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1999 SESSION

992535745
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 390
Offered January 20, 1999
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the advisability of authorizing political subdivisions to allow their part-time employees to participate in the Virginia Retirement System.
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Patrons-- Ticer, Colgan, Edwards, Gartlan, Lucas, Maxwell, Miller, Y.B., Reynolds and Whipple; Delegates: Brink, Callahan, Keating, Moran and Van Landingham
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, any county, city, town or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth may request the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System to allow its eligible employees to become members of the Virginia Retirement System; and

WHEREAS, the eligible employees of over 500 political subdivisions are members of the Virginia Retirement System; and

WHEREAS, only officers and employees of a political subdivision who are regularly employed full time on a salaried basis and whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment are eligible to become members of the Virginia Retirement System; and

WHEREAS, state employees and teachers who are not employed full time on a salaried basis are also currently ineligible for membership in the Virginia Retirement System; and

WHEREAS, certain political subdivisions currently provide employee benefits, other than retirement benefits, to employees who work on a part time basis; and

WHEREAS, part-time employees of political subdivisions will not receive retirement benefits when they attain retirement age and may be forced to live in poverty; and

WHEREAS, the governing bodies of political subdivisions who may desire to pay the employee and employer contributions to the Virginia Retirement System for part-time employees, in order to provide them with a retirement benefit, are prohibited from doing so; and

WHEREAS, political subdivisions would be better able to attract and retain qualified employees for part-time positions if they were authorized to allow part-time employees to become members of the Virginia Retirement System; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the advisability of authorizing political subdivisions to allow their part-time employees to participate in the Virginia Retirement System. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine the potential costs and benefits, to political subdivisions, their part-time employees, and the Virginia Retirement System, of allowing part-time employees to become members of the Virginia Retirement System.

The joint subcommittee shall be composed of thirteen members, which shall include ten legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member as follows: four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; six members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the principles of Rule 16 of the House Rules; one representative of a statewide organization of the Commonwealth's counties to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; one representative of a statewide organization of the Commonwealth's municipalities to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and the director of the Virginia Retirement System or his designee to serve as an ex officio nonvoting member.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $6,800.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Virginia Retirement System. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.