PRIA Logo™
West VirginiaHB 56842026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners

Sponsored By: James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Retired lawyers and judges can keep pensions

A retired, licensed attorney may work for the Supreme Court as a child protection commissioner or as a circuit court law clerk and keep their annuity. The attorney must be retired at least 60 days, meet job qualifications, and serve only while the posted vacancy remains unfilled. Retired judges, justices, and magistrates recalled for temporary service get per diem pay and still keep their annuity.

Retirees can fill protective services jobs

Retirees can take full- or part-time child or adult protective services jobs and keep their annuity. You must be retired at least 60 days, meet the job’s minimum qualifications, and be hired to fill a posted vacancy. You may work only while that specific vacancy remains unfilled. This flexibility ends July 1, 2025.

New child protection commissioners and pilot

The Supreme Court appoints child protection commissioners for two-year terms. Commissioners must be West Virginia lawyers with juvenile law training or experience. They can run hearings, order services, and manage cases, but only make recommendations. Circuit judges enter the final orders, and any party can object within 10 days. The Court runs a pilot, reports yearly on results and costs, sets commissioner pay, may cover travel, and provides needed equipment or space.

New retirement rules for legislators and staff

You may earn up to $25,000 a year from legislative per diem or temporary work and keep your annuity; above that, your annuity is suspended during that job. Former legislative staff with at least 10 years of service must wait 60 days after retirement to return per diem and are limited to 175 per‑diem days a year. If you are a full‑time state employee and also a legislator, you can retire from the job and start your annuity without leaving your seat, but you will not earn more service credit for that legislative service. Elected legislators and the House or Senate Clerk who are eligible to retire may start in‑service distributions at age 70 and one‑half and must stop active contributions while receiving them.

Rules when retirees return to public work

If you take full‑time work with a participating public employer, your annuity is suspended and you rejoin as a contributing member. If you work one year or more, your annuity is recalculated; under one year, you can ask to credit contributions and have your prior annuity reinstated after you stop and give written notice. You must have a bona fide break in service at retirement. If the break is not bona fide, or you fail required steps, the board can void your retirement and require repayment of all gross annuity payments.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • James Robert "JB" Akers II

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Adam Burkhammer

    Republican • House

  • Jim Butler

    Republican • House

  • David Cannon

    Republican • House

  • Scot C. Heckert

    Republican • House

  • Josh Holstein

    Republican • House

  • Jordan Maynor

    Republican • House

  • Chris Phillips

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Ward

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 221 • No: 0

House vote • 3/14/2026

House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 665)

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 517)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 338)

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026House

  2. To Governor 3/25/26

    3/25/2026House

  3. House received Senate message

    3/14/2026House

  4. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 665)

    3/14/2026House

  5. Communicated to Senate

    3/14/2026House

  6. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2026House

  7. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  8. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  9. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  10. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  11. On 3rd reading with right to amend

    3/12/2026Senate

  12. Read 3rd time

    3/12/2026Senate

  13. Committee amendment reported

    3/12/2026Senate

  14. Amendment to committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026Senate

  15. Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026Senate

  16. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 517)

    3/12/2026Senate

  17. Senate requests House to concur

    3/12/2026Senate

  18. On 2nd reading

    3/11/2026Senate

  19. Read 2nd time

    3/11/2026Senate

  20. Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment

    3/10/2026Senate

  21. Immediate consideration

    3/10/2026Senate

  22. Read 1st time

    3/10/2026Senate

  23. Introduced in Senate

    3/5/2026Senate

  24. To Judiciary

    3/5/2026Senate

  25. To Judiciary

    3/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in