A5315

An Act concerning pension credit for combat veterans entering public service and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Combat Veteran Pension Credit Act.”

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Many veterans who return to civilian life after honorable military service face significant challenges transitioning back into society, often seeking the structure, discipline, and sense of purpose experienced during their time in uniform.

b. A large number of veterans choose to continue serving their communities through public service careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, healthcare, education, and other critical fields.

c. Under current law, veterans with qualifying service may “buy back” active-duty military time for pension credit in the Judicial Retirement System, the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the State Police Retirement System, or the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund. However, the financial burden associated with such a buyback often prevents many qualified veterans from doing so.

d. Combat veterans, or those who have directly engaged in combat and earned a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent decoration, have experienced extraordinary hardships and made exceptional sacrifices in defense of the nation.

e. The State of New Jersey recognizes that such combat veterans deserve special acknowledgement for their service and should receive a measure of assistance that eases their transition into public service roles.

f. Providing automatic pension credit to eligible combat veterans demonstrates New Jersey’s commitment to honoring those who have faced the gravest dangers in defense of our freedom, while also strengthening our communities by encouraging their continued service.

3. a. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

“Combat veteran” means a veteran who has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable discharge, and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the Judicial Retirement System shall be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

c. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any person seeking to be considered a “combat veteran” under subsection a. of this section meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person disputing this determination. The determination of the commissioner shall be binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits, who shall apply the service credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary buyback or contribution.

d. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.

e. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees, shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits, promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

4. a. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

“Combat veteran” means a veteran who: has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat decoration by the United States Armed Forces; has received an honorable discharge; and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1, and in section 1 of P.L.1983, c.391 (C.43:16A-11.7) for the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System shall be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

c. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any person seeking to be considered a “combat veteran” under subsection a. of this section meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person disputing this determination. The determination of the commissioner shall be binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits and the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, who shall apply the service credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary buyback or contribution.

d. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits, and the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.

e. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees, shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits and the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

5. a. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System shall be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

6. a. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the State Police Retirement System shall be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

7. a. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund shall be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

8. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill, entitled the “Combat Veteran Pension Credit Act,” provides eligible combat veterans up to four years of pension credit at no cost.

Under the bill, any veteran who is a member or becomes a member of the Judicial Retirement System (JRS), the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS), the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable discharge, and meets certain definitions of a veteran will be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs will be responsible for determining whether a veteran meets the criteria to be considered a “combat veteran” for the purpose of awarding such service credit under the bill. The determination of the commissioner will be binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits in the Department of the Treasury and, as applicable, the board of trustees of the PFRS, who will apply the service credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary buyback or contribution.

The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits, and, as applicable, the board of trustees of the PFRS, or their designees, will develop and implement procedures for the verification and awarding of appropriate credit. These parties, as applicable, and the State Treasurer will also promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.

This bill recognizes that combat veterans have endured the most demanding conditions of military service and deserve special recognition for their sacrifices. Providing automatic pension credit not only honors their service but also encourages veterans to continue serving their communities in vital public safety and public service roles.