Deductions from benefits of certain retired members

§ 536. Deductions from benefits of certain retired members. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a pensioner who is retired from the retirement system shall have the right, at any time after such pensioner's retirement, to execute and file a deduction authorization card with the retirement board authorizing the deduction from such pensioner's retirement allowance of membership dues and such pensioner's share of the cost for employee organization-sponsored benefit plans and the payment thereof to a retiree organization of which the pensioner is then a member and which is then affiliated with either an employee organization certified or recognized as the collective bargaining representative of all employees in the negotiating unit of which the pensioner was a part prior to his or her retirement or with an employee organization with which such employee organization is then affiliated. The retirement board shall thereafter deduct from the retirement allowance of such pensioner the amount of membership dues and such amounts required to be paid by such pensioner for such authorized employee organization-sponsored benefit plans, and shall transmit the sum so deducted to said retiree organization. Such authorization shall continue in effect until revoked in writing by such pensioner. For purposes of this section, the term "employee organization-sponsored benefit plans" shall include any and all insurance plans and/or other benefit plans sponsored by such retiree organization whether provided by (a) a not-for-profit corporation licensed under article forty-three of the insurance law; (b) any insurance company authorized to do business in this state; (c) a health maintenance organization issued a certificate of authority pursuant to article forty-four of the public health law; or (d) a self-insurance arrangement, welfare fund or benefit fund. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a retired member shall have the right, at any time after his or her retirement, to execute and file a deduction authorization card with the retirement board authorizing the payment of voluntary contributions to the political committee, as defined in subdivision one of section 14-100 of the election law, of such member's employee organization, provided such organization is certified or recognized pursuant to article fourteen of the civil service law as the representative of all employees in the negotiating unit in which such retired member was then employed. Such authorization shall continue in effect until revoked in writing by such member. The board shall determine the cost of administering deductions for voluntary contributions to the political committee and the cost incurred by the retirement system in administering such contributions shall be paid from the funds of the political committee.