West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB997: Allowing certain hospital staff members to begin withdrawing from retirement benefits in certain circumstances
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-10-52a, relating to the Public Employees Retirement Act; allowing certain staff members at certain formerly state-run hospitals to begin drawing their retirement benefit annuity before age 60 in certain circumstances; and clarifying that such certain staff members will be regarded as having retired directly from a participating employer in the Public Employees Insurance Agency for health insurance coverage in retirement. ARTICLE 10. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ACT. §5-10-52a. Speci.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-10-52a, relating to the Public Employees Retirement Act; allowing certain staff members at certain formerly state-run hospitals to begin drawing their retirement benefit annuity before age 60 in certain circumstances; and clarifying that such certain staff members will be regarded as having retired directly from a participating employer in the Public Employees Insurance Agency for health insurance coverage in retirement. ARTICLE 10. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ACT. §5-10-52a. Specific provisions relating to certain staff members participating in the Public Employees Retirement System employed by Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow Hospital, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center, and Lakin State Hospital. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any staff member participating in the Public Employees Retirement System employed by Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow Hospital, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center, or Lakin State Hospital on October 31, 2025, who will be 55 years within one calendar year of that date and who, but for not having yet attained the age of 60 if participating in Tier 1 of the Public Employees Retirement System, or the age of 62 if participating in Tier 2 of the Public Employees Retirement System, would be eligible for retirement under the provisions of this article, …