Board Of Trustees Of The Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) New Jersey Division Of Pensions Benefits — Notice Of PERS Election

Nominations are being accepted to fill the position of one elected State representative to the PERS Board of Trustees for the term from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. If you wish to declare your interest in running for this position, please send a written request by December 4, 2020, to the PERS Board Secretary at NJBOT.Nomination@treas.nj.gov or P.O. Box 295, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0295.

The Board of Trustees has the general responsibility for the operation of the PERS under N.J.S.A. 43:15A-17. The Board meets monthly at the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) in Trenton. The statute provides that no employee shall suffer loss of salary or wages because of serving on the Board. A member who wishes to be a candidate for this position must be an active or retired State member of the PERS and must receive at least 500 active PERS-State employee nominations.

Only active PERS-State employees may nominate a candidate for State representative. Instructions for the nominating process are available upon receipt of a written request to the Secretary of the PERS Board of Trustees. After candidates have declared their interest in becoming a State representative to the PERS Board of Trustees, nominations to support a candidate are made primarily through a secure website. The process is very easy and only takes a few minutes.

• For State nominations, log on to: https://vote.election-america.com/PERS-State
• You need to provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, the first 4 letters of your last name, and your birthdate. You will then see a list of all the candidates and you can make your choice.
• Paper nominating petitions are also available upon request to the PERS Board Office at the address above, or for further information, please visit NJDPB website www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/board-meetings.shtml

Nominations must be received online or arrive in the Board Office on or before 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2021. If more than one candidate receives 500 or more nominations, an election will be required. Election ballots will be mailed to PERS-State employers for distribution on or about March 29, 2021.

PRESENT MEMBERS – TERM

State Representatives: Thomas Bruno – 2022; Carey Brown – 2021; William O’Brien – 2023; County Representative: Tracy Smith – 2023; Municipal Representatives: Vacant; Benjamin “Max” Hurst – 2022; Gubernatorial Appointments: Ronald Winthers, One vacant; State Treasurer’s Representative: Susanne Culliton, Ex-Officio Member

PERS BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

• Render decisions regarding Disability Retirement cases.
• Review appeals pertaining to the denial of certain pension benefits.
• Adopt rules and regulations to provide for the payment of benefits and collection of monies as required by statute.
• Establish rules and regulations within the limitations of statutes and opinions of the Courts and the Attorney General, designed to prevent injustices and inequities that may arise in the operation of the Retirement System.
• Resolve individual questions and appeals on the merits of each case in terms of statutes, opinions of the Attorney General, advice of the Actuary and cases cited by counsel as deliberated by the Courts.
• View monthly and annual reports setting forth data such as assets and liabilities, income and disbursements, and statistical summarization of membership as documented by the Actuary.