New Jersey Senate Bill S816

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/22
• Refer: 1/18/22

Caption

Eliminates remarriage prohibition for PFRS death benefits; provides retirement allowance to certain survivors of PFRS members.

Impact

The passage of S816 would significantly impact the survivors' benefits provided to police and firefighters, allowing for greater financial security for spouses or partners who enter into new relationships after the death of a PFRS member. By ensuring the benefits are maintained, the bill proposes a more equitable treatment of survivors, regardless of their marital status after the death of their loved ones. This legislative action addresses a previous law that was seen as punitive towards those who chose to remarry, potentially leading to increased financial hardships for these individuals.

Summary

Senate Bill S816 aims to amend and supplement the provisions concerning death benefits in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) of New Jersey by eliminating the prohibition against remarriage for surviving spouses or domestic partners of PFRS members. This change means that any surviving spouse or partner who remarried would retain eligibility for pension benefits, which would otherwise terminate upon entering a new marriage or domestic partnership. Additionally, the bill reinstates the survivors' pensions for those who lost these benefits due to previous remarriages before the enactment of the bill.

Contention

While the bill enjoys support on the grounds of fairness and support for law enforcement families, there may be concerns about the financial implications for the state and local governments regarding the increased pension costs. Local employers may be required to absorb additional financial responsibilities through reimbursements associated with the updated benefit structure. Detractors might argue that providing benefits irrespective of remarriage could lead to an increased burden on pension funds and may complicate the fiscal planning for municipalities that fund these pensions.