SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3284

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 3, 2021

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3284.

     As amended by the committee, this bill provides for an accidental death benefit when a member of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund dies as a result of COVID -19. As amended by the committee, the bill also provides for an accidental death benefit when a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, if the member is an employee of a board of education or an employee of a board of trustees of a county college, dies as a result of COVID-19. Under this bill, a member whose death is attributable to COVID-19, complications therefrom, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused thereby will be deemed to have occurred as the result of an accident met in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place if:

     the member contracted COVID-19 during the public health emergency in the State declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and as extended;

     the member dies as a result of COVID-19; and

     the member’s regular or assigned duties required the member to interact, and the member so interacted, with the public, other employee, students, or parents, or to directly supervise other personnel so interacting with the public, other employees, students or parents, on any date during the public health emergency in the State declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and as extended within 14 calendar days prior to the appearance of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that shall have been confirmed in writing by a licensed health care provider.

     If a member dies during the public health emergency in the State declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and as extended and a beneficiary has received approvals for a benefit prior to the effective date of this bill, the beneficiary may apply for a benefit pursuant to this bill and, if approved, the prior approvals will be rescinded and the benefit pursuant to this bill will be made retroactive to the date of the rescinded initial approvals.

     This bill will not apply to any member who retired and subsequently returned to employment pursuant to a provision of law, or pursuant to Executive Order No. 115 of 2020, permitting a retired member to return to employment without reenrollment.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The amendments:

      (1)  remove the provision of the bill that provided health benefits coverage to a person and any dependents approved for an accidental death benefit under the bill; and

      (2)  provide for an accidental death benefit to employees of a board of education and employees of a board of trustees of a county college, under certain conditions, if the death of the employee is attributable to COVID-19.