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A 1266

Creates the hospital and multiple dwelling energy loan fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Maritza Davila and 2 co-sponsors

The bill extends state-paid health coverage for surviving spouses and dependents of PFRS members with accidental disability death, and allows pension continuation after remarriage.

REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Bill Summary · A 1266

Summary: New Jersey Assembly Bill A-1266 (as introduced)

Note: The bill’s listed title, “Creates the hospital and multiple dwelling energy loan fund,” appears inconsistent with the text of the introduced version, which addresses benefits for surviving spouses of Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) members. The summary below focuses on the introduced content.

Purpose and scope

  • The bill intends to expand benefits for certain surviving spouses of PFRS members who were receiving an accidental disability retirement at the time of death.
  • Key elements: state-paid health coverage for the surviving spouse and dependents, and continuation of pension benefits after remarriage, with the State covering any related increases in employer contributions.

Key provisions

1) Health care benefits for survivors
- Surviving spouse of a PFRS member who died before, on, or after the act’s effective date and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement under N.J. law (P.L.1944, c.255, C.43:16A-7) may enroll in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) after the act’s effective date.
- The State would pay in full the annual health insurance premiums for the surviving spouse and any dependent children.

2) Pension continuation after remarriage
- The surviving spouse will be eligible to continue to receive the pension benefit after remarriage, as provided by existing law for surviving spouses of deceased retired PFRS members.
- The State would be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to continuing the pension after remarriage.

3) Conditions and documentation
- Eligibility under subsection (1) requires documentation, approved by the PFRS Board of Trustees, showing that the injury causing the disability, its complications, or the aggravation/acceleration of a preexisting condition significantly contributed to the member’s death.
- An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage before the act’s effective date may apply to the board to reinstate the pension benefit, payable from the date of the application.

Effective date

  • Immediate effect upon enactment.

Administrative and fiscal considerations

  • Administrative: Requires approval by the PFRS Board of Trustees for the disability-death connection documentation.
  • Fiscal: States would bear the cost of SHBP premiums for the survivor and dependents, and would cover any state-nonstate employer contribution increases due to remarried pension payments. No specific dollar amounts are provided.

Legislative status and sponsorship

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024 (Assembly)
  • Current status: Referred to Economic Development (as of January 9, 2025)
  • Primary sponsor: Jo Anne Simon
  • Co-sponsors: Deborah Glick, Maritza Davila
  • Related bills: S 3698 (companion), multiple prior-session A and S bills listed as related

Who is affected

  • Surviving spouses of PFRS members who were on accidental disability retirement at death
  • Dependent children of such survivors
  • The PFRS and its Board of Trustees (certification and oversight of eligibility)
  • State and certain non-State employers (in the context of retirement system contributions)

Notes

  • The bill’s objective is to provide immediate health coverage for eligible survivors and preserve pension benefits after remarriage, with state funding to offset costs. The health benefit relies on specific disability-related factors verified by the PFRS Board.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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