New York Public Personnel Law: NYS Department of Civil Service announces lower employer contributions for health insurance by the State on behalf of certain of its officers, employees and its retirees to take effect October 1, 2011

September 19, 2011

NYS Department of Civil Service announces lower employer contributions for health insurance by the State on behalf of certain of its officers, employees and its retirees to take effect October 1, 2011

NYS Department of Civil Service announces lower employer contributions for health insurance by the State on behalf of certain of its officers, employees and its retirees to take effect October 1, 2011

Source: NYS Department of Civil Service Employee Benefits Division

The New York State Department of Civil Service’s Employee Benefits Division has indicated that certain terms of recently negotiated collective bargaining agreements resulting in an increase in the percentages or ratios of employee contributions for NYSHIP premiums for individuals in those collective bargaining units will be imposed on State officers and employees designated managerial or confidential within the meaning of Article 14 of the Civil Service Law [the Taylor Law] and retirees of the State as an employer as well as certain other individuals in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of State government effective October 1, 2011.

In response to this announcement, the Retired Public Employees Association, Inc. [RPEA] has written to the President of the Civil Service Commission and to the State Comptroller on behalf of all State retirees objecting to this action.

In essence the letter to President of the Civil Service Commission RPEA contends that the decreases in the ratios or percentages of the premium or costs of health insurance paid by the State as its “employer contribution” towards the cost of the retiree’s health insurance premium are improper insofar as present retirees are concerned and suggests an amendment to 4 NYCRR 73.3 applying these increases to state officers and employees retiring on or after October 1, 2011 while "grandfathering" the contribution ratios or percentages paid by the State as its employer contribution on behalf of state officers and employees retiring on or before September 30, 2011 as now mandated by §167.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Click Here to read RPEA’s letter to the President of the Civil Service Commission.

RPEA’s letter to the NYS Comptroller requests him not to implement any increases in deductions for retiree health insurance contributions from the retiree's Retirement Allowance that might otherwise be required as a result of the Department of Civil Service's action and sets out RPEA’s arguments in support of its request.

Click Here to read RPEA’s letter to the State Comptroller.

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NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.