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Bill > A6127
NJ A6127
NJ A6127Establishes Emergency Services part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency services employees.
summary
Introduced
12/04/2025
12/04/2025
In Committee
12/04/2025
12/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill creates an Emergency Services Part in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide certain enhanced pension and death benefits equivalent to those provided to law enforcement officers under the Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) Part of PERS, including mandatory retirement due to age, to members who hold or held certain emergency services titles. Membership in the LEO Part of PERS, and eligibility for the enhanced benefits it provides, is limited by law to certain law enforcement officer titles and positions. Under the bill, members of the Emergency Services Part will include any permanent and full-time employee serving in one of the following positions: emergency medical technician; paramedic; emergency medical services hazardous materials responder technician; public safety telecommunicator, dispatcher, 911 operator or instructor; fire inspector and fire official; county fire marshal and assistant fire marshal not authorized to enroll in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey; or any position the primary or essential duties of which require the employee to be trained in basic or advanced life support services, who holds an active certification or license by the Department of Health to perform these services. The term will also include any permanent and full-time fireman employed by the State, or any county, fire district, joint meeting, regional service agency or municipality, political subdivision, instrumentality or agency thereof who does not meet the age or medical requirements for entry into the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey. The State will not be liable for the increased pension costs payable by counties, fire districts, joint meetings, regional service agencies or municipalities, political subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies thereof resulting from the creation of the Emergency Services Part. The bill provides that the unfunded accrued liability established through the creation of the Emergency Services Part is to be determined and amortized in the same manner as provided for the retirement system under current law.
AI Summary
This bill establishes an Emergency Services Part within the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced pension and retirement benefits for emergency services employees. The bill defines emergency services employees as permanent, full-time workers in critical roles such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, fire inspectors, public safety telecommunicators, and other positions requiring advanced life support certification. Currently enrolled emergency services employees in PERS will be automatically transferred to this new part within 120 days of the bill's effective date, with an option to opt-out. The bill provides several key retirement benefits, including the ability to retire at age 55 with 20 years of creditable service, a special retirement allowance for those with 25 years of service, and provisions for early retirement, disability retirement, and accidental death benefits. Members will receive a retirement allowance calculated at two percent of their final compensation for the first 25 years of service and one percent for years beyond that. The bill also specifies that the State will not be liable for increased pension costs to local government entities, and the unfunded accrued liability will be amortized over 30 years. The legislation aims to recognize and support the critical work of emergency services professionals by providing them with more comprehensive retirement benefits.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 12/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A6127 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6500/6127_I1.HTM |
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