Important progress on key pension bill
After months of advocacy by thousands of NJEA members, two important bills have made their way to Gov. Murphy’s desk to be signed into law. On Monday, June 30, the last day of the last legislative session of the year, the bills were voted on and passed by the NJ General Assembly. The passage of these bills through the Legislature represents a major win for public schools.
A5077, which passed through the Assembly by a vote of 72-2, has been signed into law. The bill continues the pause on student growth objectives (SGOs) while the NJ Department of Education continues to work on a pilot program to find a better, more efficient alternative.
A1675, known as the Break in Service bill, passed through the Assembly by a vote of 69-9. When signed, the bill will allow TPAF members who took an extended break in service to rejoin the pension system at their original tier. Those members who took more than two years to raise children or go to school, started in a Tier I pension and found themselves in a Tier V pension upon returning to work can now rejoin the pension system at their original tier. The bill is now on Gov. Murphy’s desk awaiting his signature to become law.