This bill amends existing laws concerning the accidental disability retirement allowance for members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) who participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks. It establishes a presumption that permanent and total disability resulting from qualifying health conditions is connected to their service during these operations, provided the member participated for at least eight hours. The bill also allows for this presumption to apply to members who did not meet the eight-hour requirement if they sustained a documented injury during the specified time frame. Key provisions include the requirement for members to have passed a physical examination for entry into public service or provide evidence of medical examinations that did not reveal qualifying conditions prior to their service.

Additionally, the bill extends the filing period for members and retirees to submit a written and sworn statement to two years after the bill's effective date, with the possibility of additional extensions in two-year increments. It allows retirees who were previously denied eligibility due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their forms. The bill modifies the requirements for proving eligibility by permitting members and retirees to present evidence from medical examinations conducted before or after their entry into public service, rather than solely relying on a physical examination that failed to disclose qualifying conditions. Furthermore, it mandates that the board of trustees notify all members and retirees of the bill's enactment within 60 days, ensuring clear communication regarding the provisions, impacted individuals, filing requirements, and deadlines.

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