This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to clarify the status of members of the State Teachers Retirement System who serve as officers in statewide professional teaching associations. Specifically, it states that these members shall be considered absent from their teaching or non-teaching duties while serving in such roles. Additionally, retirants who held these positions while active members will also be recognized as having been absent from service due to their association duties. The bill stipulates that the service credit granted for this absence cannot exceed ten years and requires that members or retirants make contributions to the Teachers Retirement System equivalent to double what they would have contributed during their regular assignments for the duration of their absence.

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that limits the applicability of this new language to members who were serving as officers of a statewide professional teaching association on or before January 1, 2025. This ensures that only those who were already in these positions prior to this date can benefit from the new service credit provisions. Overall, the bill aims to provide clarity and support for educators who take on leadership roles within professional teaching organizations while maintaining their retirement benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-7A-17