NJ A3161

Eliminates the requirement that veterans serve during specific wars, conflicts, or time periods (such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc.) to qualify for civil service preferences and pension benefits

Redefines "veteran" across multiple statutes to simply mean any person honorably discharged from federal active service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve component, regardless of when or where they served

Expands eligibility for civil service hiring preferences, disabled veteran protections, and veteran's retirement allowances under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS)

Allows active duty service members who have not yet been discharged to receive civil service preferences on the same basis as veterans, provided they submit proof of status to the Adjutant General

Makes the State liable for increased pension costs to local government employers resulting from the expanded veteran eligibility, with civil service preference changes contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment