Res. No. 439
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.9130/A.10248, which would restore the 20-year service retirement for certain New York city corrections officers and sanitation workers
By Council Members Brooks-Powers, Louis and Farías
Whereas, New York State (State) and New York City (NYC or “City”) pension systems are distinct, however the State defines City Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) frameworks, including the benefits for each membership tier; and
Whereas, In 2009, the State established the ERS Tier 5 pension plan and modified the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) Tier 3 pension plan by increasing the years of uniformed service needed to qualify for normal retirement from 20 to 22 for uniformed police and fire employees hired on or after July 1, 2009; and
Whereas, In 2012, the State amended the retirement benefits of uniformed corrections and sanitation workers hired on or after April 1, 2012 and placed them in the Tier 3 pension plan with the 22-year service requirement for normal retirement; and
Whereas, In May 2025, the New York State Governor signed S.2710/A.5679 which restored the 20-year uniformed service retirement only for uniformed police and fire members of the modified Tier 3 pension plan, excluding uniformed corrections officers and sanitation workers; and
Whereas, S.9130, introduced by State Senator Robert Jackson and pending in the State Senate, and companion bill A.10248 sponsored by State Assemblymember Pheffer Amato and pending in the State Assembly, would amend the retirement and social security law to restore the 20-year service requirement for uniformed corrections officers and sanitation workers; and
Whereas, During State budget hearings in February 2026, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner testified that the department had 4,600 correction officer vacancies statewide; and
Whereas, As of March 31, 2026, the NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) had 1,422 corrections officer vacancies, a 20% vacancy rate, the highest among all uniformed positions in NYC and almost five times higher than the vacancy rate for uniformed police and fire employees; and
Whereas, The corrections officer workforce is shrinking due to retirements outpacing recruitment and recruitment and retention challenges related to low pay, noncompetitive benefits and dangerous working conditions; and
Whereas, As the NYC jail population continues to grow, potentially reaching 8,800 by June 2027, understaffing in NYC jails makes conditions less safe both for people in custody and corrections officers which compounds recruitment and retention issues; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Public Employees Federation, restoring the 20-year service requirement for normal retirement for corrections officers is expected to bolster recruitment and retention efforts and bring about much needed parity with corrections officers under previous pension plan tiers; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.9130/A.10248, which would restore the 20-year service retirement for certain New York city corrections officers and sanitation workers.
LS #22890
4/16/26
PR