Senate Bill 316 was highly discussed by the Senate Pensions Committee, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6.
The proposed legislation would preserve previously approved state Municipal Policemen’s or Firemen’s pensions. Blair Taylor, executive director of the West Virginia Municipal Pensions Oversight Board, came before the committee to address concerns surrounding increased pensions plans for police officers and firefighters.
According to Taylor, pensions may raise to 75 percent once a police officer or firefighter completes 30 years of service.
The director also addressed questions pertaining to the calculations of pensions and explained that following the passage of House Bill 2601, the oversight board doesn’t calculate pensions. Passage of the House Bill prompted the local board in Morgantown to contact the Attorney General to ask if the legislation was retroactive. Ultimately, it was indicated that local boards needed to address and correct any pensions that were incorrectly paid.
Following review of the bill, committee members voted to report 316 to the full Senate but first be referenced to the committee on finance.
Of the other three pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 38, which exempts DNR police officers’ pension benefits from state income tax, was under reconsideration. Attention was drawn back to the bill following rising concerns regarding litigation. The bill was tabled following a motion moved Romano.
Finally, Senate Bill 26, which would permit certain employees of educational service cooperatives participate in state’s teacher retirement systems, received a committee substitute. Senate Bill 341, which would establish a minimum monthly retirement annuity for retirants with 20 or more years of service, received an amendment by Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood. Both bills were reported to the full Senate.
