S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7279
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. GRAY, BLANKENBUSH -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Governmental Employees
 
 AN ACT granting David Morse, the parent  of  firefighter  Peyton  Morse,
   accidental death benefits
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any  general  or  special
 law,  rule  or regulation to the contrary, David Morse who is the parent
 of Peyton Morse who was previously employed by the city of Watertown  as
 a  firefighter  and  was a Tier 6 member of the New York State and Local
 Police and Fire Retirement System at the time of his death on March  12,
 2021  shall  be  eligible to file for any accidental death benefits that
 are available under section 361 and section 361-a of the retirement  and
 social  security  law.    Upon  filing, David Morse shall be eligible to
 receive such accidental death benefit. Any amounts  previously  paid  to
 Peyton  Morse,  his  estate  or  David  Morse prior to the filing of the
 application for benefits pursuant to this act shall be deducted from the
 benefit payable thereafter.
   § 2. All costs pursuant to this act shall be borne by the state of New
 York.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
   FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
   This bill would make David Morse eligible  to  receive  an  accidental
 death  benefit,  payable  due  to the death of their child Peyton Morse,
 pursuant to Sections 361 and 361-a of the Retirement and Social Security
 Law (RSSL). Peyton Morse was a  firefighter  employed  by  the  City  of
 Watertown  and  a member of the New York State and Local Police and Fire
 Retirement System until  March  12,  2021,  the  date  of  their  death.
 Currently, Peyton Morse has no statutory beneficiary eligible to receive
 an  accidental  death  benefit pursuant to Sections 361 and 361-a of the
 RSSL.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10913-04-3
              

 A. 7279                             2
 
   If this bill is enacted during the  2023  legislative  session,  there
 will  be  an  immediate past service cost of approximately $1.52 million
 which will be borne by the State of New York as a one-time payment. This
 estimate assumes that payment will be made on March 1, 2024.
   Summary of relevant resources:
   Membership  data as of March 31, 2022 was used in measuring the impact
 of the proposed change, the same data used in the April 1, 2022 actuari-
 al valuation. Distributions and other statistics can  be  found  in  the
 2022  Report  of the Actuary and the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial
 Report.
   The actuarial assumptions and methods used are described in the  2020,
 2021,  and  2022  Annual  Report to the Comptroller on Actuarial Assump-
 tions, and the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State  of  New  York:
 Audit and Control.
   The Market Assets and GASB Disclosures are found in the March 31, 2022
 New  York  State  and  Local  Retirement System Financial Statements and
 Supplementary Information.
   I am a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and meet the Quali-
 fication Standards to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.
   This fiscal note does not constitute a legal opinion on the  viability
 of  the  proposed change nor is it intended to serve as a substitute for
 the professional judgment of an attorney.
   This estimate, dated May 16, 2023, and intended for  use  only  during
 the  2023  Legislative Session, is Fiscal Note No. 2023-146, prepared by
 the Actuary for the New York State and Local Retirement System.