SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 65

(By Senators Azinger, Baldwin, Clements, Cline, Hardesty, Jeffries, Lindsay, Maynard, Pitsenbarger, Romano, Rucker, Smith, Weld, Woelfel, and Trump)

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on March 6, 2020]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study concerning the potential implementation of a Deferred Retirement Option Plan for troopers and employees of the West Virginia State Police.

Whereas, The West Virginia State Police provides an essential service to the State of West Virginia; and

Whereas, Every year numerous West Virginia State Police troopers and employees retire; and

Whereas, Current West Virginia State Police retirement options often favor retirement at the earliest possible age; and

Whereas, When a veteran State Police officer or employee retires, the loss of that wisdom and experience is a hindrance to the continued success of the West Virginia State Police and cannot be easily replaced; and

Whereas, Many states have adopted Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP) to provide troopers and other employees an incentive to remain employed for a small number of years beyond the age they would have otherwise retired; and

Whereas, DROP programs are designed to be an entirely voluntary and cost-neutral monetary incentive for the most experienced troopers and employees to remain past normal retirement age; and

Whereas, The introduction of a DROP program with the West Virginia State Police is of great potential significance to West Virginia as a method to ensure both the continued success of the West Virginia State Police as well as providing retired troopers and employees with an additional source of income upon their eventual retirement that they may otherwise have not been able to benefit from; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study concerning the potential implementation of a Deferred Retirement Option Plan for troopers and employees of the West Virginia State Police.

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2021, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.