SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 871

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 24, 2024

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 871.

      This bill establishes eligibility in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) for county fire instructors employed and enrolled before November 1, 2008, who performed service as a county fire instructor in each calendar year of membership, who received a salary greater than $1,500 annually, and who were permanent career service employees in the civil service.

      As amended, the bill provides for any person who had membership in the retirement system terminated or partially terminated within five years prior to enactment may be reenrolled as long as they repay any returned contributions and interest.

      This bill would address the situation of county fire instructors who were enrolled in PERS, but subsequently were deemed not eligible for membership due to the irregular and limited work schedule of the position.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to include persons whose membership in the pension system was partially terminated, changed the timeframe relating to termination and reinstatement from three years to five years, and clarified that reinstatement would be under the same terms as the previous enrollment. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unavailable.