ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 3161
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 12, 2024
The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports
favorably Assembly Bill No. 3161.
This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by
eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific
wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a
veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates
or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in
any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve
component thereof.
The benefits in the bill are: (1) a civil service preference under
Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement
allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF)
or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the
purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and
Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State
Police Retirement System (SPRS).
Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is
contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the
State Constitution.