The bill amends New Jersey's civil service and pension laws to expand eligibility for veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that service must have occurred during specific dates or in designated locations. It redefines "disabled veteran" to include any veteran eligible for compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for a service-connected disability, regardless of when or where they served. The definition of "veteran" is also broadened to encompass any person honorably discharged from federal active service in any branch of the Armed Forces, removing previous restrictions based on specific wars or conflicts. Additionally, provisions are introduced to grant a disabled veterans' preference to the parents and spouses of veterans who died due to federal active service, and protections against discrimination in civil service examinations for veterans with disabilities are established.

Further changes include clarifications to definitions related to the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and the Public Employees' Retirement System, ensuring that terms align with federal standards and modernize language regarding dependency and support for widows and widowers. The bill allows members to purchase service credit for federal active service, with specific conditions, and ensures that employers are not liable for costs associated with pension adjustments when members purchase credit. Overall, the bill aims to create a more inclusive framework for veterans seeking benefits and to simplify the criteria for veteran status within state-administered retirement systems, contingent upon voter approval of a constitutional amendment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43:15A-6, 43:15A-24, 43:15A-73.1, 43:16A-11.7, 43:16A-11.11, 53:5A-3