N.Y. Retire. & Soc. Sec. Law § 186

§ 186. Public pension fund group life insurance. The trustee or\ntrustees of a fund are authorized to take such steps as are necessary to\nafford any ordinary death benefit provided by such fund in the form of\ngroup life insurance upon a determination that to do so would guarantee\na more favorable tax treatment of the benefit to beneficiaries of\nmembers on whose behalf such benefit is payable.\n