This week, proposed legislation to address a longstanding gap in state law that has denied death benefits to the children of late NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia did not advance, when New York State Assembly legislation (A.8810) was not passed. The New York City Council had unanimously passed a Home Rule Message to support the state legislation on June 12, and the New York State Senate passed its version of the legislation on June 13. In response, Speaker Adrienne Adams and Majority Leader Amanda Farías issued the following statement.

“We are disappointed by the State’s failure to pass the law to update New York’s pension law to help the children of late NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia. The children of first responders who are killed in the line of duty should not be forced to fight for death benefits against unjust laws that treat unmarried first responders differently. State law must be changed so that Detective Familia’s family, and others suffering the same hardships in the future, can access the benefits earned from their service. They deserve peace and support, and it is critical that the State rights this wrong.”

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