2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25100023D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1563

Offered January 8, 2025

Prefiled December 16, 2024

A BILL to amend and reenact § 51.1-212, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; emergency dispatchers.

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Patrons—Cherry and Obenshain

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Committee Referral Pending

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 51.1-212, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 51.1-212. (Effective until July 1, 2025) Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Employee" means any (i) member or full-time salaried dispatcher 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) 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) any parole officer appointed pursuant to § 53.1-143, and (viii) any commercial vehicle enforcement officer or full-time salaried dispatcher employed by the Department of State Police, and (ix) full-time salaried dispatcher for a public safety answering point, as defined in § 56-484.12, who is employed by an agency described in clauses (ii) through (vii) of this definition.

"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.

§ 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 or full-time salaried dispatcher 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) 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 or full-time salaried dispatcher employed by the Department of State Police, and (ix) full-time firefighter employed by the Department of Military Affairs, and (x) full-time salaried dispatcher for a public safety answering point, as defined in § 56-484.12, who is employed by an agency described in clauses (ii) through (vii) or clause (ix) of this definition.

"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 shall become effective on July 1, 2026.

3. That the provisions of this act providing enhanced retirement benefits to positions as full-time salaried dispatchers for a public safety answering point, the Department of State Police, or the Capitol Police Force shall apply only to service earned as a full-time salaried dispatcher for a public safety answering point, the Department of State Police, or the Capitol Police Force on or after July 1, 2026.