New York's citizen soldiers on active duty will have extra time to pay their retirement system loans, thanks to a new state law sponsored by Senator Michael Balboni.

"We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to New York's military servicemen and servicewomen who put their lives on hold and leave their families and jobs to safeguard democracy throughout the world," said Senator Balboni, who chairs the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.

"Giving them a little extra time to repay loans from their retirement fund is the least we can do," he added.

Senator Balboni's law builds on New York State's continuing commitment to provide assistance to military personnel and their families during the War on Terror through a series of state laws passed in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Balboni law suspends, until July 2006, a serviceperson's obligation to repay any loans from either the state Teachers' Retirement System or the state and local Employee Retirement System.

"While brave men and women from New York State are defending freedom around the world, they need state officials working on their behalf on the home front," Senator Balboni said.