New York A 4990: Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits

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A04990 Summary:

BILL NOA04990 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S00959-A

&nbsp

SPONSORPheffer Amato

&nbsp

COSPNSRMcDonald, Griffin

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add Art 15 §§300 - 303, Civ Serv L

&nbsp

Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits; provides for the investing of any net savings realized by the program back into the New York state health insurance program for the purpose of eliminating or limiting the impact of any premium rate or other cost increases that would be the responsibility of an employee or retiree.

Go to top A04990 Actions:

BILL NOA04990 

&nbsp

02/10/2025referred to governmental employees

05/28/2025reported referred to ways and means

01/07/2026referred to ways and means

Go to topA04990 Committee&nbspVotes:

Committee:GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES Chair:Pheffer Amato 
DATE:05/28/2025AYE/NAY:14/0 Action: Favorable refer to committee Ways and Means Pheffer AmatoAyeDeStefanoAye

ColtonAyeReillyAye

SantabarbaraAyeGiglioAye

EichensteinAyeTannousisAye

McDonaldAye

BurkeAye

GriffinAye

CarrollAye

RomeroAye

YegerAye

Go to topA04990 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA04990 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4990

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 10, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Governmental Employees

 AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to establishing the
 disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist
 eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new article 15
 2 to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE XV
 4 DISABILITY BENEFITS MAXIMIZATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 5 Section 300. Definitions.
 6 301. Purpose.
 7 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
 8 assistance program.
 9 303. Investment of savings.
 10 § 300. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
 11 have the following meanings:
 12 1. "Eligible individual" means an individual retired from state
 13 service eligible for benefits pursuant to article eleven of this chap-
 14 ter.
 15 2. "Program" means the disability benefits maximization and assistance
 16 program established pursuant to the provisions of this article.
 17 § 301. Purpose. Persons who are under age sixty-five and disabled are
 18 frequently eligible for, but not receiving social security disability
 19 insurance and disability benefits. The disability benefits maximization
 20 and assistance program is designed to ensure that eligible retirees are
 21 able to access all benefits available to them. The benefits accrue not
 22 just to the retiree, but to the state in ensuring that Medicare serves
 23 as the primary payer for eligible persons.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02968-04-5

 A. 4990 2

 1 § 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
 2 assistance program. 1. The commissioner shall establish within the
 3 department a disability benefits maximization and assistance program
 4 which shall be designed to identify state retirees eligible for but not
 5 receiving social security disability insurance and Medicare coverage.
 6 2. Elements of the program shall include:
 7 (a) conducting an ongoing claims analysis of retirees for the purpose
 8 of identifying individuals who may be eligible for social security disa-
 9 bility insurance benefits and are not yet receiving them;
 10 (b) assisting any individual whose claims history and social security
 11 eligibility qualify such individual to apply for and be awarded social
 12 security disability. Such assistance shall include the following:
 13 (i) developing communication materials to educate state retirees about
 14 social security disability insurance benefits;
 15 (ii) performing outreach to populations targeted by claims analysis;
 16 (iii) analyzing responses to determine social security disability