City Hall, NY – The New York City Council unanimously passed a Home Rule Message, SLR 7-2025, to support state legislation (S.3815B/A.8810) that addresses a longstanding gap in state law that prevents child beneficiaries of uniformed first responders from receiving death benefits. The legislation supports the children of NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia, who was killed in the line of duty in 2017, as well as any future surviving children of deceased first responders.
After Detective Familia was killed, her daughter, Genesis Villella, stepped in to raise her younger siblings. Despite her guardian role and losing her mother, Genesis has been denied access to her mother’s death benefits due to the outdated state law. This Home Rule Message, which signifies the City’s support for changes to state law, marks a significant first step towards correcting a systemic injustice and honoring Detective Familia’s legacy through the support of her family.
The vote followed a press conference held at City Hall by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Majority Leader Amanda Farías, who led efforts to advance the Home Rule in coordination with State partners, along with Villella, who led a years-long fight for the benefits denied her family by the outdated state pension law.
The City Council approval formally clears the way for the State Legislature to pass its law that expands eligibility for accidental death benefits to children, like Villella, ensuring they receive the support their parent earned.
“Today marks a bittersweet milestone for the family of the late NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia, because they never should have been forced to fight for the support they always deserved,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Detective Familia honorably served our city in the NYPD for 12 years, and we are taking a step towards fixing the injustice faced by her family since she was stolen from them. With the Council’s passage of a home-rule resolution, our colleagues in the State Legislature can now enact a state law reforming pension rules so that Detective Familia’s family can access the benefits she earned as a police officer. This can also prevent another family from suffering the same hardships in the future if they lose their loved one in a similar situation. I thank Detective Familia’s daughter, Genesis, and her entire family for sharing their mother with our city and continuing to make clear our obligation to fix this broken state pension law. I also want to thank Majority Leader Farias for her support of the family and work on their behalf to move this forward, as well as my Council colleagues and the Bronx delegation. The State now can and should move to pass this law so that Detective Familia’s family can have the peace and support they have always deserved, and this injustice is corrected.”
“This is about justice, for Genesis, and for every family that’s been overlooked by laws that fail to account for real-life responsibility and sacrifice,” said Majority Leader Amanda Farías. “Detective Familia gave her life in service to this city, and Genesis gave hers to her siblings. Our system must reflect that.”
“For years, the city my mom grew up in, loved, and protected didn’t love her back — in fact, it tried to erase both her and me. But my mom is a hero, and will always be the hero of my lifetime, and today that erasure and discrimination ended thanks to Majority Leader Amanda Farias and Speaker Adrienne Adams. This outdated and discriminatory loophole has finally been closed,” said Genesis Villella. “It’s been eight long years of relentlessly and resiliently fighting for justice — for myself, my brother, and my sister. I’m grateful to Majority Leader Amanda Farias for fiercely advocating for me, and to Speaker Adrienne Adams for collaborating with me to find a solution.”
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