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Bill > HB2581


VA HB2581

VRS; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers, animal control officers, etc.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2025
In Committee
01/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/22/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers, animal control officers, and municipal park rangers. Allows local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service to (i) full-time salaried 911 dispatchers, (ii) full-time animal control officers, and (iii) sworn municipal park rangers qualifying as conservators of the peace. The bill provides that such enhanced retirement benefits apply only to service earned in such positions on or after July 1, 2026, but allows an employer, as that term is defined in relevant law, to provide such enhanced retirement benefits for service earned in such positions before July 1, 2026, in addition to service earned on or after that date. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) to expand enhanced retirement benefits for certain public service employees, specifically full-time salaried 911 dispatchers, full-time animal control officers, and sworn municipal park rangers who qualify as conservators of the peace. The enhanced benefits, which are equivalent to those provided to state police officers, will apply only to service earned in these positions on or after July 1, 2026. However, local government employers have the discretion to provide these enhanced retirement benefits for service earned before that date. The bill allows these employees to potentially receive retirement benefits similar to those of state police officers, which may include early retirement options and more favorable retirement allowance calculations. The changes aim to recognize the hazardous and critical nature of these public service roles by providing them with more comprehensive retirement benefits. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, giving local governments time to prepare for and implement these new retirement benefit provisions.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Left in Appropriations (on 02/04/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2581
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Virginia Retirement System (HB2581) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020777.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2581/text/HB2581
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