NJ A4189

Surviving spouses and dependent children of accidental disability retirees from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), State Police Retirement System (SPRS), or Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who participated in 9/11 World Trade Center operations and died from related conditions would receive State-paid health benefits coverage.

Surviving widows or widowers must contribute at least 1.5% of the monthly retirement allowance toward health care costs, with the percentage determined by the annual retirement allowance amount.

Retirees who participated in WTC rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations for a minimum of eight hours and later developed qualifying conditions may have their service or ordinary disability retirement recalculated as accidental disability retirement.

Retirees previously denied eligibility for recalculation because they missed the required registration period may petition the board of trustees for reconsideration under the new provisions.

The application deadline for recalculation is extended to 180 days from when the retiree knew of the disability and its connection to WTC operations, or within two years of P.L.2019, c.157's effective date, whichever is later.