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Bill > S1402


NJ S1402

NJ S1402
Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
01/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
01/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill permits members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), or long term disability insurance recipients who are disabled and receiving TPAF or PERS disability insurance benefits, to be entitled to health care benefits under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same manner as it is provided to retirees of the TPAF and PERS retirement systems who receive health insurance under the SEHBP and SHBP, except that such health care benefits are to be free and will not require employee contributions. The bill provides that there is no deadline for disability insurance recipients to enroll in coverage and no eligibility requirements imposed to receive coverage, other than the member being required to be a recipient of disability insurance under TPAF or PERS. The bill also specifies that health benefits are not to be considered as benefits that reduce the amount that disabled TPAF or PERS members would receive in disability benefits and, for pension purposes, the member is to be considered as if the member was in active service for the duration of the time the disability benefit is received.

AI Summary

This bill extends health care benefits to disabled members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), or those receiving long-term disability insurance benefits from these systems. These individuals will now be eligible for health care coverage under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same way as retirees from TPAF and PERS, but crucially, these benefits will be provided free of charge without any employee contributions. The bill removes any enrollment deadlines or eligibility requirements beyond being a recipient of disability insurance from TPAF or PERS. Furthermore, it clarifies that these health benefits will not reduce the amount of disability income received and that, for pension purposes, disabled members will be considered as if they were still actively working for the duration they receive disability benefits.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.370. (on 01/13/2026)

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