Read the full stored bill text
A5315
ASSEMBLY, No. 5315
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� VINCENT M. "VINNIE" KEARNEY
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes �Combat Veteran Pension Credit Act�;
provides eligible combat veterans up to four years of pension credit at no
cost.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning pension credit for combat veterans
entering public service and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Combat Veteran Pension Credit Act.�
���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:
���� a.���� Many veterans who
return to civilian life after honorable military service face significant
challenges transitioning back into society, often seeking the structure,
discipline, and sense of purpose experienced during their time in uniform.
���� b.��� A large number of
veterans choose to continue serving their communities through public service
careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services,
healthcare, education, and other critical fields.
���� c.���� Under current law,
veterans with qualifying service may �buy back� active-duty military time for
pension credit in the Judicial Retirement System, the Police and Firemen�s
Retirement System, the Public Employees� Retirement System, the State Police
Retirement System, or the Teachers� Pension and Annuity Fund.� However, the
financial burden associated with such a buyback often prevents many qualified
veterans from doing so.
���� d.��� Combat veterans, or
those who have directly engaged in combat and earned a Combat Action Ribbon or
an equivalent decoration, have experienced extraordinary hardships and made
exceptional sacrifices in defense of the nation.
���� e.���� The State of New Jersey
recognizes that such combat veterans deserve special acknowledgement for their
service and should receive a measure of assistance that eases their transition
into public service roles.
���� f.���� Providing automatic
pension credit to eligible combat veterans demonstrates New Jersey�s commitment
to honoring those who have faced the gravest dangers in defense of our freedom,
while also strengthening our communities by encouraging their continued service.
���� 3.��� a.� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� �Combat veteran� means a
veteran who has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat
decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable
discharge, and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1.
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a
member of the Judicial Retirement System shall be granted up to four years of
service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for
active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
���� c.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any
person seeking to be considered a �combat veteran� under subsection a. of this section
meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person
disputing this determination.� The determination of the commissioner shall be
binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits, who shall apply the service
credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary
buyback or contribution.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement
procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under
subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.
���� e.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees,
shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits, promulgate
rules and regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this
act, P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).
���� 4.��� a.� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� �Combat veteran� means a
veteran who: has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat
decoration by the United States Armed Forces; has received an honorable
discharge; and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1,
and in section 1 of P.L.1983, c.391 (C.43:16A-11.7) for the Police and Firemen�s
Retirement System.
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a
member of the Police and Firemen�s Retirement System shall be granted up to
four years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment
for active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
���� c.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any
person seeking to be considered a �combat veteran� under subsection a. of this section
meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person
disputing this determination.� The determination of the commissioner shall be
binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits and the board of trustees of
the Police and Firemen�s Retirement System, who shall apply the service credit
automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary buyback or
contribution.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, and the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen�s Retirement
System, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement
procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under subsection
a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.
���� e.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees,
shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits and the board
of trustees of the Police and Firemen�s Retirement System, promulgate rules and
regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this act,
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
���� 5.��� a.� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� �Combat veteran� means a
veteran who has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat
decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable
discharge, and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1
and section 6 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-6) for the Public Employees�
Retirement System..
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a
member of the Public Employees� Retirement System shall be granted up to four
years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for
active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
���� c.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any
person seeking to be considered a �combat veteran� under subsection a. of this section
meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person
disputing this determination.� The determination of the commissioner shall be
binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits, who shall apply the service
credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary
buyback or contribution.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement
procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under
subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.
���� e.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees,
shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits, promulgate
rules and regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this
act, P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).
���� 6.��� a.� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� �Combat veteran� means a
veteran who has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat
decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable
discharge, and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1
and section 3 of P.L.1965, c.89 (C.53:5A-3) for the State Police Retirement
System.
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a
member of the State Police Retirement System shall be granted up to four years
of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for
active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
���� c.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any
person seeking to be considered a �combat veteran� under subsection a. of this section
meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person
disputing this determination.� The determination of the commissioner shall be
binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits, who shall apply the service
credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary
buyback or contribution.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement
procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under
subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.
���� e.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees,
shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits, promulgate
rules and regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this
act, P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).
���� 7.��� a.� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� �Combat veteran� means a
veteran who has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon or an equivalent combat
decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has received an honorable
discharge, and meets the definition of a veteran as that term is defined in
P.L.1991, c.390 (C.11A:5-1) and N.J.S.18A:66-2 for the Teachers� Pension and
Annuity Fund.
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, on or after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), any combat veteran who is a member or becomes a
member of the Teachers� Pension and Annuity Fund shall be granted up to four
years of service credit for the period of one full contractual enlistment for
active-duty military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
���� c.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for determining whether any
person seeking to be considered a �combat veteran� under subsection a. of this section
meets the criteria set forth therein and adjudicating an appeal from any person
disputing this determination.� The determination of the commissioner shall be
binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits, who shall apply the service
credit automatically upon the determination without requiring a monetary
buyback or contribution.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, or their designees, shall, as applicable, develop and implement
procedures for verifying that a combat veteran meets the criteria under
subsection a. of this section and awarding the appropriate credit.
���� e.���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Treasurer, or their designees,
shall, in consultation with the Division of Pensions and Benefits, promulgate
rules and regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this
act, P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).
���� 8. �This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill, entitled the
�Combat Veteran Pension Credit Act,� provides eligible combat veterans up to
four years of pension credit at no cost.
���� Under the bill, any veteran
who is a member or becomes a member of the Judicial Retirement System (JRS),
the Police and Firemen�s Retirement System (PFRS), the Public Employees�
Retirement System (PERS), the Teachers� Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or the
State Police Retirement System (SPRS), has been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon
or an equivalent combat decoration by the United States Armed Forces, has
received an honorable discharge, and meets certain definitions of a veteran will
be granted up to four years of service credit for the period of one full
contractual enlistment for active-duty military service in the United States
Armed Forces.
���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs will be responsible for determining whether a
veteran meets the criteria to be considered a �combat veteran� for the purpose
of awarding such service credit under the bill.� The determination of the
commissioner will be binding upon the Division of Pensions and Benefits in the
Department of the Treasury and, as applicable, the board of trustees of the PFRS,
who will apply the service credit automatically upon the determination without
requiring a monetary buyback or contribution.
���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Division of Pensions and
Benefits, and, as applicable, the board of trustees of the PFRS, or their
designees, will develop and implement procedures for the verification and
awarding of appropriate credit.� These parties, as applicable, and the State
Treasurer will also promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement
the provisions of this bill.
���� This bill recognizes that
combat veterans have endured the most demanding conditions of military service
and deserve special recognition for their sacrifices.� Providing automatic
pension credit not only honors their service but also encourages veterans to
continue serving their communities in vital public safety and public service
roles.