N.Y. Educ. Law § 524

§ 524. Exemption from taxation and execution. The right of a teacher\nto a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance, to the return of\ncontributions, any benefit or right accrued or accruing to any person\nunder the provisions of this article, and the moneys in the various\nfunds created hereunder, are hereby exempt from any state or municipal\ntax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment or\nany other process whatsoever, and shall be unassignable except as in\nthis article specifically provided.\n