Public Employee Press

Political Action 2003
Gov. Pataki signs eight DC 37 bills

Governor George E. Pataki has signed into law eight bills that strengthen civil service protections, extend rent regulations, and improve pensions and benefits for DC 37’s 125,000 members and 40,000 retirees.

“DC 37’s unprecedented success in Albany resulted from a major push by Executive Director Lillian Roberts, our lobbying firm, Bolton St. John, and our Political Action Dept. as well as many local presidents and union staffers. We worked closely with individual legislators and party leaders to press our legislative agenda,” said Wanda Williams, the union’s political director.

This session the New York State Legislature passed 18 DC 37-sponsored bills, setting a record for the union. As PEP went to press, six union-backed bills had been vetoed by the governor and others still awaited his decision. The eight newly enacted laws are:

• Civil Service Law: Agency Shop is extended for two years.
• Economic Development: A new Croton Watershed Treatment facility will be built in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
• Financial Disclosure: The real property tax law is amended to require that assessors file financial disclosure statements.
• Housing: Rent regulation laws are extended to June 2011.
• Income eligibility for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) is increased to $24,000 from $20,000.
• Labor Rights: “Pension stretch out reform” requires state and local governments (not including New York City) to contribute a minimum of 4.5 percent annually to the pension funds of DC 37 members employed at upstate watershed and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Transportation: City University of New York (CUNY) employees in nine DC 37 locals can use pre-tax dollars to purchase MetroCards.
• Zoological One-day Extension: The New York Zoological Society will continue to offer free admission to its parks one day per week through June 2006.