SENATE, No. 1150
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MAY 16, 1996
By Senator KOSCO
An Act concerning the definition and classification of certain persons as veterans and supplementing Title 38 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any resident of New Jersey who served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and the Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, on or after February 1, 1955 and on or prior to December 30, 1960 for at least two years, shall be defined and classified as a veteran for the purpose of being eligible to receive all benefits, entitlements, exemptions and grants currently provided to veterans of other wars, conflicts or times of emergency pursuant to statutory law.
2. a. A retiree of a State-administered retirement system who meets the definition of a veteran pursuant to this act, or the surviving spouse of a retiree who met that definition, shall be eligible to receive the special veterans' retirement allowance pursuant to statutory law in lieu of the retirement allowance that the retiree or the surviving spouse is receiving on the effective date of this act.
b. The provisions of section 7 of P.L.1969, c.169 (C.43:3B-8) shall not apply to the benefit increase that results from this act, and the annual cost of living adjustment received under P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq) shall be calculated as of the date of retirement of a retiree of the system. The State shall pay the additional costs arising from any increase in the cost of living adjustment received by a retiree of a State-administered retirement system who meets the definition of a veteran as a result of this act or the surviving spouse of a retiree who met that definition.
c. No retiree of a State-administered retirement system who meets the definition of a veteran pursuant to this act, or the surviving spouse of a retiree who met that definition, shall be granted a retroactive payment based upon the difference between the retirement allowance that the retiree or the surviving spouse would have received if that retiree had met the definition of a veteran on the date of retirement and the retirement allowance that the retiree or the surviving spouse has received from the date of retirement to the effective date of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill defines and classifies as a veteran, for the purpose of being eligible to receive all benefits, entitlements, exemptions and grants currently provided to other veterans pursuant to statutory law, any resident of New Jersey serving on active duty, for at least two years, in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and the Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, on or after February 1, 1955 and on or prior to December 30, 1960.
The bill also permits a retiree of a State-administered retirement system who meets the definition of a veteran as a result of this bill, or the surviving spouse of a retiree who met that definition, to be eligible to receive the special veterans' retirement allowance in lieu of the retirement allowance the retiree or the surviving spouse is receiving on the day that the bill becomes law. The bill directs the State to pay the additional costs arising from any increase in the cost of living adjustment received by a retiree who meets the definition of a veteran as a result of the bill or by a surviving spouse. It prohibits, however, the granting of any retroactive payments to a retiree or a surviving spouse.
Defines and classifies as a veteran persons serving on active duty for at least two years between 1955 and 1960 for purpose of receiving benefits and entitlements provided to other veterans.