WEST virginia Legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 130

By Senators Romano and Clements

[Introduced January 9, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Pensions; and then to the Committee on Finance ]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-10-22l; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-7A-26w, all relating to a $1,000 cost-of-living adjustment to certain retirees of the Public Employees Retirement System and the State Teachers Retirement System by June 30, 2020; and providing for the pro rata distribution of the cost-of-living adjustment to certain beneficiaries.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

CHAPTER 5.  GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.

ARTICLE 10.  WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ACT.

§5-10-22l.  Cost-of-living adjustments for certain annuitants effective on or before June 30, 2020.

(a) As an additional cost-of-living adjustment to other retirement allowances provided, a cost-of-living adjustment to retirement benefits shall be paid to retirees of the system as provided in §5-10-22l(b) of this code.  The cost-of-living adjustment shall equal $1,000 and shall be paid in full by June 30, 2020.

(b) The cost-of-living adjustment provided by this section applies to any retiree who currently receives an annual retirement annuity.  This cost-of-living adjustment is subject to any applicable limitations under section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c) The cost-of-living adjustment provided by this section shall be payable pro rata to any beneficiaries of a qualifying retiree who currently receive an annuity or other benefit payable by the system.

CHAPTER 18.  EDUCATION.

ARTICLE 7A.  STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

§18-7A-26w.  Cost-of-living adjustments for certain annuitants effective on or before June 30, 2020.

(a) As an additional cost-of-living adjustment to other retirement allowances provided, a cost-of-living adjustment to retirement benefits shall be paid to certain retirees of the retirement system as provided in §18-7A-26w(b) of this code.  The cost-of-living adjustment shall equal $1,000 and shall be paid in full by June 30, 2020.

(b) The cost-of-living adjustment provided in this section applies to any retiree who currently receives an annual retirement annuity.  This cost-of-living adjustment is subject to any applicable limitations under Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c) The cost-of-living adjustment provided by this section shall be payable pro rata to any beneficiaries of a qualifying retiree who currently receives an annuity or other benefit payable by the retirement system.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees.

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