New Jersey Governor Chris Christie [official website] signed the Sweeney Bill (SB 2061) [text, PDF] into law on Thursday, increasing the accidental death benefits for surviving children of fallen state troopers to 70% of final compensation. The Sweeney Bill amendments change the benefit distribution criteria as they relate to New Jersey’s State Police Retirement System (SPRS) and Police and Fireman Retirement System (PFRS) [official websites]. According to the New Jersey Senate Democrats, the prior law granted [press release] only 20 percent death benefits for the first child, 35 percent for two or 50 percent for three or more children. With the Sweeney Bill amendments, “all minor children of State Troopers who die in the line of duty would be entitled to the same amount of death benefits, including the children of unmarried couples” matching the 70% benefits that only surviving spouses are currently entitled to receive. Furthermore, the bill also extends the maximum age until which a child could receive benefits to 18 years of age or older if they are enrolled in a secondary school, or 24 years of age if they are enrolled in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credits per semester. However, a surviving parent that was not married to a fallen trooper, while still obligated to manage and distribute the benefits being paid for their minor children, is currently still ineligible [NJ.Com report] to enjoy the benefits for themselves, unlike legally married spouses.

This new development comes in the wake of New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen’s death, which occurred when Cullen was struck and killed [NJ.Com report] by a motor vehicle on Interstate 295 in West Deptford. At the time, Cullen was responding to a car accident where an injured motorist was trapped inside a burning car. No charges have been filed against the driver of the vehicle that struck Cullen, and he has fully cooperated with the police. Cullen leaves behind a newborn and a 15-month-old child. This law comes into effect nearly five months after Cullen’s death. Senate President Steve Sweeney [official website], after whom the bill is named, stated: “We ask our law enforcement officers and emergency response workers to put themselves in harm’s way, as Trooper Cullen and so many other troopers do every day …. This law provides the reassurance that all of our law enforcement officers and firefighters need when they go to work.” Last month, the governor of Texas announced [JURIST report] that he plans to propose a law providing for additional punishment for crimes against law enforcement officers. In May, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed a “Blue Lives Matter” bill that raises the penalties [JURIST report] for crimes against police officers.