Message from the NYSTPBA Board of Directors, January 27, 2023

NYSTPBA Newsletter Message from the NYSTPBA Board of Directors New Survey for NYSTPBA Members The NYSTPBA Board of Directors is requesting your input on two topics that are important to members. 1) In an effort to continue to modernize and streamline all areas of operation at the NYSTPBA, the Board of Directors is looking into the possibility of electronic voting for delegate and executive committee elections. As this is being researched, we would like your feedback on whether you would like to move to electronic voting instead of using paper ballots. In the interest of transparency, it is important to note that conducting elections via electronic voting will likely be more expensive than a traditional paper election. With that in mind, the Board is doing its due diligence in researching the method. 2) NYSTPBA Second Vice President/Legislative Director Jason Sheridan and the NYSTPBA legislative team are focused on advocating for the entire membership during the 2023 legislative session. The legislative team is working toward a solution enabling our members to spend more time with their families for maternity/paternity leave. We are committed to bringing a resolution to this important topic this year, and we would like to hear from you whether you are in favor of enacting Paid Family Leave for NYSP members. Here are the basics of Paid Family Leave: · It is used for the purpose of bonding with a child (first 12 months of life); caring for a family member (hospice or injured spouse); assisting a military family at a rate of 67% of the average N.Y. worker = $1,131.08 for 12 weeks out of every 52 weeks. · The maximum benefit is $13,572.96 · The cost per member would be a maximum of $399.44 a year · The $399.44 payment is not divided equally across 26 checks - it could be $35.00 a check until the $399.44 is met, then there would be no more payments for the rest of the year. · The annual cost has been reduced by $24.28 from the previous year. · To receive the benefit, you must give 30 days’ notice when foreseeable, and you would typically receive benefits within 18 days · Taking this leave would be considered a break in service, but your position is held while on PFL by law and you can’t be punished for taking it. · Benefits are taxable but not withheld. · You are not required to use all leave balances prior to using PFL. More details on the New York State Paid Family Leave program can be found here: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/2023 In order to gauge the membership’s interest in the two aforementioned topics, the NYSTPBA has compiled a new survey for members. Your participation is highly encouraged. Please take this survey only if you are an active Trooper, Non-Commissioned Officer or Commissioned Officer. Please do not take this survey if you are a retired member or are in the BCI. Please only take this survey once. THE SURVEY CAN BE TAKEN HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNVTV76 In Other Legislative News One of the legislative bills that is being supported by the NYSTPBA this year is S2519, which would deem the passing of retired Trooper Lawrence Lakeman - who died from cancer on Aug. 24, 2007 – as a 9/11 line-of-duty death. We are following this legislation closely, as it would provide the Lakeman family with associated financial benefits. We thank the sponsors of this bill, including Sen. Patrick Gallivan, who is a former NYSP member and former NYSTPBA Officers Delegate, for acknowledging the sacrifice made by Trooper Lakeman. Contract Negotiations Members of the Negotiations Committees for the Troopers and Supervisors Units have held several meetings with our new negotiating attorneys at Lippes Mathias LLP. We continue to develop priorities and strategies for the next round of negotiations, and we anticipate official meetings with the state of New York will commence in February. We appreciate the feedback we have received from members as we work toward a successor agreement. NYSTPBA Treasurer Election Since the position of NYSTPBA Treasurer will be vacated within 18 months of the commencement of the term, a special election is being held for that position. The nomination and petition period opens (forms mailed from PBA office) on February 3, 2023 and the nominations are due at 4 p.m. on March 2, 2023. 2024 Design for NYSTPBA Cards and Stickers Attention members with a talent for photography, graphic design and creativity: the NYSTPBA is asking for artwork submissions to be considered for the 2024 NYSTPBA cards and stickers. Please submit your artwork in a JPG format to Michele Crisafulli, Director of Operations & Communications, via email at mcrisafulli@nystpba.org by February 24, 2023. This email is an automated notification, which is unable to receive replies. To send a comment to the NYSTPBA, please contact us at nystpba@nystpba.org.

The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers 120 State St. Albany, New York 12207 (518) 462-7448 http://www.nystpba.org