Authorizes a member to obtain up to three years of service credit for prior paid police service within the United States with an accredited police agency outside of the state of New York; requires a member to have at least five years of credited service to be eligible to receive such credit.

Assembly Bill A10554, introduced by Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman on March 13, 2026, proposes allowing members of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System to purchase up to three years of service credit for prior paid police work performed within the United States but outside of New York State, provided the service was with an accredited police agency. To be eligible, a member must have at least five years of credited service in the system. The member would be required to pay the retirement system an amount equal to the product of the number of years being claimed and the applicable contribution rate of the member's current tier status earned during the twelve months of credited service immediately preceding the date of application for credit. This bill aims to recognize and credit prior law enforcement experience from other states, enhancing the retirement benefits for eligible members.

While specific media coverage on Assembly Bill A10554 is currently unavailable, the bill's intent to acknowledge and credit prior law enforcement experience from other states is likely to be viewed positively by current members of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System. This provision could be seen as a means to enhance retirement benefits and recognize the value of diverse law enforcement backgrounds, potentially leading to increased support among law enforcement communities.

Conversely, the bill may face scrutiny from taxpayers concerned about the financial implications of granting additional service credits. Critics might argue that allowing members to purchase up to three years of service credit for out-of-state experience could lead to increased pension liabilities, potentially affecting the fiscal health of the retirement system.