Hochul vetoes retirement ‘equity’ bill for specialized cops

(The Center Square) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have boosted pension benefits for park rangers, campus police and other specialized law enforcement officers, citing the substantial fiscal impact on the state government.

The proposal, approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature in June with nearly unanimous support, called for allowing regional state park police, environmental conservation officers, forest rangers, and university police officers to apply for retirement benefits after 20 years instead of the current 25-year term. Supporters said the bill was aimed at improving pay equity and helping those agencies attract and retain new officers.