Bill Text: NJ A362 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides employees and officers working fewer than 1,000 hours annually will be ineligible for TPAF or PERS membership and service credit but will be eligible for Defined Contribution Retirement Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [A362 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A362-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides employees and officers working fewer than 1,000 hours annually will be ineligible for TPAF or PERS membership and service credit but will be eligible for Defined Contribution Retirement Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning eligibility for membership and the crediting of service in certain State-administered retirement systems and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:66-4 is amended to read as follows:
18A:66-4. The membership of the retirement system shall consist of:
(a) all members of the teachers' pension and annuity fund enrolled as such as of December 31, 1955;
(b) any person becoming a teacher on or after January 1, 1956, except any person who has attained the age of 60 years prior to becoming a teacher after June 30, 1958 but before July 1, 1968;
(c) every teacher veteran as of January 1, 1956, who is not a member of the "Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund" as of such date and who shall not have notified the board of trustees within 30 days of such date that he does not desire to become a member;
(d) any teacher employed on January 1, 1956, who is not a member of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and who elects to become a member under the provisions of section 18A:66-10.
[No] Before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), no person in employment, office or position, for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $500.00 shall be eligible to become a member of the retirement system. After the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), no person in employment, office or position for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 shall be eligible to become a member of the retirement system or shall be able to make contributions to the system as a member on the basis of any such employment, office or position.
(cf: P.L.1968, c. 229, s. 1)
2. N.J.S.18A:66-8 is amended to read as follows:
18A:66-8. a. If a teacher:
(1) is dismissed by an employer by reason of reduction in number of teachers employed in the school district, institution or department when in the judgment of the employer it is advisable to abolish any office, position or employment for reasons of a reduction in the number of pupils, economy, a change in the administrative or supervisory organization or other good cause; or becomes unemployed by reason of the creation of a regional school district or a consolidated school district; or has been discontinued from service without personal fault or through leave of absence granted by an employer or permitted by any law of this State; and
(2) has not withdrawn the accumulated member's contributions from the retirement system, the teacher's membership may continue, notwithstanding any provisions of this article, if the member returns to service within a period of 10 years from the date of discontinuance from service. No credit for retirement purposes shall be allowed to the member covering the period of discontinuance, except as provided in this section. In computing the service or in computing final compensation, no time after September 1, 1919 and before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), during which a member shall have been employed as a teacher at an annual salary or remuneration fixed at less than $500.00 shall be credited[, except that in] . In computing the service or in computing final compensation, no time after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), during which a member shall have been employed as a teacher for fewer than 1,000 hours per year shall be credited. In the case of a veteran member credit shall be given for service rendered prior to January 1, 1955, in an employment, office or position if the annual salary or remuneration therefor was fixed at not less than $300.00 and the service consisted of the performance of the full duties of the employment, office or position.
b. A teacher may purchase credit for time during which the teacher shall have been absent on an official leave without pay. The credit shall be purchased for a period of time equal to:
(1) three months or the duration of the leave, whichever is less; or
(2) if the leave was due to the member's personal illness, two years or the duration of the leave, whichever is less; or
(3) the period of leave that is specifically allowed for retirement purposes by the provisions of any law of this State.
The purchase shall be made in the same manner and be subject to the same terms and conditions provided for the purchase of previous membership service by N.J.S.18A:66-9.
(cf: P.L.1991,c.138,s.1)
3. Section 7 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-7) is amended to read as follows:
7. There is hereby established the Public Employees' Retirement System of New Jersey in the Division of Pensions and Benefits of the Department of the Treasury. The membership of the retirement system shall include:
a. The members of the former "State Employees' Retirement System of New Jersey" enrolled as such as of December 30, 1954, who shall not have claimed for refund their accumulated deductions in said system as provided in this section;
b. Any person becoming an employee of the State or other employer after January 2, 1955 and every veteran, other than a retired member who returns to service pursuant to subsection b. of section 27 of P.L.1966, c.217 (C.43:15A-57.2) and other than those whose appointments are seasonal, becoming an employee of the State or other employer after such date, including a temporary employee with at least one year's continuous service. The membership of the retirement system shall not include those persons appointed to serve as described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-2), except a person who was a member of the retirement system prior to the effective date of sections 1 through 19 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-1 through C.43:15C-15, C.43:3C-9, C.43:15A-7, C.43:15A-75 and C.43:15A-135) and continuously thereafter; and
c. Every employee veteran in the employ of the State or other employer on January 2, 1955, who is not a member of any retirement system supported wholly or partly by the State.
d. Membership in the retirement system shall be optional for elected officials other than veterans, and for school crossing guards, who having become eligible for benefits under other pension systems are so employed on a part-time basis. Elected officials commencing service on or after the effective date of sections 1 through 19 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-1 through C.43:15C-15, C.43:3C-9, C.43:15A-7, C.43:15A-75 and C.43:15A-135) shall not be eligible for membership in the retirement system based on service in the elective public office, except that an elected official enrolled in the retirement system as of that effective date who continues to hold that elective public office without a break in service shall be eligible to continue membership in the retirement system under the terms and conditions of enrollment. Service in the Legislature shall be considered a single elective public office. Any part-time school crossing guard who is eligible for benefits under any other pension system and who was hired as a part-time school crossing guard prior to March 4, 1976, may at any time terminate his membership in the retirement system by making an application in writing to the board of trustees of the retirement system. Upon receiving such application, the board of trustees shall terminate his enrollment in the system and direct the employer to cease accepting contributions from the member or deducting from the compensation paid to the member. State employees who become members of any other retirement system supported wholly or partly by the State as a condition of employment shall not be eligible for membership in this retirement system. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, all other persons accepting employment in the service of the State shall be required to enroll in the retirement system as a condition of their employment, regardless of age. [No] Before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), no person in employment, office or position, for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $1,500.00, shall be eligible to become a member of the retirement system. After the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), no person in employment, office or position for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 shall be eligible to become a member of the retirement system or shall be able to make contributions to the system as a member on the basis of any such employment, office or position.
e. Membership of any person in the retirement system shall cease if he shall discontinue his service for more than two consecutive years.
f. The accumulated deductions of the members of the former "State Employees' Retirement System" which have been set aside in a trust fund designated as Fund A as provided in section 5 of this act and which have not been claimed for refund prior to February 1, 1955 shall be transferred from said Fund A to the Annuity Savings Fund of the Retirement System, provided for in section 25 of this act. Each member whose accumulated deductions are so transferred shall receive the same prior service credit, pension credit, and membership credit in the retirement system as he previously had in the former "State Employees' Retirement System" and shall have such accumulated deductions credited to his individual account in the Annuity Savings Fund. Any outstanding obligations of such member shall be continued.
g. Any school crossing guard electing to terminate his membership in the retirement system pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall, upon his request, receive a refund of his accumulated deductions as of the date of his appointment to the position of school crossing guard. Such refund of contributions shall serve as a waiver of all benefits payable to the employee, to his dependent or dependents, or to any of his beneficiaries under the retirement system.
h. A temporary employee who is employed under the federal Workforce Investment Act shall not be eligible for membership in the system. Membership for temporary employees employed under the federal Job Training Partnership Act, Pub.L. 97-300 (29 U.S.C. s.1501) who are in the system on September 19, 1986 shall be terminated, and affected employees shall receive a refund of their accumulated deductions as of the date of commencement of employment in a federal Job Training Partnership Act program. Such refund of contributions shall serve as a waiver of all benefits payable to the employee, to his dependent or dependents, or to any of his beneficiaries under the retirement system.
i. Membership in the retirement system shall be optional for a special service employee who is employed under the federal Older American Community Service Employment Act, Pub.L.94-135 (42 U.S.C. s.3056). Any special service employee employed under the federal Older American Community Service Employment Act, Pub.L.94-135 (42 U.S.C. s.3056), who is in the retirement system on the effective date of P.L.1996, c.139 may terminate membership in the retirement system by making an application in writing to the board of trustees of the retirement system. Upon receiving the application, the board shall terminate enrollment in the system and the member shall receive a refund of accumulated deductions as of the date of commencement of employment in a federal Older American Community Service Employment Act program. This refund of contributions shall serve as a waiver of all benefits payable to the employee, to any dependent or dependents, or to any beneficiary under the retirement system.
j. An employee of the South Jersey Port Corporation who was employed by the South Jersey Port Corporation as of the effective date of P.L.1997, c.150 (C.34:1B-144 et al.) and who shall be re-employed within 365 days of such effective date by a subsidiary corporation or other corporation, which has been established by the Delaware River Port Authority pursuant to subdivision (m) of Article I of the compact creating the Delaware River Port Authority (R.S.32:3-2), as defined in section 3 of P.L.1997, c.150 (C.34:1B-146), shall be eligible to continue membership while an employee of such subsidiary or other corporation.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.92, s.17)
4. Section 39 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-39) is amended to read as follows:
39. In computing for retirement purposes the total service of a member about to be retired, the retirement system shall credit the member with the time of all service rendered by the member since that member's last enrollment, and in addition with all the service to which the member is entitled and with no other service. Except as otherwise provided in this act, this service credit shall be final and conclusive for retirement purposes unless the member shall discontinue service for more than two consecutive years. In the case of a member for whom compensation is defined in paragraph (2) of subsection r. of section 6 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-6), the retirement system shall credit the member with the time of all service rendered by the member during the part of any year that the member was a participant of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program, pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-2) as amended by section 12 of P.L.2007, c.103, and making contributions to that program.
For the purpose of computing service for retirement purposes, the board shall fix and determine by appropriate rules and regulations how much service in any year shall equal a year of service and a part of a year of service. Not more than one year shall be credited for all service in a calendar year. A member may purchase credit for time during which the member shall have been absent on an official leave without pay. The credit shall be purchased for a period of time equal to:
(1) three months or the duration of the leave, whichever is less; or
(2) if the leave was due to the member's personal illness, two years or the duration of the leave, whichever is less; or
(3) the period of leave that is specifically allowed for retirement purposes by the provisions of any law of this State.
The purchase shall be made in the same manner and be subject to the same terms and conditions provided for the purchase of previous membership service credit by section 8 of P.L.1954, c.54 (C.43:15A-8). In computing the service or in computing final compensation, no time during which a member was in employment, office, or position for which the annual salary or remuneration was fixed at less than $500.00 in the case of service rendered prior to November 6, 1986, or less than $1,500.00 in the case of service rendered on or after that date and before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be credited [, except that in] . In computing the service or in computing final compensation, no time during which a member was in employment, office, or position for which the annual hours of work were fixed at fewer than 1,000 after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be credited. In the case of a veteran member credit shall be given for service rendered prior to January 2, 1955, in an employment, office or position if the annual salary or remuneration therefor was fixed at not less than $300.00 and such service consisted of the performance of the full duties of the employment, office or position.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.103, s.18)
5. Section 65 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-65) is amended to read as follows:
65. (a) All employees of any public agency or organization of this State, which employs persons engaged in service to the public, shall be eligible to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System; provided the employer consents thereto by resolution and files a certified copy of such resolution with the board of trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the board of trustees approves thereof by resolution. Such organization shall be referred to in this act as the employer. If the participation of such employees is so approved then the employer shall contribute to the contingent reserve fund on account of its members at the same rate per centum as would be paid by employers other than the State.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, every person becoming an employee of a public agency or organization of this State, which employs persons engaged in service to the public, after June 30, 1966, who is not eligible to become a member of any other retirement system, shall be required to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System shall be optional with any person in the employ of any such public agency or organization on June 30, 1966, provided such person is not required to be a member pursuant to another provision of this act, and provided further that such person is not eligible to be a member of any other retirement system. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person whose position is temporary or seasonal, [nor to any person in office, position or employment for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $1,500.00,] nor to any person whose position is not covered by the old-age and survivors' insurance provisions of the federal Social Security Act. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person in office, position or employment for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $1,500 before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), or for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 after that date. The public agency or organization employing any such person who becomes a member of the retirement system pursuant to this subsection shall contribute to the contingent reserve fund on account of such employees at the same rate per centum as would be paid by employers other than the State.
(cf: P.L.1986, c. 139, s. 3)
6. Section 75 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-75) is amended to read as follows:
75. (a) If this act is so adopted it shall become effective in the county or municipality adopting it on June 30 of the following year. Membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System shall be optional with the employees of the county, board of education or municipality in the service on the day the act becomes effective or on June 30, 1966, whichever is earlier, in such county, board of education or municipality except in the case of public employee veterans who on such date are members. An employee who elects to become a member within one year after this act so takes effect shall be entitled to prior service covering service rendered to the county, board of education or municipality prior to July 1, 1966 or prior to the date this act so becomes effective, whichever is earlier. Membership shall be compulsory for all employees entering the service of the county, board of education or municipality on July 1, 1966 or after the date this act becomes effective, whichever is earlier. Where any such employee entering the service of the county, board of education or municipality after the date this act so becomes effective has had prior service for which evidence satisfactory to the retirement system is presented, as an employee in such county, board of education or municipality before the date upon which this act so becomes effective, or July 1, 1966, whichever is earlier, such employee shall be entitled to prior service covering service rendered to the county, board of education or municipality prior to the date this act so becomes effective, or July 1, 1966, whichever is earlier.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 74 of this act and subsection (a) of this section, every person, other than a non-veteran elected official, becoming an employee of a county, board of education, municipality or school district after June 30, 1966, who is not eligible to become a member of another retirement system, shall be required to become a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 74 of this act and subsection (a) of this section, membership in the retirement system shall be optional with any elected official who is not a veteran, regardless of the date he assumes office, and with any other person in the employ of any county, board of education, municipality or school district on June 30, 1966, provided such elected official or other person is not then a member and is not required to be a member of the retirement system pursuant to another provision of this act, and provided further that such person is not eligible to be a member of another retirement system. Elected officials commencing service on or after the effective date of sections 1 through 19 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-1 through C.43:15C-15, C.43:3C-9, C.43:15A-7, C.43:15A-75 and C.43:15A-135) shall not be eligible for membership in the retirement system based on service in the elective public office, except that an elected official enrolled in the retirement system as of that effective date who continues to hold that elective public office without a break in service shall be eligible to continue membership in the retirement system under the terms and conditions of enrollment.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person whose position is temporary or seasonal, [nor to any person in office, position or employment for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $1,500.00,] nor to any person whose position is not covered by the old age and survivors' insurance provisions of the federal Social Security Act. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person in office, position or employment for which the annual salary or remuneration is fixed at less than $1,500 before or on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), or for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 after that date. No credit shall be allowed to any person becoming a member of the retirement system pursuant to this subsection for service rendered to the employer prior to July 1, 1966, until the provisions of section 74 of this act have been complied with, in which event such credit shall be allowed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section; except that the governing body of any county, board of education or municipality may, by resolution, consent to the allowance of such credit and file a certified copy of such resolution with the board of trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.92, s.18)
7. Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-2) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The following persons shall be eligible and shall participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program:
(1) A person who commences service on or after the effective date of this section of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15C-1 et al.) in an elective public office of this State or of a political subdivision thereof, except that it shall not include a person who holds elective public office on the effective date of this section and is enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System while that person continues to hold that elective public office without a break in service. Service in the Legislature shall be considered a single elective public office.
(2) A person who commences service on or after the effective date of this section in an employment, office or position of the State or of a political subdivision thereof, or an agency, board, commission, authority or instrumentality of the State or of a subdivision, pursuant to an appointment by the Governor that requires the advice and consent of the Senate, or pursuant to an appointment by the Governor to serve at the pleasure of the Governor only during his or her term of office. This paragraph shall not be deemed to include a person otherwise eligible for membership in the State Police Retirement System or the Judicial Retirement System.
(3) A person who commences service on or after the effective date of this section in an employment, office or position in a political subdivision of the State, or an agency, board, commission, authority or instrumentality of a subdivision, pursuant to an appointment by an elected public official or elected governing body, that requires the specific consent or approval of the elected governing body of the political subdivision that is substantially similar in nature to the advice and consent of the Senate for appointments by the Governor of the State as that similarity is determined by the elected governing body and set forth in an adopted ordinance or resolution, pursuant to guidelines or policy that shall be established by the Local Finance Board in the Department of Community Affairs or the Department of Education, as appropriate to the elected governing body. This paragraph shall not be deemed to include a person otherwise eligible for membership in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund or the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, or a person who is employed or appointed in the regular or normal course of employment or appointment procedures and consented to or approved in a general or routine manner appropriate for and followed by the political subdivision, or the agency, board, commission, authority or instrumentality of a subdivision, or a person who holds a professional license or certificate to perform and is performing as a certified health officer, tax assessor, tax collector, municipal planner, chief financial officer, registered municipal clerk, construction code official, licensed uniform subcode inspector, qualified purchasing agent, or certified public works manager.
(4) A person who is granted a pension or retirement allowance under any pension fund or retirement system established under the laws of this State and elects to participate pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1977, c.171 (C.43:3C-3) upon being elected to public office.
(5) A member of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund or the Public Employees' Retirement System for whom compensation is defined as the amount of base or contractual salary equivalent to the annual maximum wage contribution base for Social Security, pursuant to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, for contribution and benefit purposes in either of those retirement systems, for whom participation in this retirement program shall be with regard to any excess over the maximum compensation only.
(6) A person in employment, office or position for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 who is ineligible for membership in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund or the Public Employees' Retirement System, or is ineligible to make contributions to those systems as a member on the basis of any such employment, office or position, after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. No person shall be eligible to participate in the retirement program with respect to any public employment, office, or position if:
(1) the base salary for that employment, office, or position is less than $1,500 per year;
(2) the person is, on the basis of service in that employment, office, or position, eligible for membership or enrolled as a member of another State or locally-administered pension fund or retirement system established under the laws of this State including the Alternate Benefit Program, except as otherwise specifically provided in subsection a. of this section;
(3) the person is receiving a benefit as a retiree from any other State or locally-administered pension fund or retirement system established under the laws of this State, except as provided in section 1 of P.L.1977, c.171 (C.43:3C-3); or
(4) the person is an officer or employee of a political subdivision of this State or of a board of education, or of any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, who is ineligible for membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System pursuant to section 20 of P.L.2007, c.92 (C.43:15A-7.2).
c. A person eligible and required to participate in the retirement program whose base salary is less than $5,000 may at the commencement of service in an employment, office or position irrevocably elect to waive participation with regard to that employment, office, or position by filing, at the time and on a form required by the division, a written waiver with the Division of Pensions and Benefits that waives all rights and benefits that would otherwise be provided by the retirement program.
A person eligible and required to participate in the retirement program pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection a. of this section may elect to waive participation with regard to that employment, office, or position by filing, when first eligible, on a form required by the division, a written waiver with the Division of Pensions and Benefits that waives all rights and benefits that would otherwise be provided by the retirement program. Such a person may thereafter elect to participate in the retirement program by filing, on a form required by the division, a written election to participate in the retirement program and participation in the retirement program pursuant to such election shall commence on the January 1 next following the filing of the election to participate.
d. Service credited to a participant in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program shall not be recognized as service credit to determine eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits in retirement pursuant to P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.25 et seq.), N.J.S.40A:10-16 et seq., P.L.1979, c.391 (C.18A:16-12 et al.) or any other law, rule or regulation.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.103, s.12)
8. This act shall take effect January 1 next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill changes the criteria for eligibility for membership and for accruing service credit in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to require that annual hours of work are 1,000 or more. Persons ineligible for membership or service credit in TPAF or PERS because of this change would be eligible for membership in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program.
After the bill takes effect on the January 1st after the date of enactment, persons in employment, office or position covered by TPAF or PERS, for which the annual hours of work are fixed at fewer than 1,000 will not be eligible to become a new member of those retirement systems or be eligible to contribute to them to establish service credit.
Currently, TPAF and PERS have minimum annual compensation thresholds for membership and service credit of $500 and $1,500, respectively.
