New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 17 - TREASURY - GENERAL › Chapter 5 - STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM › Subchapter 4 - PURCHASES AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE › Section 17:5-4.2 - Optional purchases of eligible service

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a)
				Notwithstanding the provisions at (a)5 and 6 below, the types of purchases
				indicated below will be calculated on the basis of the actuarial factor
				established for the member's age at the time of the purchase times the member's
				current salary:
1. Former SPRS membership
				credit: Service covered by former membership in this system will be included in
				the computation of retirement benefits in the same manner and value as current
				service. All or a portion of the service from a former membership may be
				included in the purchase of such service.
2. Former membership service established in
				another State-supported retirement system: In accordance with
				P.L.
				2019, c. 251, for all
				retirements effective on November 1, 2019, and thereafter, such service can be
				used to qualify for retirement under the minimum service requirements. All or a
				portion of the service from a former membership may be included in the purchase
				of such service. This service shall be the same as creditable service as a
				full-time commissioned officer, noncommissioned trooper, or trooper rendered as
				a member.
i. Any active member shall be
				permitted to purchase such credits by paying, into the annuity savings fund,
				the amount required by applying the factor, supplied by the actuary, as being
				applicable to the member's age at the time of the purchase, to the member's
				salary at that time.
3.
				Leaves of absence without pay: A member must request to purchase a leave of
				absence without pay within one year following the member's return to service. A
				member may purchase:
i. All or a portion of
				the period of the leave for personal reasons that is less than three months.
				Maternity leave may consist of a personal leave component and a personal
				reasons component (for child care). Child care is considered a leave for
				personal reasons.
ii. All or a
				portion of the period of the leave up to two years for personal illness. The
				Division may require proof that the illness existed for the length of the
				leave. Members who apply to purchase any period of maternity leave as personal
				illness must provide certification from their physician, verifying that the
				member was disabled during the requested purchase period, due to pregnancy or
				childbirth. Absent physician certification, three months is the maximum
				allowable period of purchase for maternity leave for personal
				reasons.
4. Military
				service: A member may purchase credit in the retirement system for military
				service in the Armed Forces of the United States prior to becoming a member. A
				member may purchase credit for all or a portion of such service, up to 10
				years, plus an additional five years if the member qualifies as a veteran with
				certain wartime military service. All members must provide the Division with a
				DD-214 Form, which includes a member's character of service, active/entry dates
				of service, and discharge/ending dates of service. The SPRS credit purchased
				for prior military service will be equivalent to service in the State Police as
				a member of SPRS in qualifying for retirement benefits.
i. The Federal Uniformed Services Employment
				and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) provides that a member who leaves
				employment to serve on active duty is entitled to purchase service credit for
				the period of uniformed service. If the member makes the pension contributions
				that would have been normally required upon return and within the time frames
				specified under USERRA, the military service will count for vesting, retirement
				eligibility, the calculation of the retirement benefit and, if applicable,
				health benefits eligibility, as though the member had not left. When a member
				returns from uniformed military service to SPRS-covered employment, the
				employer should notify the Division no later than 30 days after the member's
				return by submitting a Request for USERRA-Eligible Service form. Once notified,
				the Division will provide the member with a quotation for the cost for
				purchasing the service credit pursuant to
				N.J.A.C.
				17:1-3.10.
5. Public employment in another state: In
				accordance with
				P.L.
				2021, c. 399, for all
				retirements effective February 1, 2022, and thereafter, such service credit
				purchased will be equivalent to service credit acquired in the service in the
				State Police, as of the date of the purchase. A member may purchase service
				credit for all, or a portion of, such service up to the nearest number of years
				and months, but not to exceed five years. However, this service is only
				eligible for purchase if a member does not have a vested right to retirement
				benefits in another retirement system based in whole, or in part, upon that
				service. A member may purchase service credit for the service by paying into
				the annuity savings fund the amount required by applying the factor, supplied
				by the actuary as being applicable to the member's age at the time of the
				purchase, to the member's salary at the time, or to the highest annual
				compensation for service in this State for which contributions were made during
				any higher fiscal year, whichever is greater.
6. United States Government: In accordance
				with P.L.
				2021, c. 399, for all
				retirements effective February 1, 2022, and thereafter, such service credit
				purchased will be equivalent to service in the service in the State Police, as
				of the date of the purchase. A member may purchase service credit for all or a
				portion of such service, up to five years. However, this service is only
				eligible for purchase if a member does not have a vested right to retirement
				benefits in another retirement system based in whole, or in part, upon that
				service. A member may purchase service credit for the service by paying, into
				the annuity savings fund, the amount required by applying the factor, supplied
				by the actuary, as being applicable to the member's age at the time of the
				purchase, to the member's salary at the time, or to the highest annual
				compensation for service in this State for which contributions were made during
				any higher fiscal year, whichever is greater.