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 attacks. It establishes a presumption that permanent and total disability resulting from specific qualifying health conditions is connected to their service during these operations, provided the member participated for at least eight hours. The bill outlines qualifying conditions, such as respiratory diseases and psychological disorders, and allows for filing extensions for applications related to these disabilities.

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 further extensions in two-year increments. It also allows retirees previously denied eligibility due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their forms. The requirements for proving eligibility are modified to permit evidence from medical examinations conducted before or after entry into public service, rather than relying solely on a physical examination that did not disclose qualifying conditions. The board of trustees is required to notify all members and retirees of the bill's enactment within 60 days, ensuring clear communication regarding the new provisions and filing requirements.

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