Corrado Bill to Require Public Employees Convicted of Sex Offenses to Forfeit Pensions Heads to Governor’s Desk

Any public employee or elected official who is convicted of committing a sex offense while on the job would be required to forfeit their state pension, under legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado. The bill, A-3766/S-2595 cleared the New Jersey Senate on May 30, 2019 and now heads to the Governor’s desk for final approval.

“Anyone who has the audacity to use their taxpayer-funded position of power to assault a coworker doesn’t deserve a state pension,” Senator Corrado (R-40) said. “Public service is about helping people and making the state you work for a better, safer place for all. Anyone who commits a crime that is contrary to that mission, whether it’s an ethics violation or a sex offense, shouldn’t be paid by the state for life. We need to confront this crisis head-on and ensure that people know there are real consequences for committing crimes in the workplace.”

Currently, public officials or employees who are convicted of committing certain crimes related to their official duties, such as bribery or official misconduct, can be stripped of their pension as a result of these violations.

Senator Corrado’s bill, A-3766/S-2595, would expand existing law to include the following offenses as crimes that meet the threshold for pension forfeiture, if the crime is directly related to the offender’s performance in, or circumstances related to their public office or position of employment: sexual assault, lewdness, sexual contact, and corruption of public resources in the first degree.

“Unfortunately, there are some officials and employees in New Jersey who are not in public service to serve the public good. They are in it for the power. If these people cross the line, the state must hold them accountable,” Senator Corrado, a member of the New Jersey Legislative Select Oversight Committee, added. “This legislation is a strong step forward  in our  fight to protect our employees, protect our taxpayers, and restore public trust in government. I hope the Governor does the right thing and signs it immediately.”