N.Y. Retirement & Social Security Law § 602
a. Except as provided in subdivision b-1 of this section, a member who first joins a public retirement system of this state on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-six shall not be eligible for service retirement benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum of five years of credited service. b. Except as provided in subdivision b-1 of this section, a member who previously was a member of a public retirement system of this state shall not be eligible for service retirement benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum of five years of service which is credited pursuant to section six hundred nine of this article. b-1. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision a or b of this section or any other provision of law to the contrary, (i) a member of the New York city teachers' retirement system who holds a position represented by the recognized teacher organization for collective bargaining purposes, and who became subject to the provisions of this article after the effective date of this subdivision, or (ii) a member of the New York city board of education retirement system who holds a position represented by the recognized teacher organization for collective bargaining purposes, and who became subject to the provisions of this article after the effective date of this subdivision, shall not be eligible for service retirement benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum of five years of credited service.