New Jersey A 4098: Raises mandatory retirement age for SPRS members from 55 to 60.

Bill Text

A4098 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4098 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� WAYNE P. DEANGELO

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Raises mandatory retirement age for SPRS members from 
55 to 60. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning the mandatory retirement age for 
members of the State Police Retirement System and amending P.L.1965, c.89.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 8 of P.L.1965, 
c.89 (C.53:5A-8) is amended to read as follows:

���� 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, and that, after the effective date of 
P.L.�� , c.��� (pending before the Legislature as this bill), retirement of all 
members of the State Police at age 60, 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 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.198