N.Y. Retirement & Social Security Law § 130-a: Declaration of policy

§ 130-a. Declaration of policy. The legislature hereby determines

that (1) employees of the state and its political subdivisions, their

survivors and dependents, are entitled to the basic protection provided

by the federal old-age and survivors insurance system, (2) such

protection should be provided to as many of such employees as possible,

regardless of whether they are or are not members of public pension or

retirement systems maintained by the state or its political

subdivisions, with the option to those who are presently members of a

retirement system to have or not to have such additional protection as

they so desire, (3) such extension of old-age and survivors insurance

coverage to public employees in this state is consistent with principles

of sound employer-employee relations, (4) provision of such coverage

will provide not only basic security to present employees and their

dependents, but also will serve to attract competent persons to the

employ of the state and its political subdivisions who now may be

discouraged from accepting such employment by reason of the fact that

their old-age and survivors insurance coverage obtained through private

or self employment would not be continued, and (5) the protection

afforded to employees in positions covered by any retirement system in

the state on the date old-age and survivors insurance coverage is

extended to their positions will not be impaired as the result of such

extension of coverage or as the result of legislative enactment in

anticipation thereof.