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Bill to ensure families of dead COs can get their pensions passes state assembly with North Country rep's sponsorship

Posted 6/22/17

North Country Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, says legislation she authored to ensure corrections officers and their families are given the pension benefits they have earned if the CO dies …

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Bill to ensure families of dead COs can get their pensions passes state assembly with North Country rep's sponsorship

Posted

North Country Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, says legislation she authored to ensure corrections officers and their families are given the pension benefits they have earned if the CO dies has passed the Assembly.

Jenne’s 116th District, the so-called “River District,” includes all St. Lawrence County communities along the St. Lawrence River, plus Canton and Potsdam.

St. Lawrence County hosts two state correctional facilities in Ogdensburg and one in Gouverneur.

“It’s an extremely difficult and dangerous job. Correction officers give so much to help keep our communities safe, and we must make sure they receive the death benefit protections they deserve and have earned for their invaluable service,” she said.

The bill would ensure that the families of correction officers can collect the full pension amount upon their death.

Current law penalizes the families of correction officers working past their initial potential retirement date at the time of their death, according to Jenne.

This measure remedies this discrepancy so that correction officers are considered retired when they pass away on the job.

The bill has the support of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), with whom she met with to discuss the measure and other issues. The measure will impact approximately 3,200 employees of the Department of Corrections and Community Services.

“Losing a loved one is already extremely difficult. This legislation was simply the right thing to do. It made absolutely no sense to penalize the families of veteran correctional officers willing to continue working past their potential retirement dates. Our prisons benefit from having that experience inside the walls," according to the assemblywoman.

“Penalizing brokenhearted families in their time of loss is unconscionable. These men and women worked hard for their benefits, and their families shouldn’t be shortchanged,” Jenne stressed.

Assemblywoman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay), who worked for the Department of Corrections and Community Services before being elected to the state Assembly in November, praised Jenne for leading the effort to protect veteran correction officers.

“As a former correction officer, I’ve seen firsthand just how difficult the duties of this job are. Every day, correction officers risk their lives to protect our communities. Their families deserve to be protected too if their loved one dies while still on the job. I commend Assemblywoman Jenne and our colleagues in the state Senate for their work on this legislation,” he said.

The legislation has also passed the state Senate and now heads to the governor's desk for his approval.