This bill revises the eligibility criteria for accidental disability retirement allowances for members and retirees of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) who were involved in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It establishes a presumption that permanent and total disability from qualifying health conditions is linked to their service, provided the member participated for at least eight hours. The bill also extends the filing period for submitting claims to two years after its effective date, with the possibility of further extensions, and allows retirees previously denied eligibility due to late filing to petition for reconsideration.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for proving eligibility by allowing members to present evidence from medical examinations conducted before or after their entry into public service, rather than solely relying on the initial physical examination. The board of trustees is tasked with notifying all members and retirees about these changes within 60 days to ensure compliance and awareness of the new regulations.

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