New Jersey § 53:5a-8

§ 53:5a-8.

a. The Legislature finds and declares that the public health, safety and welfare require

the ongoing health and fitness of all members of the New Jersey State Police so that

they may safely and efficiently protect the public. The Legislature further finds and declares that such continued health and fitness

cannot be determined except with reference to age, and therefore finds and concludes

that retirement of all members of the State Police at age 55, except as provided for

in subsection c. of this section, shall constitute a bona fide occupational qualification

which is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the State Police, which qualification

the Legislature hereby promulgates and establishes. b. Any member of the retirement system may retire on a service retirement allowance

upon having established at least 20 years of creditable service in the retirement system , which includes the creditable service of those members appointed to the Division

of State Police under section 3 of P.L.1983, c. 403 ( C.39:2-9.3 ) and the creditable service of those members appointed to the Division of State Police

under section 1 of P.L.1997, c. 19 ( C.53:1-8.2 ). Upon the filing of a written and duly executed application with the retirement system,

setting forth at what time, not less than one month subsequent to the filing thereof,

he desires to be retired, any such member retiring for service shall receive a service

retirement allowance which shall consist of: (1) An annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of his aggregate contributions;

and (2) A pension in the amount which, when added to the member's annuity, will provide

a total retirement allowance of 50% of his final compensation. c. Except for the Superintendent of State Police, any member of the retirement system,

including a member appointed to the State Police under section 3 of P.L.1983, c. 403

( C.39:2-9.3 ) and a member appointed to the State Police under section 1 of P.L.1997, c. 19 ( C.53:1-8.2 ), who has attained the age of 55 years, shall be retired forthwith on the first day

of the next calendar month following the effective date of this 1985 amendatory act. Any member of the retirement system so retired shall receive a service retirement

allowance pursuant to this section or section 27 of P.L.1965, c. 89 ( C.53:5A-27 ), as appropriate. d. Any member of the retirement system who is required to retire pursuant to subsection

c. of this section and who has more than 20 but fewer than 25 years of creditable

service at the time of retirement shall be entitled to continued health benefits coverage

during retirement as provided in the “New Jersey State Health Benefits Program Act,”

P.L.1961, c. 49 ( C.52:14-17.25 et seq. ). Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1961, c. 49 ( C.52:14-17.32 ), or any other law enacted prior to the effective date of P.L.2018, c. 63 1 requiring persons who have retired from public employment to make contributions toward

the cost of health care benefits coverage in retirement, to the contrary, the State

shall pay in full the premium or periodic charge for the benefits provided under this

subsection to a member retiring under subsection c. of this section with fewer than

25 years of service credited in the retirement system, and the member's dependents

covered under the program, but not including survivors. This provision shall be the sole provision applicable to these specified members

of the retirement system with regard to the obligations of the State for the payment

of premiums and periodic charges and any contributions toward the cost of health care

benefits coverage during retirement for a retired member and the member's dependents. e. Any member of the retirement system as of the effective date of P.L.1985, c. 175

who is required to retire pursuant to subsection c. of this section shall be entitled

to the retirement allowance provided for by subsection b. of this section, notwithstanding

that the member shall have fewer than 20 years' creditable service. f. Any member of the retirement system as of the effective date of P.L.1985, c. 175 2 who is required to retire pursuant to subsection c. of this section and who has more

than 20 but less than 25 years of creditable service at the time of retirement shall

be entitled to the retirement allowance provided for by subsection b. of this section

plus 3% of his final compensation multiplied by the number of years of creditable

service over 20 but not over 25. g. Upon the receipt of proper proofs of the death of a member who has retired on a

service retirement allowance, there shall be paid to the member's beneficiary an amount

equal to one-half of the final compensation received by the member. 1

L.2018, c. 63, eff. July 3, 2018. 2

L.1985, c. 175, eff. Aug. 29, 1985.