Governor Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation that expands pension benefits for the surviving spouses of Tier 3 New York City Police Pension Fund members. The law allows these spouses to continue receiving accidental death benefits even if they remarry.
Governor Hochul said, “Our police officers have selflessly served New Yorkers, ensuring the safety of communities within all five boroughs. Signing this legislation means that spouses have another way to honor the service of their loved ones, while also providing them with the financial stability that their hardworking, fearless partners deserve.”
Previously, remarriage could disqualify a surviving spouse from receiving certain line-of-duty death benefits. The new law, S7314C/A7949A, ensures continued financial support for those who may still have children or other ongoing commitments stemming from their marriage to an officer killed in service.
State Senator Robert Jackson stated, “When an officer falls in the line of duty, their sacrifice echoes far beyond the moment — it lives in the loved ones who carry their memory forward. By signing S7314C into law, Governor Hochul has stood with us in affirming a simple but profound principle: a spouse’s dignity should not be constrained by their grief, nor should support end when life begins anew. Remarriage does not erase loss, and it should never erase the security our fallen officers earned for their families. With this law, we correct an inequity, honor those who gave everything, and strengthen the quiet covenant between public service and public responsibility. I thank the Governor for joining us in uplifting the memory of the fallen and the families who continue to bear their legacy.”
Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato added, “The spouses of our fallen police officers deserve our full support, while also being able to maintain the financial benefits they’re entitled to. By signing this law into effect, Governor Hochul ensures that New York will always stand up for the families of our fallen police officers. Through this bill, we enact tier parity, while also demonstrating the compassion and support for law enforcement that shapes New York. May the memories of all our fallen police officers forever be a blessing.”
Councilmember Robert Holden said, “This is a long-overdue fix that recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by our fallen police officers and the families they leave behind. A surviving spouse should never be forced to choose between moving forward with their life and retaining the benefits earned through their loved one’s service and sacrifice.”