Declaring a major legislative victory, Local 237 President Carl Haynes announced that several bills proposed by the union were passed by both houses of the New York State legislature. The new bills would enhance benefits for several titles represented by the union, including school safety officers and other peace officers, and evidence and property control specialists.

Bill Number One
Of primary importance is a bill on behalf of the school safety agent title, which provides that agents injured by assault on the job shall receive the difference between their Workers’ Compensation benefit and their weekly salary for a full 18 months. The bill, S.6450/A.10189, sponsored by Senator Dale M. Volker (R-Buffalo) and Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate Jr. (D-Brooklyn), provides that members will receive this benefit without any charge against their annual or sick leave. Determinations of whether an assault has occurred shall no longer be in the hands of the NYPD, but rather will be made by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings of the City of New York (OATH), an independent body.

“This victory, finally giving our members the respect due them as uniformed peace officers who handle tough assignments, is long overdue,” said Haynes. “Major credit for the victory belongs to those members who braved the winter cold to join Local 237’s rally at City Hall Park in January, where we raised a public call for fair treatment of school safety agents injured on the job.”

Bill Number Two
A second bill, S.5968/A.9484, sponsored by State Senator Frank Padavan (R-Queens) and Assemblyman Abbate, amends the Retirement and Social Security law regarding benefits for peace officers who work for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., Taxi and Limousine Commission, Board of Education, Police Department, City University, and Housing Authority. This legislation would provide a 75 percent pension benefit to hospital police, school safety agents, campus peace officers, Taxi & Limousine inspectors and parking control specialists who are injured in the line of duty.

Bill Number Three
The third bill, S.6223/A.9810, sponsored by Senator Serphin R. Maltese (R-Glendale) and Assemblyman William Colton (D-Brooklyn), would amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the Retirement and Social Security law to establish a 25-year retirement program for evidence and property control specialists employed by the New York City Police Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The proposed retirement plan is self-funded as pension contributions by members of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. It will be increased to cover the additional cost of the plan. Participation will be at the member’s option, and a member must have exercised such an option at least 12 months prior to retiring.

Bill Number Four
The fourth bill, S.7603/A.11684, sponsored by Senator Martin J. Golden (R-Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Abbate, amends the Retirement and Social Security law and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, to provide that any injury or illness, including future manifestations even after retirement, directly related to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, would be presumptively eligible, unless proven otherwise, for accidental disability retirement.

“This legislative session, although lackluster for some, has been very good for Local 237,” said Patricia Stryker, director of Local 237's Political Action and Legislation department. “Our only regret is that the firearms bill did not get through. The CUNY bill went through the Senate and we have a chance of getting it through the Assembly when we return for the budget.”

The union’s victory is not yet complete, however. The four pieces of legislation are pending approval from Governor George E. Pataki, who will review them between now and the end of the year.