The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Accounting date" means the annual date at the close of the fiscal year when the sponsoring agency provides an accounting of its length of service award agreement and apprises all participants of the value of their accounts.
"Active volunteer member" means a person who has been so designated by the governing board of a duly created emergency service organization and who is faithfully and actually performing volunteer service in that organization.
"Beneficiary" means the person, persons or legal entity designated by a participant to receive any undistributed compensation which becomes payable in the event of a participant's death.
"Complete application package" means the documentation to be submitted to the Director by a contractor for approval of a prototypical length of service award plan agreement which may include other supporting documentation as required.
"Contractor" means any person or entity, other than the sponsoring agency, authorized to do business in New Jersey, that provides investments or services or both regarding the sponsoring agency's length of service award plan agreement.
"Director" means the Director of the Division of Local Government Services within the Department of Community Affairs.
"Division" means the Division of Local Government Services within the Department of Community Affairs.
"Emergency service organization" means a fire or first aid organization, whether organized as a volunteer fire company, volunteer fire department, fire district or duly incorporated emergency service squad.
"Emergency service squad" means a duly incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad association.
"Independent auditor" means a registered municipal accountant for a municipality or county pursuant to 40A:5-4, or a certified public accountant for a fire district pursuant to 40A:5A-15.
"Joinder agreement" means the document signed by a participant to authorize participation in a length of service award program.
"Length of service award program" or "LOSAP" means a system established to provide tax-deferred income benefits to active volunteer members of an emergency service organization.
"Local plan administrator" means the person or group of local public officials or employees, including the local governing body, appointed by the sponsoring agency to act as the agreement representative with respect to the contractor and to perform the agreement duties, if any, that are not to be performed by the contractor under the terms of a length of service award plan agreement.
"Participant" means an active volunteer member who is eligible for benefits under a length of service award program.
"Prototypical length of service award plan," "LOSAP plan" or "plan" means a length of service award plan prepared by a contractor and approved by the Director.
"Sponsoring agency" means the governing body of a municipality or fire district.
"Vesting" means the length of time a bona fide volunteer must serve in order to secure the right to receive the benefits of participation in a length of service award program.
"Year of active emergency service" means a 12-month period during which an active volunteer member participates in the fire or first aid service and satisfies the minimum requirements of participation established by the sponsoring agency on a consistent and uniform basis.
N.J. Admin. Code § 5:30-14.1