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Bill > S74
NJ S74
NJ S74Permits any member of PERS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
A law recently enacted, P.L.2019, 157, provided that a member or retiree of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) is eligible to receive an accidental disability retirement allowance for a permanent and total disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. The law provides that permanent and total disability resulting from a qualifying condition or impairment of health will be presumed to have occurred during and as a result of the performance of a member's regular or assigned duties if the member participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations for a minimum of eight hours. The law permits a member who did not participate in those operations for a minimum of eight hours to be eligible for the presumption under certain circumstances. The law also provides for a reclassification of a retiree's retirement from a service retirement or an ordinary disability retirement to an accidental disability retirement under certain circumstances. The law applies regardless of whether the PERS member or retiree was enrolled in the PERS at the time of the participation in the rescue, recovery and cleanup operations. Currently, the PERS portion of the bill applies only to: any member or retiree who is or was enrolled in the PERS because the member or retiree did not meet the age or medical requirements for enrollment in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System on the basis of the position held; and to any emergency medical technician who is a member or retiree of the Public Employees' Retirement System. The bill amends the relevant provisions of the PERS to provide this benefit to any member of the PERS.
AI Summary
This bill expands eligibility for an accidental disability retirement allowance for members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who became disabled due to their participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Previously, this benefit was limited to specific categories of PERS members, such as those who didn't qualify for the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) or emergency medical technicians. The bill removes these restrictions, making the benefit available to any PERS member who meets the criteria, regardless of their specific enrollment reason or whether they were enrolled in PERS at the time of their 9/11 operations participation. It also clarifies that members who did not participate for at least eight hours can still be eligible for the presumption of disability if they sustained a documented injury during a specific timeframe that prevented further participation. The bill also allows for the reclassification of certain retirees' allowances to an accidental disability retirement if their disability is determined to be caused by their 9/11 operations participation.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)
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/2026/S74 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S0500/74_I1.HTM |
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