Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, met with members of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) on Tuesday in Albany. She spoke with corrections officers from the North Country about the need to ensure staff are retained and new members are given the benefits they deserve. She is the sponsor of a bill, A.7801c, which would modify the in-service death benefit for state correction officers covered by tiers 2 through 6 of the state retirement system The bill would ensure the in-service death benefit will be the value of the pension reserve as if the member had retired on their date of death. The current law penalizes the families of correction officers working past their retirement date who die on the job.