[Passed Both Houses]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1510

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 1996

By Assemblyman BUCCO, Assemblywoman MURPHY, Assemblymen Carroll, Augustine, Lance and Senator Martin

An Act concerning death benefits and the Public Employees' Retirement System of New Jersey.

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

    1. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-1 et seq.) or any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the widow or widower of any person who (1) was previously enrolled as a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System for a period of at least 10 months; (2) was separated involuntarily from service in a permanent position covered by the retirement system with a county government employer due to a lay-off and withdrew from the retirement system; (3) subsequently, within four weeks of separation, was reemployed by the same county government employer in a temporary position and was ineligible for reenrollment in the retirement system until accumulation of 12 months of continuous service in that temporary position; and (4) within less than one year of the date of that reemployment, died as a result of an accident met in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place shall be entitled to payment in one sum of an amount equal to one and one-half times the annual compensation received by the person at time of death, and if, during the person's enrollment in the retirement system, the person elected to purchase the additional death benefit coverage as provided in section 57 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-57), shall also be entitled to, upon payment of the required employee contributions therefor, an additional death benefit of an amount equal to one and one-half times the annual compensation received by the person at the time of death. The widow or widower shall make any required payments in a lump sum at the time of application for an additional death benefit. Employee and employer contributions shall be due and payable from the date of the person's reemployment.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire one year thereafter.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides an accidental death benefit of an amount equal to one and one-half times annual compensation at the time of death to the widow or widower of a county government employee who died in the line of duty and who (1) was previously enrolled as a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for a period of at least 10 months; (2) was separated involuntarily from service in a PERS-covered permanent position with a county government employer due to a lay-off and withdrew from PERS; (3) within four weeks, was reemployed by the same county government employer in a temporary position but was ineligible for PERS reenrollment until accumulation of 12 months of continuous service in that temporary position; and (4) within less than one year of the date of that reemployment, died as a result of an accident met in the actual performance of duty. The bill also provides that such widow or widower shall be entitled to an additional death coverage benefit of an amount equal to one and one-half times annual compensation at the time of death if, during the PERS enrollment, the spouse elected to purchase the additional death benefit coverage available to PERS members and if the widow or widower pays the required employee contributions therefor.

Provides death benefits to widow or widower of county employee who died in line of duty before eligible for PERS reenrollment.