New York folded the "Death Gamble" measure into its 2026-27 Executive Budget, giving state correction officers new benefit protections if they die in service.
The law changes the in-service death benefit for members of the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System who work as state correction officers.
It also applies to other employees covered under the Section 89 retirement plan, extending the budget-backed benefit revision beyond correction officers alone.
Unions celebrate this pension win, but could it trigger a $100 billion bill for New York taxpayers?
This pension reform took 20 years. Will it actually fix New York's violent, understaffed prisons?