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SB 28

Allowing members of State Police retirement system to use accrued leave as credit toward retirement

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Trenton Barnhart and 8 co-sponsors

SB 28 lets West Virginia State Police convert unused accrued leave into credited retirement service, increasing their pension benefits and state pension liabilities.

Chapter 199, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 28

Legislative bill overview

SB 28 would permit members of West Virginia's State Police retirement system to convert accrued, unused leave time into credited service for pension calculation purposes. This change would allow officers to effectively "buy" additional years toward their retirement benefit by converting vacation, sick leave, or other accrued time into retirement credits.

Why is this important

State Police retirement benefits are typically calculated based on years of service, so converting leave into service credits could substantially increase monthly pension payouts for affected officers. This affects both individual officer finances and the long-term liabilities of the state pension system, potentially increasing unfunded obligations that taxpayers ultimately fund.

Potential points of contention

  • Pension liability expansion: Converting leave balances into service credits increases the state's unfunded pension liability, potentially costing taxpayers millions in additional retirement obligations without corresponding funding mechanisms identified
  • Equity concerns: Other state employees or public safety workers may not have similar leave-conversion privileges, raising fairness questions about whether this benefit should be uniform across state systems
  • Fiscal impact clarity: The bill's fiscal note (if available) should specify the estimated cost impact; without clear actuarial analysis, the true expense to the state pension fund remains uncertain

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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