Subchapter 1 - RELIEF AND PENSION FUND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STREET CLEANING

Section 13-601

Section 13-601

  §  13-601  Organization and membership. The relief and pension fund of
the department of street cleaning as now constituted shall be  continued
only for the benefit of members of such fund on December first, nineteen
hundred  twenty-nine,  and  the widows, orphans and dependent parents of
such members, as hereinafter provided.

Section 13-602

Section 13-602

  §  13-602  Continuance  of  status in fund. A member of the relief and
pension fund of  the  department  of  street  cleaning  appointed  to  a
position  in  the  exempt  class  in  the department of sanitation shall
continue to have the same rights,  privileges,  obligations  and  status
with respect to such fund.

Section 13-603

Section 13-603

  §  13-603  Composition  of  fund.  The  relief and pension fund of the
department of street cleaning shall consist of the following:
  1.  The  capital,  interest,  income,   dividends,   cash,   deposits,
securities  and  credits  in  such  fund  on  the  first day of January,
nineteen hundred thirty-eight.
  2. A sum of money equal to, but no greater than, three per cent of the
weekly or monthly pay, salary or compensation of each member, which  sum
shall  be  deducted,  weekly  or  monthly,  as  the  case may be, by the
comptroller from the pay, salary or  compensation,  of  each  and  every
member,  and  such  comptroller  is  hereby  authorized,  empowered  and
directed to deduct such sum of money, and to pay the same monthly to the
treasurer and trustee of the relief and pension fund of  the  department
of street cleaning.
  3.  All  money,  pay,  compensation  or  salary,  or any part thereof,
forfeited, deducted or withheld from any member  on  account  of  fines,
suspensions  or  absence  for any cause, loss of time, sickness or other
disability, physical or mental, to be paid monthly by the comptroller to
the treasurer and trustee of such fund, except in the case of a sweeper,
driver, or other employee who may have  been  sick  or  absent  for  any
cause,  and  whose position has been filled by an extra sweeper, driver,
or other temporary employee, to whom compensation has been paid.
  4. All moneys received for the privilege of scow trimming or assorting
of refuse at the various dumps in the city, or at any other place  where
refuse may be disposed of.
  5.  All moneys received from the sale of steam or house ashes, garbage
and refuse, collected by the department of sanitation,  and  any  moneys
that  may  be  received  for  the disposal of such steam or house ashes,
garbage or refuse.
  6. So much of the proceeds of  sales  of  unharnessed  trucks,  carts,
wagons and vehicles of any description, and of all boxes, barrels, bales
or  other  merchandise,  or  other movable property, found in any public
street or place and removed therefrom by the commissioner of  sanitation
under  any  provision of law authorizing such commissioner to remove and
to sell such incumbrances, as exceeds the necessary expense of the sales
of such condemned property or unredeemed incumbrances and which is  not,
under  such  provision of the law, paid to the lawful owner or owners of
such incumbrances sold, and all moneys  collected  for  the  release  of
merchandise, unharnessed vehicles or movable property so removed.
  7.  All  gifts  or  bequests  which  may  be  made to such fund or the
commissioner of sanitation as treasurer and trustee of such  fund.  Such
commissioner  is  hereby  authorized and empowered to take and hold such
gifts or bequests for the use of such fund.
  8. In case the amount derived from the different sources  included  in
this  section  shall not be sufficient at any time to enable the trustee
of the fund to pay in full the pensions which have  been  or  which  may
hereafter  be  granted,  it  shall  be  the  duty of the commissioner of
sanitation each year at the time of making up the departmental estimate,
to prepare a full and detailed statement of the assets of such fund  and
the  amount  which  is required to pay in full all such pensions, and to
present the same  to  the  director  of  the  budget,  together  with  a
statement  of  the amount of money required to enable such treasurer and
trustee to pay such pensions in full. There shall be  included  annually
in  the  budget  a  sum  sufficient  to provide for such deficiency. The
comptroller shall pay over the money so provided to the trustee  of  the
relief and pension fund.

Section 13-604

Section 13-604

  §   13-604  Relief  from  contributions.  The  board  of  estimate  is
authorized to adopt a resolution providing that the deduction  from  the
pay, salary or compensation of a member made pursuant to this subchapter
shall  be  reduced  to  one-half  of one per centum instead of three per
centum or that no such deduction  at  all  need  be  made  and  that  no
contribution  in  lieu  thereof need be made by such a member during the
one-year period commencing July first, nineteen hundred sixty-two.

Section 13-605

Section 13-605

  §  13-605  Relief from contributions. The mayor is authorized to adopt
an executive order providing that the deduction from the pay, salary  or
compensation  of  a  member  made  pursuant  to this subchapter shall be
reduced to one-half of one per centum instead of  three  per  centum  or
that  no  such deduction at all need be made and that no contribution in
lieu thereof need be made by such a member during  the  one-year  period
commencing July first, nineteen hundred sixty-three.

Section 13-606

Section 13-606

  §  13-606  Relief  from  contributions.  a. The mayor is authorized to
adopt an executive order providing  that  no  deduction  from  the  pay,
salary  or  compensation of a member pursuant to this subchapter need be
made and that no contribution in lieu thereof need be  made  by  such  a
member  during  the  one-year  period  commencing  July  first, nineteen
hundred sixty-four.
  b. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred sixty-five.
  c. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred sixty-six.
  d. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred sixty-seven.
  e. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing with
July first, nineteen hundred sixty-eight.
  f. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine.
  g. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred seventy.
  h. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred seventy-one.
  i. The mayor is authorized to adopt an executive order providing  that
no  deduction  from the pay, salary or compensation of a member pursuant
to this subchapter need be made and that no contribution in lieu thereof
need be made by such a member during the one-year period commencing July
first, nineteen hundred seventy-two.

Section 13-607

Section 13-607

  §  13-607 Trustee of fund. The commissioner of sanitation shall be the
treasurer and trustee of such relief and pension fund.  Before  entering
upon  his  or  her duties as such treasurer and trustee, he or she shall
deliver to the comptroller a bond  in  the  penal  sum  of  seventy-five
thousand dollars, to be approved by the comptroller, conditioned for the
faithful  discharge  and  performance  of  his  or  her  duties  as such
treasurer and trustee. Compensation shall be made to him or her for  the
expense of procuring sureties for such bond to be paid out of such fund.

Section 13-608

Section 13-608

  §  13-608  Duties of trustee. a. Such treasurer and trustee shall have
charge of and administer such fund. He or she shall receive  all  moneys
applicable  to  such  fund,  and,  from  time to time, shall invest such
moneys,  or  any  part  thereof,  in  any  manner  allowed  by  law  for
investments by savings banks, as he or she shall deem beneficial to such
fund.  He  or  she  is  empowered to make all necessary contracts and to
conduct necessary and proper actions and proceedings  in  the  premises,
and to pay from such fund the relief or pensions granted in pursuance of
this  subchapter.  He  or  she  is authorized and empowered from time to
time, to establish such rules and regulations for  the  disposition  and
investment,  preservation  and  administration of such fund as he or she
may deem best. No payment whatever shall be  allowed  or  made  by  such
treasurer and trustee from such fund as reward, gratuity or compensation
to  any  person  for salary or service rendered to or for such treasurer
and trustee, except payment of necessary legal expenses and compensation
as aforesaid for the expense of procuring sureties on his or her bond.
  b. The commissioner of sanitation, as such treasurer and  trustee  may
employ the members of the clerical force in such clerical work as may be
necessary  for  the  care  and  administration of such fund as a part of
their regular duties and without extra compensation.
  c. Such commissioner is authorized and empowered to make  and  enforce
all  such rules, orders and regulations as may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this subchapter relative to pensions, and  may  employ
members of the department for such purpose so far as may be required.

Section 13-609

Section 13-609

  § 13-609 Reports and audits. a. On or before the first day of February
of each year, such treasurer and trustee shall make a verified report to
the  mayor  containing a statement of the account of such fund under his
or her control and of all receipts, investments  and  disbursements,  on
account  of  such  fund,  together  with  the name and residence of each
beneficiary.
  b. There shall be an auditing committee, consisting of three  members,
to  be  appointed  by  the  mayor. Such committee, annually on or before
March first, shall  examine  the  condition  of  such  fund,  audit  the
accounts  of  such  treasurer and trustee and make report thereon to the
mayor within thirty days thereafter.

Section 13-610

Section 13-610

  §  13-610  Payment of pensions; disability; death. a. The commissioner
of sanitation shall have power in his or her discretion, as  hereinafter
provided,  to  retire  and dismiss any member from service in his or her
department. The commissioner shall grant relief or  a  pension  to  such
member  so  retired  and  dismissed,  and  to the spouses and orphans of
members who may be entitled to receive such relief  or  pension,  to  be
paid from such fund, in monthly installments, as follows:
  1.  To  any  such  member  who,  at  any  time,  while  in  the actual
performance of duty, and without fault or misconduct on the part of such
member, has become permanently disabled, physically or mentally,  so  as
to be unfit to perform the duties required of such member, provided that
such  unfitness  for  duty  has  been  certified to by a majority of the
medical examiners of such department,  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  per
month.
  2. To the spouse of any member who has been killed while in the actual
performance  of  his  or  her  duty, or has died from the effects of any
injury received while in the actual performance of such duty, the sum of
six hundred dollars per annum; and to the spouse of any member  who  has
died  and who has been ten years in the service in such department or in
the former department of street cleaning, or both such  departments,  at
the  time  of  his  or her death, or who, after having been retired on a
pension, as hereinafter provided, if there shall be no child or children
of such member under eighteen years of  age,  the  sum  of  six  hundred
dollars  per  annum, in the discretion of such treasurer and trustee. If
there be such child or children of such member under the age  aforesaid,
then  such  sum may be divided between such spouse, child or children in
such proportion and in such manner as such  treasurer  and  trustee  may
direct.  The  right  of  such  spouse  to  such  pension shall cease and
terminate at his or her death or remarriage; or if he or she shall  have
been  guilty  of  conduct  which  in  the  opinion of such treasurer and
trustee renders payment inexpedient.
  3. To any child or children under eighteen years of age of such member
so killed or dying, or dying after retirement leaving no spouse, or if a
spouse, then after her death or remarriage or loss  of  pension  due  to
conduct  aforesaid,  the sum of six hundred dollars per annum to be paid
as such treasurer and trustee shall direct until such child or  children
shall have attained the age of eighteen years or shall have married.
  4.  To the dependent parent or parents of any such member who has died
and dying leaves no spouse surviving him or her or child under  the  age
of  eighteen  years  the sum of six hundred dollars per annum, for their
support, divided between them to or either one  as  such  treasurer  and
trustee  may  direct, to cease as to the one dying upon his or her death
or after the death of one to be continued to the other in  such  sum  as
the  treasurer  and  trustee  may  direct,  to  cease  as to either upon
remarriage.
  b. Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  this  section  or  any  other
provision  of  law,  a  person who is a spouse, minor child or dependent
parent of any member who shall die or retire after the effective date of
this subdivision as hereby enacted, and who, as a result of the death of
such member or retired member, receives a pension pursuant to  paragraph
two,  three  or  four of subdivision a of this section, shall receive in
addition to such pension, a supplemental pension payment to be known  as
a  supplemental  pension, payable annually in monthly installments in an
amount which, together with the pension received by such  spouse,  minor
child  or  dependent  parent pursuant to paragraph two, three or four of
subdivision a of this section, shall equal but not  exceed  ninety-eight
dollars  and  thirty-three  cents per month, provided, however, that the
amount of such supplemental pension shall not exceed forty-eight dollars

and thirty-three cents per month.  Such  supplemental  pension  payment,
however, shall not extend beyond December thirty-first, nineteen hundred
sixty-five. If more than one such person shall receive pensions pursuant
to  paragraph  two, three or four of subdivision a of this section on or
after the date of death of such member or retired member as a result  of
being  a  spouse,  minor  child or dependent parent of the same deceased
member or deceased retired member, they shall collectively be deemed  to
be  one  person  receiving  one  pension  within  the  meaning  of  this
subdivision  and  a  supplemental  pension  granted  to   such   persons
collectively  under this subdivision shall be divided among such persons
in the same proportion as the pensions received by  them  and  shall  be
subject  to termination upon the same terms and conditions as govern the
termination of such pensions.

Section 13-611

Section 13-611

  § 13-611 Retirement for service. Any member who has performed duty for
a  period  of  ten years or upwards shall be relieved and dismissed from
such force upon  his  or  her  own  application,  or  by  order  of  the
commissioner,  upon  an  examination  by  the  medical examiners of such
department, to be made at any time  when  so  applied  for  or  when  so
ordered,  if  a  majority  of  such  medical examiners certify that such
member is permanently disabled, physically or  mentally,  so  as  to  be
unfit  for  duty.  Such member so relieved and dismissed from such force
shall be paid from such fund in monthly installments during his  or  her
lifetime  a  sum  not  less  than  one-half  of  the  annual  salary  or
compensation of such member when so retired. A member who has  performed
duty on such force for a period of twenty-five years or upwards, whether
continuous or rendered during different periods, upon the application of
such member in writing, setting forth at what time, not less than thirty
days  subsequent  to the execution and filing thereof, he or she desires
to be retired, shall be  relieved  and  dimissed  from  such  force  and
service  and shall be paid from such fund in monthly installments during
his or her lifetime a sum not less than one-half of the annual salary or
compensation of such member when so retired, provided that at  the  time
so  specified  for  his  or her retirement, his or her term or tenure of
office or employment shall not have terminated or  been  forfeited,  and
provided  further  that  upon  his  or her request in writing the member
shall be granted a leave  of  absence  from  the  date  of  filing  said
application  until  the date the retirement becomes effective. No member
shall be retired or  granted  a  pension  while  there  are  charges  of
official  misconduct pending against him or her.  Pensions granted under
this section shall be for the life of the pensioner, and  shall  not  be
revoked, repealed or diminished.

Section 13-612

Section 13-612

  § 13-612 Pension after service as commissioner or deputy commissioner.
Any  member  who  has  performed  duty  in  the  uniformed  force of the
department of street cleaning or sanitation for a period of twenty years
and upwards  and  as  commissioner  or  deputy  commissioner  of  street
cleaning  or  sanitation for a period of eighteen months or upwards, six
months of which period must have been served  after  May  twenty-second,
nineteen  hundred twenty-three, upon payment by him or her to the relief
and pension fund of the department of street cleaning of three per  cent
of his or her salary as such commissioner or deputy commissioner, as the
case may be, from the date of his or her appointment as such to the date
of  his  or  her retirement, may be retired by the mayor and placed upon
the pension roll of the relief and pension fund  of  the  department  of
street  cleaning  and  granted  an  annual  pension  equal  in amount to
one-half the salary of commissioner or deputy commissioner as  the  case
may  be,  at  the  time  of  such retirement. In the event that any such
commissioner or deputy commissioner is a member of any other  retirement
system  in the city, it is hereby directed that his or her membership be
transferred from such other system to the relief and pension fund of the
department of street cleaning, and that all deductions theretofore  made
from  his  or her compensation as commissioner or deputy commissioner as
the case may be, to  the  fund  of  such  other  retirement  system,  be
refunded to him or her.

Section 13-613

Section 13-613

  §  13-613  Exemption  from  execution and process. The moneys or other
property of the relief and pension fund  of  the  department  of  street
cleaning and all pensions or relief moneys granted and payable from such
fund  shall  be,  and  the  same  are,  exempt  from levy and sale under
execution, and from all processes or proceedings to enjoin  payment,  or
to  recover  such moneys or property, by or on behalf of any creditor or
other person having or asserting any claim against, or debt or liability
of any person entitled to such pension or relief.

Section 13-614

Section 13-614

  §  13-614  Termination  of  membership;  transfer  to  New  York  city
employees' retirement system. a. Notwithstanding any other provision  of
law,  any  officer  or employee of the department of sanitation who is a
member of or entitled to membership in the relief and pension fund,  and
who,  prior  to  the  eighteenth  day  of  May,  nineteen hundred fifty,
executed and filed an application for membership in the  New  York  city
employees'  retirement  system and made contributions to such retirement
system in the same manner as a member thereof, may, prior to  the  first
day  of January, nineteen hundred fifty-two, elect to become a member of
the New York city employees' retirement system  by  complying  with  the
following conditions:
  1. He or she shall file with the secretary of such retirement system a
duly  executed  and  acknowledged  instrument of election renouncing all
rights in the relief and pension fund, and
  2. If the accumulated deductions of such officer or employee  in  such
retirement  system  have been withdrawn or refunded, he or she shall pay
into such retirement system the amount thereof,  together  with  further
interest  thereon  at  an  unchanged rate from the time of withdrawal or
refund, and
  3. If such officer or employee  cease  making  contributions  to  such
retirement  system by reason of being entered on the rolls of the relief
and pension fund as a member thereof, he or she shall pay into  the  New
York  city  employees'  retirement  system  the  amount  of  accumulated
deductions, computed to the time  of  payment,  which  would  have  been
produced  during  such  period  of non-contribution by the contributions
which would have been payable during such  period  if  such  officer  or
employee had been then a member of such retirement system.
  b. Upon compliance by any such officer or employee with the conditions
specified in subdivision a of this section, all rights in the relief and
pension  fund of such officer or employee shall terminate, and he or she
shall become a member of the New York city employees' retirement system.
The membership of such officer or  employee  in  such  system  shall  be
deemed to have originally begun on the date when it would have begun (as
determined  by the commencement of the period with respect to which such
officer or employee made contributions to  such  retirement  system)  if
such  officer  or  employee  had  been  eligible  for membership in such
retirement system at the time of his or her original appointment to  the
department  of  street  cleaning;  provided  that  any  such  officer or
employee shall be credited as a member of such  retirement  system  with
all periods of service which would have been credited to such officer or
employee  (including  service credit purchased) if his or her membership
in such retirement system had actually begun on  the  date  when  it  is
deemed to have begun as above provided. For the purpose of this section,
the  term  "service"  shall  mean  service (1) for which such officer or
employee was paid and (2) with respect to which  equivalent  accumulated
deductions (i) are on deposit in such retirement system to the credit of
such  officer  or employee at the time of the enactment of this section,
or (ii) are paid into such retirement system by such officer or employee
pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs two and three of subdivision  a
of this section.
  c.  Any  sum in the relief and pension fund representing contributions
thereto by any such officer or employee making such  election,  together
with  interest  thereon, if such interest was theretofore paid into such
fund by or for the account of any such officer  or  employee,  shall  be
transferred  to the New York city employees' retirement system and shall
be credited toward any payments required to be made by him or her  under
the  provisions  of  paragraphs  two  and three of subdivision a of this
section.

  d. No such officer or employee making such election shall acquire  any
greater rights in such retirement system than he or she would possess if
he  or  she had actually become a member thereof at the time when his or
her membership is deemed to  have  commenced  under  the  provisions  of
subdivision b of this section.
  e.  The  privilege of electing to become a member of the New York city
employees' retirement system conferred by this section shall apply  only
to  living  persons who qualify for the exercise of such privilege under
this section.