A 11538: Extends the expansion of eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability benefits for members of New York's organized militia for an additional four years.
<p> This act amends the Military Law of New York to expand eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability benefits for members of the state's organized militia. Specifically, it extends these benefits to individuals who were activated on state active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to participate in rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site. The amendment establishes that members who incur a qualifying World Trade Center condition are entitled to a performance of duty disability pension equivalent to three-quarters of their final annual pay. Additionally, it provides that the surviving spouse, children under twenty-one, or dependent parents of a member who dies as a result of such a condition are entitled to an accidental death benefit equivalent to one-half of the member's final annual pay. The act sets a deadline for submitting qualifying cla…
- What is the current status of A 11538?
- As of September 15, 2026, A 11538 is recorded as "Chaptered/Signed": it has been signed by the Governor and chaptered into law. The last recorded action, on September 10, 2026, was "signed chap.294".
- Did A 11538 pass?
- Yes. A 11538 passed both houses and was signed into law (last action September 10, 2026). New York laws take effect on the date written into the bill, often immediately on signing or a set number of days afterward.
- Who wrote A 11538, and where is it now?
- A 11538 was authored by Asm. Grace Lee with 1 coauthor.
| Sep. 10, 2026 | signed chap.294 |
| Sep. 09, 2026 | delivered to governor |
| Jun. 04, 2026 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY |
| Jun. 04, 2026 | PASSED SENATE |
| Jun. 04, 2026 | 3RD READING CAL.1818 |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 11538 IN ASSEMBLY June 1, 2026 ___________ Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Lee) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to extending the expan- sion of eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability benefits for members of New York's organized militia The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 and paragraph (b) of subdi- 2 vision 2 of section 217 of the military law, as added by section 1 of 3 part J of chapter 55 of the laws of 2023, are amended to read as 4 follows: 5 (b) was activated on state active duty on or after September eleventh, 6 two thousand one, to participate in World Trade Center site rescue, 7 recovery, or cleanup operations as part of such state active duty, and 8 who is determined to have incurred a qualifying World Trade Center 9 condition, as hereinafter provided, shall be entitled to a performance 10 of duty disability pension equivalent to three-quarters of the member's 11 final annual pay as provided for under this chapter. The deadline for 12 submitting any qualifying claim under this paragraph shall be on or 13 before September eleventh, two thousand [twenty-six] thirty. The adju- 14 tant general of the division of military and naval affairs is authorized 15 to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section. 16 (b) was activated on state active duty on or after September eleventh, 17 two thousand one, to participate in World Trade Center site rescue, 18 recovery, or cleanup operations as part of such state active duty, and 19 whose death is determined to be the result of incurring a qualifying 20 World Trade Center condition, as hereinafter provided, the surviving 21 spouse, children under twenty-one years of age or dependent parent of 22 such member of the organized militia shall be entitled to an accidental 23 death benefit equivalent to one-half of the member's final annual pay as 24 provided under this chapter. The deadline for submitting any qualifying 25 claim under this paragraph shall be on or before September eleventh, two 26 thousand [twenty-six] thirty. The adjutant general of the division of 27 military and naval affairs is authorized to promulgate regulations to 28 implement the provisions of this section. 29 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD16036-01-6