Sweeney Bill Protecting Health Care Benefits of State Police Retirees Signed by the Governor

TRENTON – Governor Murphy signed a bill (S-1207) today sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney that ensures that any member of the State Police Retirement System who was required to retire at age 55 and who had at least 20 but less than 25 years of service credit in the retirement system will receive health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program.

“This law will ensure that State Troopers with decades of service are respected and treated fairly when they retire,” said Senator Sweeney (D- Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “It is important that the men and women who serve to protect us don’t lose out on the benefits they deserve. This is also a means of keeping troopers from leaving the force because it provides an incentive for those who have put in more than twenty years of service but would otherwise not qualify for benefits.”

This law will qualify those eligible to receive full health care benefits for themselves, their families and dependents.

The measure will apply retroactively to eligible retirees whose mandatory retirement occurred within 24 months prior to the effective date of this law. Retirees who made contributions for the cost of health care benefits coverage within those 24 months before the law’s effective date will be reimbursed for those contributions by the State Health Benefits Program.