Campus police can count leave earned after joining toward retirement

Campus police officers who choose this retirement plan may use unused vacation or sick leave to add time counted toward retirement. This rule covers campus police officers who elected to join the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. Only leave held with the officer’s last covered employer at retirement counts. Eight hours of leave earn one day of credit. Twenty days equal one month, and remainders under 10 days are dropped. Employers with more generous leave policies cannot provide credit beyond the state employee leave allowance. The law states that it takes effect from passage, March 12, 2026. Eligible leave must have been earned after the officer began participating.

Campus police officers hired on or after January 1, 2026, must join the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. These rules cover campus police officers and distinguish them by their hiring date. Earlier hires must notify the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board in writing to begin membership. Earlier hires who did not choose the plan had to report that decision in writing by December 31, 2025, and cannot choose to join after that date.

Campus police officers in this plan cannot transfer earlier retirement savings or service credit into it or participate in another retirement plan offered by their employer. These restrictions cover campus police officers participating in the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System.