ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 119

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 1, 1997

      The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 119 (2R).

      This bill provides for optional deductions of dental insurance premiums from the retirement allowance of a beneficiary of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System.

      Current law provides that, if possible, whenever a beneficiary of TPAF or PERS requests in writing that the Division of Pensions and Benefits make deductions from the beneficiary's retirement allowance or pension for the payment of premiums for the beneficiary's group health insurance plan or the State Health Benefits Program, the division may make the deductions and transmit the sums deducted to the insurance plan carrier. The bill would extend this deduction authorization option to the beneficiary's dental insurance plan premiums, provided that at least 1,000 beneficiaries under the appropriate system who are covered by the dental plan have requested such deductions to be made.