This bill amends existing laws to extend health care benefits to disabled members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) in New Jersey. It establishes that members who are disabled and receiving disability benefits will be entitled to health care coverage under the School Employees Health Benefit Program (SEHBP) at no cost, with no employee contribution required. Importantly, there are no deadlines for enrollment, and the only eligibility requirement is that the individual must be a recipient of disability insurance under TPAF or PERS.

Additionally, the bill outlines the specifics of the disability benefit coverage, including that the benefit will be calculated at 60% of the member's base monthly salary, with certain reductions for other benefits. It ensures that members receiving these benefits will be considered in active service for pension purposes. The bill also establishes an appeals process managed by the State Treasurer for disputes related to an employee's ability to return to work or issues concerning physical examinations. Overall, the legislation aims to provide comprehensive support for disabled educators and public employees in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:66-39.1, 43:15A-42.1