New Jersey Assembly Bill A5791

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/16/25
• Refer: 6/16/25

Caption

Permits certain members of Prosecutors Part of PERS to qualify for service retirement with 20 or more years of service.

Impact

The immediate impact of A5791 is that it lowers the age requirement for retirement for prosecutors who have served the requisite number of years. By allowing members with 20 or more years of service credit to retire regardless of age, the bill recognizes the unique demands placed on prosecutors and aims to provide them with more favorable retirement options. This could have implications for recruitment and retention within the prosecutorial field, potentially attracting younger candidates into public service roles.

Summary

A5791, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, aims to amend the retirement benefits for certain members of the Prosecutors Part of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). The bill permits these members who have 20 or more years of service credit to qualify for service retirement regardless of their age. This marks a significant change in retirement eligibility, as current law requires members to be at least 55 years old to retire with certain benefits.

Contention

While the bill may seem beneficial to current members, there could be concerns regarding long-term financial implications for the retirement system. Critics might argue that allowing earlier retirement could strain the pension fund or raise costs for taxpayers in the long run. Additionally, discussions during legislative sessions may also reveal differing opinions on how this would affect the efficacy and experience levels of the prosecutorial workforce, with opponents possibly fearing a decrease in the overall quality of service due to younger, less experienced prosecutors taking roles prematurely.