NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Senate Monday passed legislation sponsored by Senator Vince Polistina to provide teachers with fairer pension benefits.
The bill seeks to amend the definition of “compensation” for purposes of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay received by teachers for extracurricular duties performed beyond the regular school day or school year.
“Teachers dedicate countless hours outside of the classroom helping their students grow both academically and personally, often serving as faculty advisors for clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities,” said Polistina (R-2). “I’m proud that the New Jersey Senate recognized that commitment by passing this legislation, which ensures those additional responsibilities are properly accounted for when calculating a teacher’s pension.”
Under current law, the stipends earned by educators for extracurricular work are not included in their pension calculations.
Senator Polistina’s bill, S-3713, would rectify this by guaranteeing that educators’ hard-earned pay for after school duties count towards their retirement benefits, so they receive the meaningful compensation they have earned over the course of their careers.
“Today’s bipartisan Senate vote affirms that New Jersey values the full contributions of our teachers, both in the classroom and beyond,” Polistina added.
