WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4624

By Delegates Pinson, B. Ward, D. Kelly, Honaker, Hott, Pack, Brown, Lovejoy, Garcia, Dean, and Worrell

[Introduced February 10, 2022; Referred to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement then Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §7-14D-2 and §7-14D-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §7-14E-2 of said code, all relating to providing increased benefits for retired sheriff’s deputies; adjusting the percentage factor for members retired after July 1, 2018; increasing the benefit amount for totally disabled retirees; and authorizing the increase of certain fees, paid by the county, for deposit into the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 14D. DEPUTY SHERIFF RETIREMENT SYSTEM ACT.

§7-14D-2. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless a federal law or regulation or the context clearly requires a different meaning:

(a) “Accrued benefit” means on behalf of any member two and one-quarter percent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the member’s years of credited service: Provided, That members who are retired on or retire after July 1, 2018, shall have an accrued benefit of two and one-half three quarters percent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the member’s years of credited service. A member’s accrued benefit may not exceed the limits of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code and is subject to the provisions of §7-14D-9a of this code.

(b) “Accumulated contributions” means the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member, or paid on his or her behalf pursuant to §5-10C-1 et seq. of this code, either pursuant to §7-14D-7 of this code or §5-10-29 of this code as a result of covered employment together with regular interest on the deducted amounts.

(c) “Active member” means a member who is active and contributing to the plan.

(d) “Active military duty” means full-time active duty with any branch of the armed forces of the United States, including service with the National Guard or reserve military forces when the member has been called to active full-time duty and has received no compensation during the period of that duty from any board or employer other than the armed forces.

(e) “Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit of equal value computed upon the basis of the mortality table and interest rates as set and adopted by the retirement board in accordance with the provisions of this article: Provided, That when used in the context of compliance with the federal maximum benefit requirements of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code, “actuarial equivalent” shall be computed using the mortality tables and interest rates required to comply with those requirements.

(f) “Annual compensation” means the wages paid to the member during covered employment within the meaning of Section 3401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, but determined without regard to any rules that limit the remuneration included in wages based upon the nature or location of employment or services performed during the plan year plus amounts excluded under Section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and less reimbursements or other expense allowances, cash, or noncash fringe benefits or both, deferred compensation, and welfare benefits. Annual compensation for determining benefits during any determination period may not exceed the maximum compensation allowed as adjusted for cost of living in accordance with §5-10D-7 of this code and Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(g) “Annual leave service” means accrued annual leave.

(h) “Annuity starting date” means the first day of the first calendar month following receipt of the retirement application by the board or the required beginning date, if earlier: Provided, That the member has ceased covered employment and reached early or normal retirement age.

(i) “Base salary” means a member’s cash compensation exclusive of overtime from covered employment during the last 12 months of employment. Until a member has worked 12 months, annualized base salary is used as base salary.

(j) “Beneficiary” means a natural person who is entitled to, or will be entitled to, an annuity or other benefit payable by the plan.

(k) “Board” means the Consolidated Public Retirement Board created pursuant to §5-10D-1 et seq. of this code.

(l) “County commission” has the meaning ascribed to it in §7-1-1 of this code.

(m) “Covered employment” means either: (1) Employment as a deputy sheriff and the active performance of the duties required of a deputy sheriff; (2) the period of time which active duties are not performed but disability benefits are received under §7-14D-14 or §7-14D-15 of this code; or (3) concurrent employment by a deputy sheriff in a job or jobs in addition to his or her employment as a deputy sheriff where the secondary employment requires the deputy sheriff to be a member of another retirement system which is administered by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board pursuant to §5-10D-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That the deputy sheriff contributes to the fund created in §7-14D-6 of this code the amount specified as the deputy sheriff’s contribution in §7-14D-7 of this code.

(n) “Credited service” means the sum of a member’s years of service, active military duty, disability service, unused annual leave service, and unused sick leave service.

(o) “Deputy sheriff” means an individual employed as a county law-enforcement deputy sheriff in this state and as defined by §7-14-2 of this code.

(p) “Dependent child” means either:

(1) An unmarried person under age 18 who is:

(A) A natural child of the member;

(B) A legally adopted child of the member;

(C) A child who at the time of the member’s death was living with the member while the member was an adopting parent during any period of probation; or

(D) A stepchild of the member residing in the member’s household at the time of the member’s death; or

(2) Any unmarried child under age 23:

(A) Who is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university;

(B) Who was claimed as a dependent by the member for federal income tax purposes at the time of the member’s death; and

(C) Whose relationship with the member is described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), paragraph (1) of this subdivision.

(q) “Dependent parent” means the father or mother of the member who was claimed as a dependent by the member for federal income tax purposes at the time of the member’s death.

(r) “Disability service” means service credit received by a member, expressed in whole years, fractions thereof or both, equal to one half of the whole years, fractions thereof, or both, during which time a member receives disability benefits under §7-14D-14 or §7-14D-15 of this code.

(s) “Early retirement age” means age 40 or over and completion of 20 years of service.

(t) “Employer error” means an omission, misrepresentation, or violation of relevant provisions of the West Virginia Code or of the West Virginia Code of State Rules or the relevant provisions of both the West Virginia Code and of the West Virginia Code of State Rules by the participating public employer that has resulted in an underpayment or overpayment of contributions required. A deliberate act contrary to the provisions of this section by a participating public employer does not constitute employer error.

(u) “Effective date” means July 1, 1998.

(v) “Final average salary” means the average of the highest annual compensation received for covered employment by the member during any five consecutive plan years within the member’s last 10 years of service. If the member did not have annual compensation for the five full plan years preceding the member’s attainment of normal retirement age and during that period the member received disability benefits under §7-14D-14 or §7-14D-15 of this code then “final average salary” means the average of the full monthly salary determined paid to the member during that period multiplied by 12.

(w) “Fund” means the West Virginia Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund created pursuant to §7-14D-6 of this code.

(x) “Hour of service” means:

(1) Each hour for which a member is paid or entitled to payment for covered employment during which time active duties are performed. These hours shall be credited to the member for the plan year in which the duties are performed; and

(2) Each hour for which a member is paid or entitled to payment for covered employment during a plan year but where no duties are performed due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity including disability, layoff, jury duty, military duty, leave of absence, or any combination thereof and without regard to whether the employment relationship has terminated. Hours under this paragraph shall be calculated and credited pursuant to West Virginia Division of Labor rules. A member will not be credited with any hours of service for any period of time he or she is receiving benefits under §7-14D-14 or §7-14D-15 of this code; and

(3) Each hour for which back pay is either awarded or agreed to be paid by the employing county commission, irrespective of mitigation of damages. The same hours of service shall not be credited both under this paragraph and paragraph (1) or (2) of this subdivision. Hours under this paragraph shall be credited to the member for the plan year or years to which the award or agreement pertains rather than the plan year in which the award, agreement, or payment is made.

(y) “Member” means a person first hired as a deputy sheriff after the effective date of this article, as defined in subdivision (u) of this section, or a deputy sheriff first hired prior to the effective date and who elects to become a member pursuant to §7-14D-5 or §7-14D-17 of this code. A member shall remain a member until the benefits to which he or she is entitled under this article are paid or forfeited or until cessation of membership pursuant to §7-14D-5 of this code.

(z) “Monthly salary” means the portion of a member’s annual compensation which is paid to him or her per month.

(aa) “Normal form” means a monthly annuity which is one-twelfth of the amount of the member’s accrued benefit which is payable for the member’s life. If the member dies before the sum of the payments he or she receives equals his or her accumulated contributions on the annuity starting date, the named beneficiary shall receive in one lump sum the difference between the accumulated contributions at the annuity starting date and the total of the retirement income payments made to the member.

(bb) “Normal retirement age” means the first to occur of the following: (1) Attainment of age 50 years and the completion of 20 or more years of service; (2) while still in covered employment, attainment of at least age 50 years, and when the sum of current age plus years of service equals or exceeds 70 years; (3) while still in covered employment, attainment of at least age 60 years, and completion of five years of service; or (4) attainment of age 62 years and completion of five or more years of service.

(cc) “Partially disabled” means a member’s inability to engage in the duties of deputy sheriff by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. A member may be determined partially disabled for the purposes of this article and maintain the ability to engage in other gainful employment which exists within the state but which ability would not enable him or her to earn an amount at least equal to two thirds of the average annual compensation earned by all active members of this plan during the plan year ending as of the most recent June 30, as of which plan data has been assembled and used for the actuarial valuation of the plan.

(dd) “Public Employees Retirement System” means the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System created by §5-10-1 et seq. of this code.

(ee) “Plan” means the West Virginia Deputy Sheriff Death, Disability, and Retirement Plan established by this article.

(ff) “Plan year” means the 12-month period commencing on July 1 of any designated year and ending the following June 30.

(gg) “Qualified public safety employee” means any employee of a participating state or political subdivision who provides police protection, fire-fighting services, or emergency medical services for any area within the jurisdiction of the state or political subdivision, or such other meaning given to the term by Section 72(t)(10)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code or by Treasury Regulation §1.401(a)-1(b)(2)(v) as they may be amended from time to time.

(hh) “Regular interest” means the rate or rates of interest per annum, compounded annually, as the board adopts in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(ii) “Required beginning date” means April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (i) The calendar year in which the member attains age 70 and one half; or (ii) the calendar year in which he or she retires or otherwise separates from covered employment.

(jj) “Retire” or “retirement” means a member’s withdrawal from the employ of a participating public employer and the commencement of an annuity by the plan.

(kk) “Retirement income payments” means the annual retirement income payments payable under the plan.

(ll) “Spouse” means the person to whom the member is legally married on the annuity starting date.

(mm) “Surviving spouse” means the person to whom the member was legally married at the time of the member’s death and who survived the member.

(nn) “Totally disabled” means a member’s inability to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. For purposes of this subdivision:

(1) A member is totally disabled only if his or her physical or mental impairment or impairments are so severe that he or she is not only unable to perform his or her previous work as a deputy sheriff but also cannot, considering his or her age, education and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful employment which exists in the state regardless of whether: (A) The work exists in the immediate area in which the member lives; (B) a specific job vacancy exists; or (C) the member would be hired if he or she applied for work.

(2) “Physical or mental impairment” is an impairment that results from an anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormality that is demonstrated by medically accepted clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A member’s receipt of Social Security disability benefits creates a rebuttable presumption that the member is totally disabled for purposes of this plan. Substantial gainful employment rebuts the presumption of total disability.

(oo) “Year of service”. — A member shall, except in his or her first and last years of covered employment, be credited with year of service credit based upon the hours of service performed as covered employment and credited to the member during the plan year based upon the following schedule:

Hours of Service                           Years of Service Credited

Less than 500                                              0

500 to 999                                                 1/3

1,000 to 1,499                                           2/3

1,500 or more                                              1

During a member’s first and last years of covered employment, the member shall be credited with one-twelfth of a year of service for each month during the plan year in which the member is credited with an hour of service. A member is not entitled to credit for years of service for any time period during which he or she received disability payments under §7-14D-14 or §7-14D-15 of this code. Except as specifically excluded, years of service include covered employment prior to the effective date. Years of service which are credited to a member prior to his or her receipt of accumulated contributions upon termination of employment pursuant to §7-14D-13 or §5-10-30 of this code, shall be disregarded for all purposes under this plan unless the member repays the accumulated contributions with interest pursuant to §7-14D-13 of this code or had prior to the effective date made the repayment pursuant to §5-10-18 of this code.

§7-14D-14. Awards and benefits for disability – duty related.

(a) Any member who after the effective date of this article and during covered employment:

(1) Has been or becomes either totally or partially disabled by injury, illness, or disease; and

(2) The disability is a result of an occupational risk or hazard inherent in or peculiar to the services required of members; or

(3) The disability was incurred while performing law-enforcement functions during either scheduled work hours or at any other time; and

(4) In the opinion of the board, the member is by reason of the disability unable to perform adequately the duties required of a deputy sheriff, is entitled to receive and shall be paid from the fund in monthly installments the compensation under either subsection (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) If the member is totally disabled, the member shall receive 90 percent of his or her average full monthly compensation for the 12-month contributory period preceding the member's disability award, or the shorter period if the member has not worked 12 months.  Any member retired under this subsection, or under §7-14D-17 of this code, on or before July 1, 2020, shall have his or her monthly benefit payment increased by $400 $600.

(c) If the member is partially disabled, the member shall receive 45 percent of his or her average full monthly compensation for the 12-month contributory period preceding the member's disability award, or the shorter period if the member has not worked 12 months.

(d) If the member remains partially disabled until attaining 60 years of age, the member shall then receive the retirement benefit provided in §7-14D-11 and §7-14D-12 of this code.

(e) The disability benefit payments will begin the first day of the month following termination of employment and receipt of the disability retirement application by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

ARTICLE 14E. ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN FEES; DEDICATION OF FEE TO DEPUTY SHERIFF'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

§7-14E-2. Statewide uniform fees for reports generated by sheriff's offices; dedication of fees.

(a) The county commission of each county in this state shall set a fee for obtaining certain reports. This fee shall be set at a minimum of $10 $20 for each report, with a maximum of $20 $30 for each report. $10 $20 of the charge for each report shall be deposited into the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund created in §7-14D-6 of this code. The reports for which a charge may be made are traffic accident reports, criminal investigation reports, incident reports and property reports.

(b) All sheriff's offices in this state shall collect a fee of $5 $10 for performing the following services: Adult private employment fingerprinting; fingerprinting for federal firearm permits; motor vehicle number identification; adult identification cards; and photo-identification cards. Upon collection, these fees shall be deposited into the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund created in §7-14D-6 of this code.

(c) All sheriff's offices in this state shall collect a fee of $5 $10 for each nongovernmental background investigation report. Upon collection, these fees shall be deposited into the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund created in §7-14D-6 of this code.

(d) No charge may be made under this section for any report or reports made to governmental agencies.

(e) Any county commission which fails to make any payment due the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund by the fifteenth day following the end of each calendar month in which a fee or other contribution is received by the county's sheriff may be required to pay the actuarial rate of interest lost on the total amount owed for each day the payment is delinquent. Accrual of the loss of earnings owed by the delinquent county commission commences after the fifteenth day following the end of the calendar month in which the fee or other contribution is due and continues until receipt of the delinquent amount. Interest compounds daily and the minimum surcharge is $50.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase certain fees collected by county sheriffs and add these increased amounts to the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund to provide modest increases in benefits for retired deputies.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.