The bill seeks to broaden the eligibility criteria for civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating the requirement that service must occur during specific wars or emergencies. It redefines "veteran" to include any individual honorably discharged from federal active service in any branch of the Armed Forces or a Reserve component, thereby removing previous restrictions based on specific conflicts or timeframes. Additionally, the definition of "disabled veteran" is expanded to encompass any veteran eligible for compensation for a service-connected disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also introduces provisions for the parents and spouses of veterans who died in service, granting them a disabled veterans' preference and ensuring that veterans with disabilities are not discriminated against in civil service examinations.

Moreover, the bill amends the definitions related to the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, clarifying the terms "widow," "widower," and "parent" to include domestic partners under certain conditions. It allows members of the retirement system to purchase service credit for federal active service, with specific conditions regarding concurrent service and vested rights in other retirement systems. The bill also ensures that employers are not liable for costs associated with pension adjustment benefits when members purchase credit for various types of service. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more inclusive framework for veterans and their families in New Jersey, while modernizing the language surrounding veteran status and spousal definitions within the context of public employee benefits.

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