2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25102060D
SENATE BILL NO. 1224
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 8, 2025
A BILL to amend and reenact 51.1-201, 51.1-202, 51.1-203, and 51.1-212, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Police Officers' Retirement System; membership for Department of Wildlife Resources conservation police officers.
PatronDeeds
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 51.1-201, 51.1-202, 51.1-203, and 51.1-212, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
51.1-201. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Employee" means (i) a state police officer or (ii) for creditable service earned on or after July 1, 2026, a conservation police officer in the Department of Wildlife Resources appointed under the provisions of Chapter 2 ( 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1.
"Member" means any person included in the membership of the retirement system as provided in this chapter.
"Normal retirement date" means a member's sixtieth birthday.
"Retirement system" means the State Police Officers' Retirement System.
51.1-202. Membership in retirement system.
Membership in the retirement system shall be compulsory for all state police officers employees.
51.1-203. Creditable service.
A. Service qualifying for credit under the provisions of the Virginia Retirement System shall be included as creditable service for the purposes of this chapter, provided the requirements set forth in Chapter 1 ( 51.1-124.1 et seq.) of this title for crediting service have been complied with and any payment required is credited in the member's contribution account.
B. If a member ceases to be employed as a state police officer an employee, has not received a refund of the accumulated contributions credited to his member's contribution account, and accepts employment in a position covered by the Virginia Retirement System or the Judicial Retirement System, he shall be entitled to credit for his previous creditable service under this chapter. His accumulated contributions shall be transferred and credited to his member's contribution account in the appropriate retirement system. Future retirement rights shall be as set forth under the provisions of the appropriate retirement system.
51.1-212. (Effective July 1, 2025) Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Employee" means any (i) member of the Capitol Police Force as described in 30-34.2:1, (ii) campus police officer appointed under the provisions of Article 3 ( 23.1-809 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1, (iii) for creditable service earned before July 1, 2026, conservation police officer in the Department of Wildlife Resources appointed under the provisions of Chapter 2 ( 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1, (iv) special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority appointed under the provisions of Chapter 1 ( 4.1-100 et seq.) of Title 4.1, (v) law-enforcement officer employed by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission as described in 9.1-101, (vi) correctional officer as the term is defined in 53.1-1, and including correctional officers employed at a juvenile correction facility as the term is defined in 66-25.3, (vii) parole officer appointed pursuant to 53.1-143, (viii) commercial vehicle enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police, and (ix) full-time firefighter employed by the Department of Military Affairs.
"Member" means any person included in the membership of the Retirement System as provided in this chapter.
"Normal retirement date" means a member's sixtieth birthday.
"Retirement System" means the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System.
2. That the provisions of this act providing membership in the State Police Officers' Retirement System established by Chapter 2 ( 51.1-200 et seq.) of Title 51.1 of the Code of Virginia to conservation police officers in the Department of Wildlife Resources appointed under the provisions of Chapter 2 ( 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1 of the Code of Virginia shall apply only to service earned as a conservation police officer in the Department of Wildlife Resources appointed under the provisions of Chapter 2 ( 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1 of the Code of Virginia on or after July 1, 2026.
3. That the provisions of the first and second enactments of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
4. That the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) shall conduct an assessment of the administrative and financial impacts of providing membership in the State Police Officers' Retirement System (SPORS) established by Chapter 2 ( 51.1-200 et seq.) of Title 51.1 of the Code of Virginia to conservation police officers in the Department of Wildlife Resources appointed under the provisions of Chapter 2 ( 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1 of the Code of Virginia. Such assessment shall include (i) analysis of financial impacts on SPORS and the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System established by Chapter 2.1 ( 51.1-211 et seq.) of Title 51.1 of the Code of Virginia and (ii) recommendations for implementing the provisions of this act. VRS shall complete its assessment and submit a report to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2025.