S6750

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Webb that allows state and city retirees to change their pension beneficiary designations if the designated beneficiary has been convicted of a family offense, including domestic violence. The bill, Senate Print 6750 (Calendar No. 1223), passed on a 56-0 vote. Under current law, once a retiree selects a beneficiary for their pension option, that designation cannot be changed. Webb argued the measure corrects an injustice by preventing abusers from profiting from their victims' retirement security and restores control to survivors over their financial futures. "No one who has inflicted harm through abuse should continue to benefit from the retirement security of the person that they harmed," Webb said in explaining her vote. The legislation takes effect 180 days after becoming law. Webb thanked Assemblymember Reyes as her Assembly sponsor on the bill.