“The first bill before me today is Introductory Number 499-A, sponsored at the request of the Administration by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Addabbo, Quinn, Felder, Fidler, Gennaro, Gentile, James, Koppell, McMahon, Mealy, Monserrate, Palma, Recchia, Vann, Weprin, Gerson, Martinez, Katz, Nelson, Gonzalez, Seabrook, Jackson and Sears.  Introductory Number 499-A provides health benefits to the surviving family members of the City’s Departments of Correction and Sanitation uniformed employees who die in the line of duty while in active service.

“Under existing law, surviving family members of New York City police officers and firefighters are entitled to receive continued health benefits after the Police or Fire Pension Board determines that the death of such firefighters or police officers occurred while in active service as a result of accident or injury sustained while in the line of duty.  Surviving family members of the City’s Departments of Correction and Sanitation uniformed employees have received such health benefits on a case-by-case basis through legislative amendment, when the City Council and the Administration have approved the provision of such benefits.

“Introductory Number 499-A will eliminate the need to enact separate legislation on behalf of the survivors of a Correction or Sanitation employee who dies in the line of duty while in active service.  It will mirror the existing process with respect to benefits for the survivors of deceased police and firefighters by automatically extending health benefits after the New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS), the pension board for Correction and Sanitation employees, determines that the death of the uniformed member occurred while in active service and as a result of an accident or injury sustained while in the performance of duty.

“Too many of our uniformed employees have sacrificed their lives to protect our City and it is important that we continue to provide health benefits to their families. I would like to thank the Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Jim Hanley, Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty, and Department of Correction Commissioner Martin Horn and all of their staff for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the City Council and the Sanitation and Correction unions for their support.”