This bill amends the regulations of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) in New Jersey to allow beneficiaries of death benefits to remarry without losing their eligibility for pension benefits. It specifically reclassifies widows and widowers of PFRS members who remarried before the bill's effective date, enabling them to receive death benefits from that date forward. The bill also modifies the definitions of "widow" and "widower" by removing the requirement that they must not have remarried to qualify for benefits, thereby ensuring that pensions continue regardless of the marital status of the surviving spouse.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the financial implications for employers by mandating that the State reimburse them for any increased costs associated with the pension benefits payable to widows, widowers, or domestic partners due to this legislation. The overall intent is to provide greater financial security and equitable treatment for all surviving spouses and partners, ensuring that their survivor pensions are not terminated upon remarriage or the establishment of a new domestic partnership. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43:16A-1, 43:16A-9, 43:16A-12.1