This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow retired county sheriff deputies, correctional officers, and retirees under the state Teachers Retirement System to work for unlimited days without losing their monthly retirement benefits. Specifically, it establishes that retired members can return to covered employment in counties with low per capita income or where the county commission approves their hiring. The bill also sets a process for determining the necessity of such employment in these counties and allows for the re-employment of retired members for up to five years without suspending their annuity payments. Additionally, it mandates that no contributions to the retirement system will be required from retirees working as substitute teachers.

The bill includes several key changes to existing law, such as removing the requirement that retired members must be retired for at least 180 days before returning to work and increasing the number of deputies a sheriff can employ before hiring a retired member from five to ten. It also introduces a new section that outlines the conditions under which retired members can be re-employed and specifies that the provisions will sunset on July 1, 2030, unless acted upon by the Legislature. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of employing qualified retired teachers and other workers to address ongoing teacher shortages in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-14D-24a, 18-7A-38, 15A-3-7a