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 a review every two years. Additionally, it specifies that no contributions to the retirement system will be required from retirees working as substitute teachers.

Key changes include the removal of the requirement that retired members must be retired for at least 180 days before returning to work, and the increase in the number of deputies a sheriff can have from five to ten before hiring a retired member. The bill also eliminates the maximum age restriction for re-employment and extends the sunset provision for these changes to July 1, 2030. Furthermore, it clarifies that the Consolidated Public Retirement Board cannot set a maximum number of days for retired teachers to work as substitutes that is less than 140 days per academic year, while ensuring that no additional retirement contributions are made during this employment.

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