ASSEMBLY, No. 1452

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 1996

By Assemblyman AZZOLINA

An Act concerning paid health benefits for certain county college employees and amending P.L.1992, c.126.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 2 of P.L.1992, c.126 (C.52:14-17.32f1) is amended to read as follows:

    2. The provisions of section 3 of P.L.1987, c.384 (C.52:14-17.32f) shall apply to:

    a. any employee of a board of education who retires on a benefit based upon 25 or more years of service credit in the Public Employees' Retirement System (P.L.1954, c.84; C.43:15A-1 et seq.), or retires on a disability pension based upon fewer years of service credit in that system, or elected deferred retirement based upon 25 or more years of service credit and receives a retirement allowance from that system; and

    b. any employee of a county college who retires on a benefit based upon 25 or more years of service credit in the Public Employees' Retirement System (P.L.1954, c.84; C.43:15A-1 et seq.) or the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (P.L.1944, c.255; C.43:16A-1 et seq.), or retires on a disability pension based upon fewer years of service credit in [that] either system, or elected deferred retirement based upon 25 or more years of service credit and receives a retirement allowance from [that] either system; or who retires on a benefit based upon 25 or more years of service credit in the alternate benefit program (P.L.1969, c.242; C.18A:66-167 et seq.), or who receives a disability benefit pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1969, c.242 (C.18A:66-184), except that the costs of the premium or periodic charges for the benefits and reimbursement of medicare premiums provided to a retiree and the dependents of the retiree under this section shall be paid by the State.

    [An employee who retired prior to the effective date of this act is eligible for the coverage if the employee applies to the program for it within one year after the effective date.]

(cf: P.L.1992, c.126, s.2)

    2. (New section) Any employee who retired prior to the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be eligible for coverage if the employee applies to the program for such coverage within one year after the effective date of this act.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    Under the provisions of P.L.1992, c.126, paid health benefits were extended to county college employees who retired under the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) or the alternate benefit program. To qualify, a retirant must have 25 or more years of service credit or retire on a disability pension based on fewer years of service credit. This bill provides the same benefit to an employee of a county college who retires under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Some county college campus police officers were enrolled in PERS but subsequently were transferred to PFRS. As with the other county college retirants, the cost of the health benefits will be paid by the State. Eligible former employees who have already retired may apply within one year after the effective date of this act for the benefit.

Provides paid health benefits to certain county college employees in PFRS.