N.Y. RSS Law § 292

§ 292. Legislative intent. It is the intent of the legislature, by the\nenactment of this article, to establish a separate retirement system for\npolice officers and firefighters and to transfer thereto all police\nofficers and firefighters who, on the effective date of such article,\nare members of the New York state and local employees' retirement\nsystem, and all other persons who are members of such system and\ncontributing pursuant to the provisions of sections eighty-one through\neighty-seven, inclusive, of this chapter, immediately prior to the\neffective date of this article, together with such rights, benefits,\nprivileges, obligations and duties enjoyed by or applicable to such\npolice officers, firefighters and other persons as members of the\nemployees' retirement system.\n