ENROLLED
H. B. 4575
(By Delegates H. White, Mezzatesta,
Jenkins, Kominar, Michael and Hubbard)
[Passed March 11, 2000; in effect July 1, 2000.]
AN ACT to amend and reenact article seven-a, chapter eighteen of
the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-
one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated
section fourteen-b, relating to the state teachers retirement
system; permitting members the option to purchase service
credit for time periods they were absent from work and
receiving temporary total disability payments; setting forth
cost to purchase such service credit; establishing applicable
time periods; and setting forth a window of time during which
such purchase must occur.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article seven-a, chapter eighteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
fourteen-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7A. STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
§18-7A-14b. Members' option to make contributions for periods
of temporary total disability.
Any member who was absent from work while receiving temporary
total disability benefits pursuant to the provisions of chapter
twenty-three of this code as a result of a compensable injury
received in the course of and as a result of his or her employment
with the covered employer during the time period beginning the
first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight and
the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-
eight may purchase credited service for that time period or those
time periods the member was absent from work as a result of a
compensable injury and receiving temporary total disability
benefits: Provided, That the member returned to work with his or
her covered employer within one year following the cessation of
temporary total disability benefits. The member desiring to
purchase such credited service may do so only by lump sum payment
from personal funds: Provided, however, That the purchase of
service credit pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be
completed between the time period beginning the first day of July,
two thousand and ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand
one: Provided further, That in order to purchase such service
credit, the member shall pay to the board his or her regular
contribution and an equal amount that represents the employer's contribution, based on the salary the member was receiving
immediately prior to having sustained such compensable injury: And
provided further, That the member purchasing service credit under
the provisions of this section may not be charged interest. The
maximum number of years of service credit that may be purchased
under this section shall not exceed two.