Even as Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to seek a less generous pension for new public employees, some state lawmakers want to do just the opposite and increase retirement benefits for workers.

About 60 bills have been introduced this year that would enhance the pensions of state and local workers, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.

While most of the bills have little chance of passage and are sponsored only in one of the legislative chambers, the bevy of so-called pension sweeteners has drawn criticism in the face of growing pension costs for state and local governments.

“A lot of them are introduced year after year, and it’s surprising to see business as usual at a point when the state is trying to get its financial health in order,” said Maria Doulis, senior research associate at the Citizens Budget Commission. “It seems like this is just a persistent habit.”

The business-backed group estimates that some of the pension bills would add as much as $860 million in costs to local and state governments, such as providing full benefits to retirees age 55 or older with 25 to 30 years of service. Currently, benefits are prorated based on age and years of service.

Another bill would strip many of the changes that were made in 2009 to lower costs under a pension tier, called Tier V.

Cuomo has vowed to oppose any new pension boosts to employees and is expected to seek a new, less generous pension tier for new workers, called Tier VI.

Some of the bills before the Legislature have bi-partisan support. One bill would prohibit public employers from diminishing health-insurance benefits of retirees. It is sponsored by freshman Sen. Jack Martins, R-Suffolk County, and Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees Chairman Peter Abbate, D-Brooklyn.

Abbate is the sponsor on most of the pension bills. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, Chenango County, had a similar bill that would prohibit changes to retirees health insurance from 2008 through the end of May this year. He said Monday he’s not sure whether he will resubmit the legislation…..

Read article here