SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28

(By Senators Plymale, Prezioso, Jackson, Walker, Fanning, Kimble, and Sprouse)




Directing the deputy sheriffs association, the association of counties, and the county commissioners association to study retirement and disability plans for deputies and other county employees and to develop a funding mechanism for same and report back to the Legislature.

Whereas, The service of deputy sheriffs is recognized as a valuable service to the people of West Virginia; and
Whereas, Deputy sheriffs serve under hazardous conditions in live-threatening circumstances; and
Whereas, Deputy sheriffs are deserving of equitable treatment in parity with other law-enforcement officers; and
Whereas, The fiscal solvency of county governments is a matter of grave concern to the Legislature and to the people of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Legislature strives for equitable treatment of all county employees; and
Whereas, The actuarial soundness of all state pension systems is of paramount importance to the Legislature and the people of West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature directs the Ddeputy Ssheriffs Aassociation, the Aassociation of Ccounties, and the Ccounty Ccommissioners Association to form a task force to study the matter of retirement and disability benefits for deputy sheriffs and other county employees; and, be it
Further Resolved, That an equal number of representatives from the Ddeputy Ssheriffs Aassociation, the Azzassociation of counties and the Ccounty C=commissioners A=association prepare a report detailing its findings and conclusions and outlining an agreed plan for retirement and disability benefits for deputy sheriffs and, if agreed, for other county employees, specifically describing a funding mechanism for such plan, in which no state taxes, fees, or state funds of any nature are dedicated to the funding of the agreed plan, and in which the actual percentage contributions of both employer and employee are expressly set forth; and, be it
Further Resolved, tThat the said report be submitted to the Jjoint Sstanding Ccommittee on Ppensions and Rretirement on or before the first day of November, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, and that the signatures of the presiding officers of each said organization and of the task force members shall signify the agreement of the said organizations to the terms therein; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the deputy Ssheriffs Aassociation, the Aassociation of Ccounties, and the county Ccommissioners Aassociation.