A 1887 — Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits.

A1887 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblymen Rumpf, Coughlin, DeAngelo, DiMaio, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Dunn, Murphy, Assemblymen S.Kean, Barlas, Freiman, Karabinchak, Sauickie, Assemblywomen SpeightSpeight, Fantasia and FantasiaAssemblyman Angelozzi         SYNOPSIS      Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeMilitary Counsel.and Veterans' Affairs Committee on September 14, 2026, with amendments.

     a.  "Disabled veteran" means any veteran who is eligible to be compensated for a service-connected disability [from war service] by the United States [Veterans Administration] Department of Veterans Affairs or who receives or is entitled to receive equivalent compensation for a service-connected disability [which arises out of military or naval service as set forth in this chapter] and who has submitted sufficient evidence of the record of disability [incurred in the line of duty] to the Adjutant1[Adjutant GeneralGeneral] Commissioner1 of the Department of Military1[Military and Veterans'Veterans'] Veterans1 Affairs and received a determination of status no later than eight days prior to the issuance of an employment list, for which that individual received a passing score on an examination;

or any soldier, sailor, marine, airman, nurse or army field clerk who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States] person who (1) served at least 90 days of active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, excluding any period of service for basic training or as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (2) served as a member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States for an entire period for which called to federal active service, not including active duty for training, and has been discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable [conditions from that service in any of the following wars or conflicts] and who has presented to the Adjutant1[Adjutant GeneralGeneral] Commissioner1 of the Department of Military1[Military and Veterans'Veterans'] Veterans1 Affairs sufficient evidence of the record of service and received a determination of status no later than eight days prior to the issuance of an employment list, for which that individual received a passing score on an examination [:

N.J.S.11A:5-3)        3.  N.J.S.11A:5-11 is amended to read as follows:

     m.  "Regular interest" shall mean interest as determined by the State Treasurer, after consultation with the Directors of the Divisions of Investment and Pensions, the board of trustees and the actuary.  It shall bear a reasonable relationship to the percentage rate of earnings on investments based on the market value of assets but shall not exceed the assumed percentage rate of increase applied to salaries plus 3%,1[3%] 3 percent1, provided however that the board of trustees shall not set the average percentage rate of increase applied to salaries below 6%.1[6%] 6 percent1.

     r.  "Veteran" means any [honorably discharged officer, soldier, sailor, airman, marine or nurse who served in any Army, Air Force or Navy of the Allies of the United States in World War I between July 14, 1914, and November 11, 1918, or who served in any Army, Air Force or Navy of the Allies of the United States in World War II, between September 1, 1939, and September 2, 1945, and who was inducted into such service through voluntary enlistment, and was a citizen of the United States at the time of such enlistment, and who did not, during or by reason of such service, renounce or lose United States citizenship, and any officer, soldier, sailor, marine, airman, nurse or army field clerk who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States] person who (1) served at least 90 days of active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, excluding any period of service for basic training or as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (2) served as a member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States for an entire period for which called to federal active service, not including active duty for training, and has [or shall be] been discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable[, in any of the following wars, uprisings, insurrections, expeditions or emergencies,] and who has presented to the [retirement system] Adjutant1[Adjutant GeneralGeneral] Commissioner1 of the Department of Military1[Military and Veterans'Veterans'] Veterans1 Affairs evidence of such record of service in form and content satisfactory to [said retirement system:

provided, that any person receiving an actual service-incurred injury or disability while engaged in such service shall be classed as a veteran whether or not that person has completed the 14 days' service as herein provided] the Adjutant1[Adjutant General.General] commissioner1.

     A person who served fewer than 90 days of active service or who served less than the entire period to which called to 1federal1 active service shall be classed as a veteran if that person has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable as a result of a service-connected disability incurred a result of such service.

of this section or for military1[military] active1 service 1in the Armed Forces of the United States or in a Reserve Component thereof1 pursuant to subsection c.

     n.  "Regular interest" shall mean interest as determined by the State Treasurer, after consultation with the Directors of the Divisions of Investment and Pensions, the board of trustees and the actuary.  It shall bear a reasonable relationship to the percentage rate of earnings on investments based on the market value of the assets but shall not exceed the assumed percentage rate of increase applied to salaries plus 3%,1[3%] 3 percent1, provided however that the board of trustees shall not set the average percentage rate of increase applied to salaries below 6%.1[6%] 6 percent1.

     p.  "Veteran" means any [honorably discharged officer, soldier, sailor, airman, marine or nurse who served in any Army, Air Force or Navy of the Allies of the United States in World War I, between July 14, 1914, and November 11, 1918, or who served in any Army, Air Force or Navy of the Allies of the United States in World War II, between September 1, 1939, and September 2, 1945, and who was inducted into such service through voluntary enlistment, and was a citizen of the United States at the time of such enlistment, and who did not, during or by reason of such service, renounce or lose United States citizenship, and any officer, soldier, sailor, marine, airman, nurse or army field clerk, who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States] person who (1) served at least 90 days of active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, excluding any period of service for basic training or as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (2) served as a member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States for an entire period for which called to federal active service, not including active duty for training, and has [or shall be] been discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable[, in any of the following wars, uprisings, insurrections, expeditions, or emergencies,] and who has presented to the [retirement system] Adjutant1[Adjutant GeneralGeneral] Commissioner1 of the Department of Military1[Military and Veterans'Veterans'] Veterans1 Affairs evidence of such record of service in form and content satisfactory to [said retirement system:

     "Veteran" also means any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits] the Adjutant1[Adjutant General.General] commissioner1.

     A person who served fewer than 90 days of active service or who served less than the entire period to which called to 1federal1 active service shall be classed as a veteran if that person has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable as a result of a service-connected disability incurred as a result of such service.

P.L.2008, c.89, s.4)        9. 1[9.  Section 3 of P.L.1991, c.153 (C.43:16A-11.11) is amended to read as follows:

P.L.1991, c.153, s.3)s.3)]1        10. 19.  (NewSection section)3 Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a resident of thisP.L.1991, Statec.153 who(C.43:16A-11.11) is inamended active service in the Armed Forces of the United States or is a member of a Reserve Component thereof, and has not been discharged or released therefrom, but who otherwise qualifies as a veteran, shall be eligible for a civil service preference on the same basis as a veteran.  Instead of the evidence of discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable required to beread provided to the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1, the applicant shall provide to the Adjutant General, in a form and content the Adjutant General shall deem appropriate, sufficient evidence of record of service as afollows: person who (1) served at least 90 days of active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, excluding any period of service for basic training or as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (2) served as a member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States for an entire period for which called to federal active service, not including active duty for training.

     3.  A member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System may file a detailed statement of public employment in other states or with the United States Government which would be eligible for credit in a State-administered retirement system if the employment was with a public employer in this State, of [military] active service in the Armed Forces of the United States or in a Reserve Component thereof, or of public employment as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in this State, including time taken during such public employment to complete a basic police training course required for that employment, rendered prior to becoming a member, for which the member desires credit, and of such other facts as the retirement system may require.  The member may purchase credit for all or a portion of the service evidenced in the statement up to the nearest number of years and months, but not exceeding 10 years, provided however, that a member purchasing that maximum credit may purchase up to five additional years [for additional military] of active service [qualifying the member as a veteran as defined in section 1 of P.L.1983, c.391 (C.43:16A-11.7)] in the Armed Forces of the United States or in a Reserve Component thereof.  No application shall be accepted for the purchase of credit for [the]:

(1) a period of service if, at the time of application, the member has a vested right to retirement benefits in another retirement system based in whole or in part upon that service;

or (2) a period of active service in a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States that is concurrent with other service described in the preceding paragraph.

     The member may purchase credit for the service by paying into the annuity savings fund the amount required by applying the factor, supplied by the actuary as being applicable to the member's age at the time of the purchase, to the member's salary at that time, or to the highest annual compensation for service in this State for which contributions were made during any prior fiscal year of membership, whichever is greater.  The purchase may be made in regular installments equal to at least 1/2 of the full normal contribution to the retirement system, over a maximum period of 10 years.  The employer of a member who applies, pursuant to this section, to purchase credit for public employment with the United States Government, for [military] active service in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof, or for public employment as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in this State shall not be liable for any payment to the retirement system on behalf of the member for the purchase of this credit.

     Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, a member shall not be liable for any costs associated with the financing of pension adjustment benefits and health care benefits for retirees when purchasing credit for public employment in other states or with the United States Government, [military] active service in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof, or for public employment as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in this State.

     Any member electing to purchase the service who retires prior to completing payments as agreed with the retirement system will receive pro rata credit for service purchased prior to the date of retirement, but if the member so elects at the time of retirement, the member may make the additional lump sum payment required at that time to provide full credit.

     Purchase of credit for service as a class two special law enforcement officer shall be permitted only if the break between service as such an officer and the date of their enrollment in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System is less than 365 days.  Members of the retirement system who are enrolled on the effective date of P.L.2024, c.54 shall have only one year from that effective date to apply for such a purchase.  The board of trustees shall notify all members of the retirement system of the provisions of this act, P.L.2024, c.54.1 (cf:

P.L.2024, c.54, s.1)        10.  (New section) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a resident of this State who is in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States or is a member of a Reserve Component thereof, and has not been discharged or released therefrom, but who otherwise qualifies as a veteran, shall be eligible for a civil service preference on the same basis as a veteran.  Instead of the evidence of discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable required to be provided to the 1[Adjutant General] Commissioner1 of the Department of 1[Military and Veterans'] Veterans1 Affairs pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1, the applicant shall provide to the 1[Adjutant General] commissioner1, in a form and content the 1[Adjutant General] commissioner1 shall deem appropriate, sufficient evidence of record of service as a person who (1) served at least 90 days of active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, excluding any period of service for basic training or as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (2) served as a member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States for an entire period for which called to federal active service, not including active duty for training.

    STATEMENT         This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone.  Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires a veteran to serve for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for any of the veterans' benefits identified in the bill.  The bill also requires a veteran of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, to serve the entire period to which called to federal active service, exclusive of training, in order to be eligible for the veterans' benefits.  A veteran who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be eligible even if the veteran has not completed the 90 day service period or the period to which called to federal active service.

     The benefits that an eligible veteran could apply for are (1) a civil service hiring preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes;

(2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS);

and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS.  In addition, the surviving spouse of a veteran or of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof killed while in active service is eligible in certain instances for a civil service preference.

     The bill also provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service hiring preference provided that the member otherwise qualifies as a veteran.

     Eligibility for civil service hiring preference is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution.