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Committee approves committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to allow campus police to join deputy sheriff retirement system
Summary
The committee voted to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and be referred to the Finance Committee.
The committee voted to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and, under its original double committee reference, first be referred to the Committee on Finance.
The bill would permit campus police officers at state colleges — cited in committee as "UIT, Pott State, and WVU" — to opt into the municipal police and firefighters/deputy sheriff retirement system (a defined‑benefit plan) instead of the higher-education defined‑contribution plan currently administered through TIAA and the Higher Education Policy Commission. Committee materials noted there are about 115 campus police officers statewide, with roughly 25 positions open.
Under the committee substitute, any campus officer who chooses the defined‑benefit plan must end membership in the TIAA plan; no prior service or contributions would transfer, and members entering the defined‑benefit plan would do so as new participants with no service credit transfer. Officers hired on or after Jan. 1, 2026, would automatically enter the municipal police and firefighters retirement system. Officers employed before that date would need to notify the retirement board of their choice before Jan. 1, 2026, if they wish to join the defined‑benefit plan; after that date the option would no longer be available.
Committee counsel answered procedural questions about the substitute and its explanatory note. A representative from the retirement board (CPRB) was present to answer technical or fiscal questions; the committee noted there is a fiscal note connected to the substitute and that the bill will go to the Finance Committee following the committee report.
The committee chair called the question on the substitute; the ayes prevailed and the vice chair moved that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with a do‑pass recommendation and referral to Finance. The motion carried.
