Extends membership in TPAF to four years after discontinuance of service and to 20 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.

This bill extends membership eligibility in New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). It changes the membership termination rule from two to four consecutive years of discontinued service (N.J.S.18A:66-7) and extends the window for returning to work from 10 to 20 years for specific groups: teachers laid off due to staff reductions, district consolidation, or those with 10+ years of continuous service upon voluntary termination (N.J.S.18A:66-8). Teachers who don't withdraw their contributions can maintain membership during these extended periods and return to work within the new timeframe. The change directly affects educators who leave teaching roles under these conditions, preserving their ability to rejoin the pension system without losing membership status.