This bill amends existing laws concerning accidental disability retirement allowances for members and retirees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), State Police Retirement System (SPRS), and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks. It establishes a presumption that permanent and total disabilities resulting from qualifying health conditions are connected to their service during these operations, provided the member participated for at least eight hours. The bill also allows for the recalculation of retirement allowances for those who retired under different circumstances but later incurred disabilities related to their participation in these operations.

Key provisions include extending the time frame for filing a written and sworn statement with the retirement system to two years after the bill's effective date, with the board of trustees authorized to approve additional extensions in two-year increments. It modifies eligibility criteria by allowing members or retirees to present evidence from medical examinations conducted before or after their entry into public service, which did not reveal the qualifying condition, as an alternative to having passed a physical examination for entry. The bill clarifies that the presumption of permanent and total disability applies to members who participated for a minimum of eight hours and includes provisions for those who sustained documented injuries during the specified time frame. The board of trustees is also required to notify members and retirees of the bill's enactment within 30 days, aiming to enhance support for those affected by their service during the 9/11 events.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43:16A-7, 53:5A-10, 43:15A-43