Bill > A6213

Introduced Session

This bill allows cities of the fourth class that have established life guard pension plans to close such existing pension plans to new entrants and modifies certain life guard pension benefits. This bill also makes new life guard pension plans permissive in those cities. Under current law, cities of the fourth class are required to establish life guard pension plans. Members of such a city's life guard force who have served for 20 years, are 45 years of age, and have continuously served for a period of 10 years immediately preceding retirement may retire with a service retirement at half pay. Current law also establishes certain disability retirement and death benefits for such members. These pension funds are administered by a city's life guard pension commission. This bill allows cities of the fourth class to close their existing life guard pension plans to new entrants, following the effective date of the bill. Active or retired members in those plans would continue to be eligible for service retirement and other benefits, as provided under current law. However, the bill allows the city's governing body to modify or terminate the offer of pension and other benefits for active members of the pension plan who have not attained at least 10 years of service in the plan. The bill also provides that any current or former member of the life guard force who does not qualify for a pension will receive a return of all accumulated deductions, plus regular interest as determined by the life guard pension commission. Members are currently required to contribute 4% of their salary to the pension fund; employers also contribute 4% of total salaries paid to life guards to the fund. Finally, the bill makes new life guard pension plans permissive in cities of the fourth class. Under current law, specifically N.J.S.A.40A:6-4, fourth class cities are cities bordering on the Atlantic ocean which are seaside or summer resorts.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Margie Donlon (D)*,  Vin Gopal (D)*,  Tennille McCoy (D), 

Approved P.L.2025, c.396. (on 01/20/2026)

Official Document