N.J. Stat. § 43:3A-1
In case any person holding office, position or employment in the service of the State, and being a member, in good standing, of any pension or retirement system or fund to which the State is a contributor, has been or shall be absent from the place of his last known residence for a period of not less than two months, under circumstances indicating that he died by reason of an accident which occurred in the actual performance of the duties of his office, position or employment and that the natural and proximate cause of his death was the performance of his said duty, and such as would entitle any dependent or dependents of such person to a pension from said pension or retirement system or fund if he were actually dead, and the head of the principal department of the State Government, under which such person held such office, position or employment, upon proof submitted to him or from other information, is satisfied that said person may reasonably be presumed to have died at a certain place on a certain day in the manner and for the causes hereinbefore described, he shall issue his certificate accordingly, stating the date, the circumstances and place of said presumed death and thereupon such person shall be presumed to be dead as of the time so certified for the purposes of this act.
N.J.S. § 43:3A-1