Bill Text: NJ S871 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2024-12-12 - Approved P.L.2024, c.97. [S871 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S871-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Senator PAUL A. SARLO
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions, and supplementing P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a fire instructor enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System prior to November 1, 2008, and employed by a county on the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), who had continuous membership in the retirement system, who performed service in the county as a fire instructor in each calendar year of membership, who received a salary for that position greater than $1,500 annually, and who was a permanent career service employee in the civil service, shall be granted service credit for that period of enrollment and considered eligible for membership and for benefits as a member of the retirement system.
b. Any person whose membership in the retirement system was terminated within three years prior to the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), and who otherwise qualifies for membership under subsection a. of this section but for the termination shall be reenrolled in the retirement system provided the person repays any contributions and interest that were returned when membership was terminated.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes eligibility in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for county fire instructors employed and enrolled before November 1, 2008, who performed service as a county fire instructor in each calendar year of membership, who received a salary greater than $1,500 annually, and who were permanent career service employees in the civil service.
The bill provides for any person who had membership in the retirement system terminated within three years prior to enactment may be reenrolled as long as they repay any returned contributions and interest.
This bill would address the situation of county fire instructors who were enrolled in PERS, but subsequently were deemed not eligible for membership due to the irregular and limited work schedule of the position.
