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1999 SESSION


CHAPTER 599
An Act to amend and reenact § 51.1-153 of the Code of Virginia, relating to early retirement options for certain members of the Virginia Retirement System.
[H 1805]
Approved March 27, 1999

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 51.1-153 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 51.1-153. Service retirement.

A. Normal retirement. - Any member in service at his normal retirement date with five or more years of creditable service may retire at any time upon written notification to the Board setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective. Any member in service who was denied membership prior to July 1, 1987, as a result of being age sixty or over when first employed may retire at any time after his normal retirement date and the requirement of having five or more years of service shall not apply.

B. Early retirement. - 1. Any member in service who has attained his fifty-fifth birthday with five or more years of creditable service may retire prior to his normal retirement date upon written notification to the Board setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective.

2. Any state employee, teacher, or employee of a political subdivision who is a member of the retirement system may retire prior to his normal retirement date after attaining age fifty and thirty years of creditable service, upon written notification to the Board setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective. The benefit for such member shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of subdivision A 1 of § 51.1-155.

C. Deferred retirement for members terminating service. - Any member who terminates service after five or more years of creditable service may retire under the provisions of subsection A, B, or D of this section if he has not withdrawn his accumulated contributions prior to the effective date of his retirement or if he has five or more years of creditable service for which his employer has paid the contributions and such contributions cannot be withdrawn. For the purposes of this subsection, any requirements as to the member being in service shall not apply. No member shall be entitled to the benefits of this subsection if his employer certifies that his service was terminated because of dishonesty, malfeasance, or misfeasance in office. The certification may be appealed to the Board.

D. 50/10 retirement. - Any member in service on or after January 1, 1994, who has attained his fiftieth birthday with ten or more years of creditable service may retire prior to his normal retirement date upon written notification to the Board setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective. A member who is a state employee shall not be eligible for retirement pursuant to this subsection unless the employee has entered into a binding agreement with the Department of Personnel and Training providing that the employee shall not thereafter reenter into full-time or part-time employment with any agency in the executive branch of the Commonwealth for a period of two years following retirement. Institutions of higher education may enter into a contract with a member on a part-time basis, not to exceed twenty hours per week, to provide unique technical expertise for projects sponsored by institution-affiliated research foundations, authorities, or nonprofit corporations.

E. Effective date of retirement. - The effective date of retirement shall be after the last day of service of the member, but shall not be more than ninety days prior to the filing of the notice of retirement.

F. Notification on behalf of member. - If the member is physically or mentally unable to submit written notification of his intention to retire, the member's appointing authority may submit notification on his behalf.

2. That the provisions of this act shall apply to employees of political subdivisions participating in the retirement system as provided for in § 51.1-130 unless the employer notifies the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System otherwise in writing on or before July 1, 1999.