Garden State Times

The New Jersey Senate has passed a bill sponsored by Senator Vince Polistina that aims to broaden the scope of individuals eligible to receive pension benefits from deceased family members of the State Police Retirement System and the Police and Fireman's Retirement System.

In a statement, Senator Polistina (R-02) expressed his satisfaction with the Senate's approval of the legislation, emphasizing its importance in supporting the families of first responders. He stated, "By expanding the definition of child under the PFRS and SPRS and removing certain barriers, more children under the age of 24 will qualify as beneficiaries to access pension benefits. This legislation is a small but important way to honor the service of first responders in New Jersey."

The current criteria for an individual to be considered a child under the PFRS and SPRS include being under the age of 18, 18 or older and attending secondary school, under the age of 24 and enrolled in college as a full-time student, or disabled. However, to qualify as a child under the age of 24, the individual must be the survivor of a PFRS or SPRS member who died in active duty.

Senator Polistina's bill, S-2689, seeks to remove the active-duty requirement, allowing any full-time college student under the age of 24 to be considered a child and eligible to receive pension payments from their deceased family member's final compensation, regardless of where the pension holder passed away.

Regarding the importance of the bill, Senator Polistina remarked, "Surviving children already have to grieve the loss of a loved one. Their ability to receive benefits shouldn't hinge on whether their loved one died in the line of duty. Allowing more children to benefit from their family member's pension can provide a sense of financial security during a very difficult time."

The passing of this legislation reflects a significant step towards providing additional support to the families of first responders in New Jersey, ensuring that more individuals can access vital pension benefits during challenging times.