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West VirginiaSB 352025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Permitting campus police officers to participate in Deputy Sheriffs Retirement System

Sponsored By: Mike Oliverio (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§8-22A-2§16-5V-2§16-5V-6f§18B-4-5§18B-7-5

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Campus police gain retirement plan access

Current West Virginia campus police officers can choose to join the Deputy Sheriffs Retirement System. They cannot move previously earned service credit or retirement money into that system. Beginning January 1, 2026, the new-hire provision requires campus police officers to join the deputy sheriffs plan. However, another supplied provision assigns officers hired after January 1, 2026, to the Municipal Police and Firefighters Retirement System. The supplied text contains conflicting plan assignments, not a clear choice between the two plans.

Home confinement officers get pension coverage

Covered home confinement officers hired on or after July 1, 2025, must join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. Eligible existing officers working for participating public employers can choose to join. An election to transfer into the plan cannot be reversed. Officers with another job requiring membership in a board-run retirement system participate in only one system, based on their earliest hire date.

Transferred pension credit carries repayment choices

Eligible home confinement officers can move qualifying public employee pension service and assets into the emergency medical services retirement system. Covered officers employed July 1, 2025, had an August 29, 2025, written election deadline. Rehired officers can count qualifying prior service only if they did not receive a refund of their accumulated contributions. The retirement board must transfer assets by March 31, 2026, using the required calculation and 7.25% annual interest. Retirement for transferring officers can start on or after April 1, 2026. Transferred service for covered 911 workers and home confinement officers generally earns 2% of final average salary per year without repayment. Separate new-service rates are 2.75%, 2%, and 1.5%, and eligible 911 service has a separate repayment formula. Home confinement officers can obtain 2.75% for eligible prior years by paying the quoted contribution difference, including 7.25% interest. Full payment is due by December 31, 2030, or before retirement, whichever comes first.

Public retirees need 60-day employment break

Municipal police, firefighter, and emergency medical services system retirees must end all employment with participating public employers for a genuine retirement. The break must last at least 60 consecutive days from the retirement effective date. Retirees cannot have a prearranged agreement to return to a participating employer. Part-time, temporary, substitute, per diem, and leased jobs all count as employment.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Oliverio

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bill Hamilton

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Takubo

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Woelfel

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 258 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 604)

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/12/2025

House reconsidered and passed bill (Roll No. 627)

Yes: 94 • No: 1

House vote • 4/11/2025

Passed House (Roll No. 498)

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

Passed Senate (Roll No. 176)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 156, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

    8/8/2025Senate

  2. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025

    4/24/2025Senate

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

    4/21/2025Senate

  4. House received Senate message

    4/12/2025House

  5. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    4/12/2025House

  6. House reconsidered and passed bill (Roll No. 627)

    4/12/2025House

  7. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    4/12/2025House

  8. Communicated to Senate

    4/12/2025House

  9. House Message received

    4/12/2025Senate

  10. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 604)

    4/12/2025Senate

  11. Communicated to House

    4/12/2025Senate

  12. Completed legislative action

    4/12/2025Senate

  13. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  14. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  15. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  16. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  17. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    4/11/2025House

  18. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    4/11/2025House

  19. Read 3rd time

    4/11/2025House

  20. Passed House (Roll No. 498)

    4/11/2025House

  21. Communicated to Senate

    4/11/2025House

  22. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    4/10/2025House

  23. Read 2nd time

    4/10/2025House

  24. With amendment, do pass

    4/9/2025House

  25. Immediate consideration

    4/9/2025House

Bill Text

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