Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit.

This bill (S 285) changes health care benefit rules for New Jersey elected officials. It removes part-time elected officials (those working fewer than 35 hours weekly) from eligibility for employer-paid health care coverage and prohibits them from receiving payments for waiving such coverage. The bill also codifies a dedicated Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit to investigate public pension and benefit fraud. These changes apply to officials serving in county, municipal, or contracting unit roles covered under existing health benefit programs. The bill is currently pending in the Senate.