Bill Text: NJ S884 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides additional SHBP benefits to certain retired PFRS, CPFPF and PERS survivors.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S884 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S884-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NIA H. GILL
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides additional SHBP benefits to certain retired PFRS, CPFPF and PERS survivors.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health benefit coverage under the State Health Benefits Program for survivors of law enforcement officers and firefighters retired under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, the Consolidated Police and Firemen's Pension Fund or the Public Employees' Retirement System and amending P.L.1997, c.330.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1997, c.330 (C.52:14-17.32i) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. A qualified retiree from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (C.43:16A-1 et seq.), hereinafter referred to as PFRS, the Consolidated Police and Firemen's Pension Fund (C.43:16-1 et seq.), hereinafter referred to as CPFPF, or the Public Employees' Retirement System of New Jersey (C.43:15A-1 et seq.), hereinafter referred to as PERS, and dependents, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.26), of a qualified retiree, are eligible to participate in the program, in accordance with the law and rules governing the program, except as otherwise provided by this act, regardless of whether the retiree's employer participated in the program.
A qualified retiree is a retiree who:
(1) retired on a benefit based on 25 or more years of service credit in PFRS or CPFPF, or in PERS as a law enforcement officer as defined in section 1 of P.L.1955, c.257 (C.43:15A-97) or in a position eligible for participation in PFRS as provided in section 9 of P.L.1989, c.204 (C.43:16A-1.2); or
(2) retired on a disability retirement under PFRS or CPFPF, or under PERS as a law enforcement officer or in a position eligible for participation in PFRS, based on fewer years of service credit; and
(3) was eligible to receive health benefits coverage at the expense of the employer of the person immediately preceding retirement.
b. The State shall pay the amount of the premium or periodic charges for the coverage for the qualified retiree and dependents, [but not] and including survivors, equal to 80 percent of the premium or periodic charges for the category of coverage elected by the qualified retiree or survivor under the State managed care plan or a health maintenance organization participating in the program which provides services in the 21 counties in the State, whichever provides the lower premium or periodic charge. The qualified retiree or survivor shall pay the difference between the premium or periodic charge for the coverage and the amount paid by the State.
c. The State Health Benefits Commission shall annually certify to the State the cost for providing health benefits coverage to qualified retirees and their dependents and survivors under this section. The State shall annually remit to the commission the amount certified at a time specified by the State Treasurer.
d. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) a retired State employee whose premium or periodic charges for benefits under the program are paid by the State pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.32) or section 6 of P.L.1996, c.8 (C.52:14-17.28b); and (2) a retiree of an employer other than the State which pays the premium or periodic charges for health care benefits for eligible retirees pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1964, c.125 (C.52:14-17.38) or N.J.S.40A:10-23 on the effective date of P.L.1997, c.330 (C.52:14-17.32i et al.).
e. A survivor of a qualified retiree means a retiree's spouse or domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3). A survivor receiving health benefit coverage from an employer shall be ineligible for the benefits under this act while receiving such coverage.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.330, s.1)
2. A surviving spouse or domestic partner, as defined in subsection e. of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.330 (C.52:14-17.32i) of a qualified retiree who died prior to the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be eligible for the coverage provided by section 1 of P.L.1997, c.330 (C.52:14-17.32i), if the surviving spouse or domestic partner applies to the program for the coverage within one year after the effective date of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides for benefits through the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to surviving spouse's and domestic partners of law enforcement officers and firefighters retired under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) of New Jersey, the Consolidated Police and Firemen's Pension Fund (CPFPF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
Current law provides contributory post-retirement health benefits in SHBP to a qualified retiree from PFRS, CPFPF or PERS and to dependents of a qualified retiree, regardless of whether the retiree's employer participated in SHBP. A qualified retiree is one who retired on a benefit based on 25 or more years of service credit or retired on a disability retirement. The State pays 80 percent of the premium or periodic charges for the category of coverage elected by the qualified retiree under whichever SHBP plan provides the lowest cost. The qualified retiree pays the difference between the premium or periodic charge for the coverage and the amount paid by the State.
Under the bill, the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a qualified retiree will be eligible for continued SHBP coverage under these terms, including a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a qualified retiree who died before the enactment of this bill if the surviving spouse or domestic partner applies to the program for coverage within one year after enactment.
