This bill amends the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement Act to allow general counsel of executive branch agencies, who have been contracted for 10 or more consecutive calendar years, to purchase retroactive service credit for their time served. The bill specifies that these counsel must pay their share of contributions, while the agency will cover the employer's share. Importantly, no interest or penalties will be applied for the purchase of this retroactive service credit if the counsel was ineligible to become a member during the years they are purchasing credit for, or if their contributions would have been refused by the board. Additionally, the bill stipulates that no more than one year of service can be credited for all service rendered in any calendar year, and the payment for the retroactive service credit must be completed within 24 months of the termination of employment or contractual obligation with the agency.

The bill also includes various amendments to existing provisions regarding service credit for employees of the State Legislature and other public employees. It clarifies the conditions under which service credit can be awarded, including specific provisions for temporary employees and those who have worked in certain capacities, such as court reporters and CETA participants. The amendments aim to streamline the process for granting service credit and ensure that employees can receive appropriate recognition for their service, while also establishing clear guidelines for purchasing retroactive service credit.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-10-14