S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7982--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 23, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GARBARINO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Employees -- recommitted to the Committee on
Governmental Employees in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to authorize the widower of Jeannette M. Feminella to file a
retirement option election form
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
Dominic J. Feminella, the widower of Jeannette M. Feminella, who was a
member of the New York state teachers' retirement system and had filed
for retirement effective June 17, 2016, who prior to her death on July
7, 2016, in the presence of a notary public, completed an election to
change her originally executed retirement option with the New York state
teachers' retirement system to the one hundred percent survivor, and who
died before the changed election was received by the New York state
teachers' retirement system on July 9, 2016, shall be authorized to file
such option election form on behalf of his deceased wife to a one
hundred percent survivor option, if within one year of the effective
date of this act he shall file a request therefor with the head of the
New York state teachers' retirement system. Such retirement option
election shall be deemed to have become effective on June 17, 2016. All
retirement benefits payable pursuant to the provisions of this act shall
be paid to Dominic J. Feminella and shall be in lieu of any other
retirement benefits payable; provided, however, if a retirement benefit
was made payable prior to the effectiveness of this act, all monies paid
shall be remitted to the retirement system. Upon enactment of this act,
Dominic J. Feminella shall renounce all benefits to be paid under the
originally executed retirement option effective June 17, 2016 and shall
be deemed eligible for the survivor option as authorized by this act.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10318-04-8
A. 7982--A 2
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill would allow Dominic J. Feminella, the widower of Jeannette
M. Feminella who was a retired member of the New York State Teachers'
Retirement System, to change her originally executed retirement option
to the 100% joint and survivor option designating him as the benefici-
ary. Ms. Feminella retired on June 17, 2016 and died on July 7, 2016,
two days before her signed, notarized change of election form was
received by the New York State Teachers' Retirement System. Mr. Femi-
nella must file a written request with the head of the New York State
Teachers' Retirement System within one year of the effective date of
this act. Such retirement option election shall be deemed to have become
effective on June 17, 2016. All retirement benefits payable pursuant to
the provisions of this act shall be paid to Mr. Feminella and shall be
in lieu of any other retirement benefits payable; provided, however, if
a retirement benefit was made payable prior to the effective date of
this act, all monies paid shall be remitted to the New York State Teach-
ers' Retirement System. Upon enactment of this bill, Mr. Feminella
shall renounce all benefits to be paid under the originally executed
retirement option filed effective June 17, 2016 and shall be deemed
eligible for the survivor option as authorized by this act.
The cost for this benefit is equal to the increase in the present
value of benefits, which is estimated to be $153,000. This cost is to
be borne by the employers of members of the New York State Teachers'
Retirement System. Allowing retired members to change the terms of their
option after retirement creates the potential for anti-selection and
actuarial losses.
Member data is from the System's most recent actuarial valuation
files, consisting of data provided by the employers to the Retirement
System. Data distributions and statistics can be found in the System's
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). System assets are as
reported in the System's financial statements, and can also be found in
the CAFR. Actuarial assumptions and methods are provided in the
System's Actuarial Valuation Report.
The source of this estimate is Fiscal Note 2018-17 dated March 30,
2018 prepared by the Actuary of the New York State Teachers' Retirement
System and is intended for use only during the 2018 Legislative Session.
I, Richard A. Young, am the Actuary for the New York State Teachers'
Retirement System. I am a member of the American Academy of Actuaries
and I meet the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actu-
aries to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.