On Thursday, June 24, Governor Murphy signed A-4745, which raises the eligibility for exempt firefighter certificates and membership in New Jersey State Fireman’s Association maximum age from 45 to 57. Under previous regulations, firefighters were required to join a fire service between the ages of 18 and 45 to receive an exempt firefighter certificate. Exempt firefighter certificates are issued to firefighters who have responded to a percentage of their department’s fire duty over a seven-year period. P.L. 2021, c. 123 changes the percentage from a fixed 60% after January 1, 2020, to a rate fixed by the New Jersey State Exempt Firemen’s Association executive committee. This new law took effect immediately and is retroactive to January 1, 2020.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.