Committee backs letting campus police join municipal police and firefighters retirement system

The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass.

Committee Counsel explained the measure (noting the agenda typo) as a bill that permits campus police officers at specified public higher-education institutions to participate in the municipal police and firefighters retirement system administered by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board (CPRB). Counsel listed the affected institutions as BridgeValley, Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Marshall, Shepherd, West Liberty, West Virginia State, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, West Virginia Institute of Technology, Potomac State College, and West Virginia University.

Counsel said there are currently about 115 campus police officers statewide with roughly 25 positions vacant. Under the bill, campus police who elect to join the municipal plan would leave the existing TIAA 401(a) defined-contribution plan administered for higher education and enter the defined-benefit municipal plan. Counsel said no prior service would transfer; members who move into the municipal plan would be treated as new hires for retirement-service credit. Counsel also summarized enrollment timing: officers hired on or after Jan. 1, 2026, would automatically be enrolled in the state plan; officers employed before that date may elect whether to transfer but must notify the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

Captain Swain, identified as Captain Swain of West Virginia University Police, testified about recruitment, training and retention challenges on campuses, describing a multi-phase hiring and training cycle that includes pre-academy screening, a 16-week West Virginia State Police Academy certification, and a field training officer program. Swain said departments often lose mid-career officers to other agencies that offer different pension arrangements, creating a 2-to-3-year staffing cycle that affects campus safety.

Senators spoke in support, citing campus safety and staffing concerns. The vice chairman moved the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate; the chair called the voice vote and declared the ayes had it. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 will be reported to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance: committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 — motion to report to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass; voice vote; chair declared motion adopted (counts not specified).