Bill Text: NJ A834 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides paid post-retirement medical benefits to certain retired veteran State employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [A834 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A834-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Provides paid post-retirement medical benefits to certain retired veteran State employees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act providing State-paid health benefits to certain retired veteran State employees and supplementing P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.25 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the State shall pay the full cost of the premium or periodic charges for the health benefits provided to a retired State employee and the employee's dependents covered under the State Health Benefits Program, established pursuant to P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.25 et seq.), but not including survivors, if the employee elected a veterans retirement pursuant to subsection b. of section 61 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-61) under the Public Employees' Retirement System, established pursuant to P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-1 et seq.), and shall also reimburse the retired employee for premium charges under Part B of Medicare covering the retired employee and the employee's spouse.
b. An employee who retired prior to the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), on a veterans retirement allowance pursuant to subsection b. of section 61 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-61) shall be eligible for the coverage specified in subsection a. of this section if the former employee applies to the program for such coverage within one year after the effective date of this act.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides State-paid post-retirement medical benefits to a State employee who retires on a veterans retirement allowance under the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). To qualify as a veteran, a State employee must have military service during a time of war or emergency as defined by law. Existing law provides that a veteran who has attained 55 years of age with at least 25 years of service credit or 60 years of age with at least 20 years of service credit may retire on a retirement allowance of 54.5% of the employee's highest one-year compensation.
The bill provides that the State will pay the full cost of the premium or periodic charges for post-retirement medical benefits for the retired State employee and the employee's dependents covered under the State Health Benefits Program, but not including survivors, and will also reimburse the retired employee for premium charges under Part B of Medicare covering the retired employee and the employee's spouse.
An employee who retired on a veterans retirement allowance prior to the enactment of this bill is eligible for coverage if the former employee applies to the program for such coverage within one year after the bill's enactment.
