H. B. 2372


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates
Prunty, Williams, Caputo, Hubbard,

Leach and Hunt)

[Introduced January 25, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Pensions and Retirement then Finance.]


A BILL to amend and reenact section twenty-two-e, article ten, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to increasing retirement benefits for public employees.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section twenty-two-e, article ten, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ACT.
ยง5-10-22e. Supplemental benefits for retirees effective July 1, 1994; calculation of benefits and conditions of payment.
(a) A supplement to retirement benefits provided shall be paid prospectively to all eligible annuitants who have been retired prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two ninety-six, which supplement shall become effective on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four ninety-nine. The calculation of such supplement for each annuitant shall be based upon the number of full increments as set forth in subsections (b) through (k) of this section that the annuitant has maintained his or her retired status since the original date of the commencement of his or her retirement, and shall equal the sum of the applicable percentages credited for such increments as set forth in the applicable subsections of this section. Any such supplement shall be paid in pro rata monthly installments.
(b) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, and ending on the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two ninety-six, shall be three percent of their retirement benefit including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, Provided, That annuitants who retired during the period set forth in this subsection shall be required to elect between receiving the supplemental benefit provided in this section or any incentives provided in section twenty-two-c of this article or any other supplements provided in this article: Provided, however, That the consolidated public retirement board shall provide written notification to members eligible for the benefit provided in this subsection of the availability and terms of the benefit provided in this subsection and members electing to select this benefit in lieu of any other incentive the member has or is receiving shall submit an application for the benefit on the form prescribed by the board and the prior supplements provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four.
(c) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-five, and ending on the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, shall be five percent of their retirement benefit including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplement provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-two, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-five, shall be five percent of their retirement benefit including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
(e) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-nine, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-two, shall be sixteen ten percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section
(f) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-six, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred seventy-nine, shall be sixteen twelve percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section
(g) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-three, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred seventy-six, shall be sixteen fourteen percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this section
(h) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred seventy-three, shall be twenty-four sixteen percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this section
(i) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred sixty-seven, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred seventy, shall be twenty-four eighteen percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of this section
(j) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred sixty-four, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred sixty-seven, shall be twenty-four twenty percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of this section
(k) The total amount of the supplement due to qualified annuitants who retired during the period commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred sixty-one, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred sixty-four, shall be twenty-four twenty-two percent of their retirement benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, plus the amount of the percentage supplements provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of this section
(l) For each annuitant, a preliminary supplement shall be computed on the basis of the original annual benefit. including any supplemental benefits provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, received by the original retiree as provided by subsections (b) through (k) of this section, inclusive This preliminary supplement shall be calculated only on amounts up to, but not exceeding, the first five seven thousand four two hundred dollars of the original annual retirement benefit paid including any supplement provided on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four current annual retirement benefit paid.
(m) Each annuitant shall receive as that annuitant's supplement under this section an amount equal to the preliminary supplement or a supplement as calculated in subsections (n) and (o) of this section as appropriate.
(n) Each survivor beneficiary shall receive as that survivor beneficiary's supplement under this section an amount equal to that pro rata share of that survivor beneficiary's preliminary supplement, as defined above, as such survivor beneficiary's benefit, without regard to any supplements, constitutes as a pro rata share of the original benefit of the original retiree: Provided, That for any person who becomes a survivor beneficiary, after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four, the benefit provided under this section shall be recomputed under the provisions of this subsection.
(o) Each disabled retiree shall receive as that disabled retiree's supplement under this section that pro rata share of that disabled retiree's preliminary supplement, as defined above, as such disabled retiree's current benefit, without regard to any supplements, constitutes as a pro rata share of that disabled retiree's original benefit: Provided, That any disabled retiree scheduled under the terms of the retirement system to have a benefit recomputed at some time subsequent to the effective date of this section will, at the time of that recomputation, also have the supplemental benefit recomputed under the terms of the preceding sentence.
(p) Any supplemental benefit computed under this section shall only be paid in lieu of, and not in addition to, the payment of any prior supplemental benefit amounts or incentives provided by law after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, which are currently being paid: Provided, That any annuitant receiving a supplemental benefit greater than that provided in this section shall continue to receive the current supplemental benefits.
(q) The supplement provided in this section shall be recalculated on a pro rata basis of the preliminary supplement whenever the original annuity amount is adjusted due to the death or disability of an annuitant or any other event.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the retirement benefits of public employees.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.