Bill

Bill > S351


NJ S351

NJ S351
Establishes presumption for accidental disability retirement in PERS and PFRS that emergency medical technician, firefighter, and police officer has Parkinson's disease as result of employment.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill creates a presumption for the accidental disability retirement pension in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) that an emergency medical technician, a firefighter, and a police officer with Parkinson's disease has the disease as a result of their employment. The bill specifies the presumption is created when an emergency medical technician, a firefighter, and a police officer exhibited no evidence of Parkinson's disease at the start of their enrollment in PERS or PFRS. An emergency medical technician, a firefighter, and a police officer who later exhibits symptoms of the disease has a presumption that the permanent and total disability resulting from the disease was the result of the performance of regular or assigned duties and was not the result of the member's willful negligence.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a presumption for accidental disability retirement benefits within the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) for emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and police officers diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Specifically, it presumes that if such an individual had no evidence of Parkinson's disease upon entering their respective retirement system, and later develops the disease, their permanent and total disability resulting from it is considered to have occurred during and because of their job duties, and not due to their own negligence, unless proven otherwise. To qualify for this presumption, the individual must have passed a physical examination before enrollment that did not reveal any signs of Parkinson's disease, and the retirement system will determine the specific documentation needed to prove this. This provision aims to simplify the process for these public servants to receive disability retirement benefits when diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, recognizing the potential occupational exposures they face.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...