ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 422

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

      The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 422.

      This bill provides that a fireman who is a member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) and who is permanently and totally disabled as a direct result of a traumatic event occurring during and as a result of participating in off-duty firefighting activities in a municipality other than the municipality in which the fireman is employed may be retired on an accidental disability retirement allowance. Currently, eligibility for the PFRS accidental disability retirement allowance is limited to a member whose permanent and total disability was incurred during and as the result of the performance of the member's regular or assigned duties; otherwise, the member is eligible only for an ordinary disability retirement allowance, provided the member has five or more years of creditable service.

      The accidental disability retirement allowance provides a member with 2/3 of the member's actual annual compensation for which contributions were being made at the time of the occurrence of the accident. An ordinary disability retirement allowance provides a member with 1.5% of the member's average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of creditable service but not less than 40% of average final compensation.

      Last session, the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission reviewed a bill (A-1460 of 1994) identical to this legislation and recommended its enactment by the Legislature.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.