NJ S351

Creates a legal presumption in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) that Parkinson's disease diagnosed in emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and police officers resulted from their employment.

Eligible members must have passed a physical examination prior to enrollment that showed no evidence of Parkinson's disease to qualify for the presumption.

The presumption treats Parkinson's-related permanent and total disability as occurring during the performance of regular or assigned duties, qualifying affected workers for accidental disability retirement benefits.

The presumption can be rebutted if contrary evidence is provided by competent proof that the disease was not work-related.

Retirement systems are required to determine what documentation members must provide to prove they did not have Parkinson's disease prior to enrollment.