Bill Text: WV HB4600 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the definition of the term member regarding distributing premium tax proceeds
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-04-15 - Chapter 74, Acts, Regular Session, 2020 [HB4600 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HB4600-Enrolled.html
WEST virginia legislature
2020 regular session
ENROLLED
House Bill 4600
By Delegates Graves, Nelson, Anderson, Pethtel and Evans
[Passed February 27, 2020; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT amend and reenact §8-22-26 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the use of beneficiaries of a death benefit from a municipal policemen’s or firemen’s pension and relief fund in the calculation of the distribution of premium tax proceeds.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
§8-22-26. Death benefits.
(a) In case:
(1) Any member of a paid police or fire department who has been in continuous service for more than five years dies from any cause other than as specified in subsection (b) of this section before retirement on a disability pension under the provisions of, prior to July 1, 1981, section twenty-four of this article, or after June 30, 1981, §8-22-23a and §8-22-24 of this code, or a retirement pension under the provisions of §8-22-25(a) or §8-22-25(a) and §8-22-25(b) of this code, leaving in either case surviving a spouse, or any dependent child or children under the age of eighteen years, or dependent father or mother or both, or any dependent brothers or sisters or both under the age of eighteen years, or any dependent child over the age of eighteen years of age who is totally physically or mentally disabled so long as such condition exists; or
(2) Any former member of any such department who is on a disability pension prior to July 1, 1981, under section twenty-four of this article, or after June 30, 1981, under §8-22-23a and §8-22-24 of this code, or is receiving or is entitled to receive retirement pension benefits under the provisions of §8-22-25(a) or §8-22-25(a) and §8-22-25(b) of this code, dies from any cause other than as specified in subsection (b) of this section leaving in either case surviving a spouse or any dependent child or children under the age of eighteen years or dependent father or mother or both, or any dependent brothers or sisters or both under the age of eighteen years, or any dependent child over the age of eighteen years of age who is totally physically or mentally disabled so long as such condition exists; then in any of the cases set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, the board of trustees of such pension and relief fund shall, immediately following the death the member, pay to or for each entitled surviving dependents the following pension benefits: To the surviving spouse, until death or remarriage, a sum per month equal to sixty percent of the member’s pension or, in the event the member was not receiving a pension at the time of the member’s death, a sum per month equal to sixty percent of the monthly retirement pension such member would have been entitled to receive pursuant to §8-22-25 of this code on the date of the member’s death if the member had then been eligible for a retirement pension, or the sum of $300 per month, whichever is greater; to each dependent child, a sum per month equal to twenty percent of the member’s pension or, in the event the member was not receiving a pension on the date of the member’s death, a sum per month equal to twenty percent of the monthly retirement pension the member would have been entitled to receive pursuant to §8-22-25 of this code on the date of the member’s death if the member had then been eligible for a retirement pension, or until the child attains the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever first occurs; to each dependent orphaned child, a sum per month equal to twenty-five percent of the member’s pension or, in the event the member was not receiving a pension at the time of the member’s death, a sum per month equal to twenty-five percent of the monthly retirement pension the member would have been entitled to receive pursuant to §8-22-25 of this code on the date of the member’s death if the member had then been eligible for a retirement pension, until the child attains the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever first occurs; to each dependent orphaned child, a sum per month equal to twenty-five percent of the member’s pension or, in the event the member was not receiving a pension on the date of the member’s death, a sum per month equal to twenty-five percent of the monthly retirement pension the member would have been entitled to receive pursuant to §8-22-25 of this code on the date of the member’s death if the member had then been eligible for a retirement pension, until the child attains the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever first occurs; to each dependent father or mother, a sum per month for each equal to ten percent of the member’s pension or, in the event the member was not receiving a pension on the date of the member’s death, a sum per month equal to ten percent of the monthly retirement pension the member would have been entitled to receive pursuant to §8-22-25 of this code on the date of the member’s death if the member had then been eligible for a retirement pension; to each dependent brother or sister, the sum of $50 per month until he or she attains the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever first occurs, but in no event shall the aggregate amount paid to all brothers and sisters of the member exceed $100 per month. If at any time, because of the number of dependents, all dependents cannot be paid in full as herein provided, then each dependent shall receive his or her pro rata share of the payments. In no case shall the payments to the surviving spouse and children be cut below sixty-five percent of the total amount paid to all dependents.
(b) The surviving spouse, child or children, or dependent father or mother, or dependent brothers or sisters, of any member who dies by reason of service rendered in the performance of the member’s duties shall, regardless of the length of the member’s service and irrespective of whether the member was or was not entitled to receive, or was or was not receiving, disability pension or temporary disability payments at the time of the member’s death, receive the death benefits provided for in subsection (a) of this section. If the member had less than three years’ service at the time of the member’s death, the member’s pension shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of years of service.
(c) If a member dies without leaving a spouse, dependent child or children, or dependent father or mother, or dependent brothers or sisters, the member’s contributions to the fund plus six percent interest shall be refunded to the member’s named beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been named, to the member’s estate to the extent that the contributions plus interest exceed any disability or retirement benefits that the member may have received before the member’s death.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed as creating or establishing any contractual or vested rights in favor of any individual who may be or become qualified as a beneficiary of the death benefits authorized to be made pursuant to this section. All the provisions of this section and benefits provided pursuant to this section are expressly subject to subsequent legislative enactments as may provide for any change, modification or elimination of the beneficiaries or benefits specified herein.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of §8-22-24 of this code, the benefit provided for in this section shall be calculated as if the member had remained unemployed throughout any period of disability.
(f) For the purpose of distributing premium tax proceeds as required by §33-3-14d of this code, one beneficiary of the death benefit authorized by this section shall be included in the average monthly number of retired police officers and firefighters.
