S5131

The New York State Senate passed S5131, sponsored by Senator Webb, which amends the Retirement and Social Security Law. The bill received 60 affirmative votes on a roll call vote. The measure takes effect 180 days after becoming law. No floor debate was recorded on the legislation.

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Webb that would allow retired members of the state Employee Retirement System to change their pension beneficiaries if the named beneficiary is convicted of a domestic violence offense against them. The bill, S5131, passed on a roll call vote of 61-0. Under current law, retirees have no ability to amend their beneficiary designations after retirement, even in cases where the beneficiary has been convicted of domestic violence. Webb argued the measure is necessary because domestic violence is pervasive and abusers should not be able to collect pension benefits from their victims. The legislation would give survivors a 180-day window to change their beneficiary designation following a domestic violence conviction. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.