast Guard,

during any period from September 11, 2001 to the present time, shall be
awarded full pension credit, for all time so employed on active duty,
as if such person was employed full time in their public employment,
during the time of such active duty, service, regardless of whether
such person receives any wages or salary income from such public
employment during such active duty service.

JUSTIFICATION:
Presently, most military veterans, who are state or local employees,
receive service public pension credit time while are on active duty.
A certain select few, however, mostly of officer rank, do not.

As a result, these persons, not only suffer the time away from home
and family incumbent from their service on active duty, but are also
penalized by losing their time credit in the public pension system.

This bill would remedy this gap in the law, and thereby eliminate the
present disincentive of a state or local employee to serve as an
officer in the reserves, militia or guard.

It would expressly recognize their service to our country, and end the
present penalty system which the current law mistakenly imposes.

America and New York needs every person who is willing to serve to
protect our freedom, liberty and way of life. This bill would
recognize that commitment of those brave men and women who have
answered the call since September 11th.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.4722 of 2009/2010

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect immediately.