Committee advances bill extending benefit filings for 9/11 responders after doctors and veterans testify

A New Jersey Assembly committee on Thursday advanced A4004, a bill that would extend filing windows and adjust eligibility for certain pension recalculations and accidental-death or disability benefits for public safety workers who participated in 9/11 rescue, recovery or cleanup operations.

Dr. Iris Utterson, lead physician at Rutgers’ World Trade Center clinical center, told the committee that many illnesses tied to 9/11 exposure develop decades after contact with contaminants. “Cancer often takes 20 to 30 years after an exposure to develop,” she said, describing ongoing diagnoses among responders and arguing that the state should protect affected workers and their families.

Several former and current first responders described the physical and administrative burdens that followed their service. “I was a Jersey City police officer on September 11th, 2001,” said Valerie Velasquez, who recounted chronic sinus, respiratory and other health problems and said she was denied accidental disability benefits after failing to receive a postcard notification. Retired detective Robert Pope described being certified into the World Trade Center Health Program in 2022 and said prior pension appeals were denied before that certification.

The bill, as explained to the committee, would amend filing and documentation rules for members or retirees of PFRS, SPRS and PERS — commonly known as the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, the State Police Retirement System and the Public Employees’ Retirement System — related to accidental disability retirement allowances tied to 9/11 service. Among the amendments: extending the window for some retirees to request recalculation from 30 days to 180 days and allowing a surviving spouse or child of a qualifying deceased SPRS retiree to apply for accidental death benefits in circumstances broader than the bill’s prior text.

Union leaders and multiple organizations — including the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey — urged passage, saying notification failed to reach many retirees and that expanded access is needed now as new diagnoses continue to emerge. Several speakers recounted delays or denials tied to missing mailing notifications and urged the committee to open eligibility to those who did not previously file.

Committee members responded with expressions of sympathy and support. After debate and brief remarks from members who commended the witnesses, the committee moved to amend and release the bill; roll-call votes recorded support and the committee released A4004 as amended.

Supporters said the next step is consideration by the full Assembly. The committee’s action releases the bill from committee; it does not by itself change any benefits until enacted into law and signed by the governor.