reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 51.1-128 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-128. Cessation of membership

Membership in the retirement system shall cease (i) upon the withdrawal of the member's accumulated contributions except as provided in subsection C of § 51.1-153, (ii) upon retirement, (iii) upon death, or (iv) as provided by Board policy for dormant accounts.An employee shall lose all rights to any benefits under this chapter arising from service rendered prior to the date of cessation of membership.1952, c. 157, §§ 51-111.29, 51-111.43; 1954, c. 643; 1960, c. 604; 1966, c. 174; 1978, c. 841; 1984, c. 430; 1990, c. 832; 1992, c. 811.
VA Code § 51.1-129 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-129. Limitation on membership

No provision of any other statute which provides that the Commonwealth shall pay the entire or a portion of the cost of retirement benefits for employees, their surviving spouses, or other dependents shall apply to members or beneficiaries of the retirement system, or to their surviving spouses, or other dependents. This provision shall not apply to any benefits extended under any agreement between the Commonwealth and the federal government, or any agency thereof, or any benefits extended under the Government Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Act (§ 51.1-600 et seq.).1952, c. 157, § 51-111.30; 1976, c. 654; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-130 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-130. Resolution of governing body; approval by Board

A. The governing body of a political subdivision may adopt a resolution requesting that its eligible employees become members of the retirement system. The governing body's resolution shall be submitted to the Board for approval, and acceptance of the employees in the retirement system shall be at the option of the Board. If the Board approves the resolution, eligible employees may become members of the retirement system. The Board shall not approve the resolution unless the political subdivision has first entered into a plan of agreement, as defined in § 51.1-700, to extend benefits under the Social Security Act to its employees approved under the provisions of § 51.1-705.B. The governing body of any political subdivision approved for participation in the retirement system pursuant to subsection A may adopt a resolution that provides, on or after October 1, 1994, an additional retirement allowance not to exceed three percent of the applicable service or disability retirement allowances payable under § 51.1-155, 51.1-157, 51.1-206, 51.1-306, or 51.1-308.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.31; 1954, c. 241; 1958, c. 367; 1960, c. 400; 1973, c. 523; 1974, c. 353; 1975, c. 296; 1976, c. 581; 1977, c. 620; 1990, c. 832; 1994, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 5; 2005, c. 902.
VA Code § 51.1-131 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-131. Local pension systems; transfer to retirement system

The members of any annuity fund, benevolent association, or retirement system of any political subdivision, hereafter referred to as a local pension system, may elect to become members of the retirement system by submitting to the Board a petition duly signed by a majority of the members. The Board may approve the participation of such members in the retirement system as though the local pension system was not in operation, and the provisions of this article shall thereupon apply. Existing pensioners or annuitants of the local pension system who are being paid pensions on the effective date of coverage and former employees whose rights are vested may retain their rights under the local pension system and be paid at their existing rates by the retirement system. After the local pension system is discontinued, the rates may be increased by all future percentage increases which are granted to beneficiaries retired under the provisions of this chapter.If deemed practicable by the Board, any cash and securities credited to the local pension system shall be transferred to the retirement system as of the effective date of coverage. The administrative head of the local pension system shall certify the proportion of the funds of the system that represents the accumulated contributions and the relative shares of the members. If appropriate, the accumulated contributions and shares shall be credited to the individual accounts of the members in the members' contribution account. The operation of the local pension system shall be discontinued as of the effective date of coverage.If the Board determines that the transfer of funds is not practicable, the Board may enter into an agreement with the employer to coordinate any benefits payable under this chapter with any vested benefits payable under the discontinued local system.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.34; 1960, c. 604; 1973, c. 523; 1976, c. 654; 1978, c. 841; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-132 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-132. Eligible employees

Officers and employees of the political subdivision who are regularly employed full time on a salaried basis and whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment may become members of the retirement system. Clerks of the circuit court and deputies shall be included in the coverage group. Officers and employees of an organization other than a public school board that functions solely within the boundaries of a county, city, or town shall be deemed to be officers and employees of the county, city, or town, and not of the organization, unless the cost of the organization's operation is borne by (i) the users of services, (ii) more than one county, city, or town, or (iii) any entity other than a county, city, or town.A member of a local system who, through election to a position as a constitutional officer, is no longer eligible for membership in the local system, and who, prior to such election, has accumulated within that system more than half the total service credits necessary to become eligible for full normal retirement benefits, may choose, with the concurrence of the local governing body, (i) not to participate in the retirement system established pursuant to this chapter and (ii) to become a member of the local system. In such case, the member shall be deemed, for retirement purposes only, to have ceased employment, and shall be permitted to withdraw his contribution as provided in § 51.1-161.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.31; 1954, c. 241; 1958, c. 367; 1960, c. 400; 1973, c. 523; 1974, c. 353; 1975, c. 296; 1976, c. 581; 1977, c. 620; 1990, c. 832; 1994, c. 883.
VA Code § 51.1-133 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-133. Limitation on membership

Employees who are members of any retirement, pension, or benefit fund partially or wholly supported by public funds shall not be entitled to become members of the retirement system on that part of their compensation covered by the fund except as provided under this article.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.31; 1954, c. 241; 1958, c. 367; 1960, c. 400; 1973, c. 523; 1974, c. 353; 1975, c. 296; 1976, c. 581; 1977, c. 620; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-134 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-134. Optional membership; creditable service

Membership in the retirement system for eligible employees in service on the date of coverage shall be optional. Any employee who elects to join the retirement system within one calendar year after the date of coverage shall be entitled to credit for service rendered prior to the date of coverage as certified by his employer for service rendered to the employer, his predecessor, the Commonwealth, or in any other capacity approved by the employer and the Board.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.32; 1960, c. 400; 1974, c. 353; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-135 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-135. Compulsory membership

Membership in the retirement system shall be compulsory for all eligible employees who enter service after the effective date of coverage. For purposes of this section, "membership in the retirement system" includes an eligible employee's participation in the hybrid retirement program pursuant to § 51.1-169.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.33; 1960, c. 400; 1978, c. 841; 1987, c. 575; 1990, c. 832; 2012, cc. 701, 823.
VA Code § 51.1-136 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-136. Submitting information and performing duties prescribed by Board

The chief fiscal officer of the employer and the heads of its departments shall submit information and perform duties prescribed by the Board in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.35; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-137 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-137. Computation of employer contribution rates; reimbursement by Commonwealth

A. At least once in each two-year period, the actuary of the retirement system shall compute the annual rates of contributions payable by the employer on behalf of employees who are members. The rates shall be determined by an actuarial valuation of the retirement allowances and other benefits which will be payable on behalf of the employees who are members. The contributions shall be payable in lieu of contributions payable on behalf of other members in the system. The expense of making initial and subsequent valuations shall be assessed against and paid by the employer.B. In the case of contributions payable by the employer on behalf of any local officer, the Commonwealth shall reimburse the employer on the basis on which the Commonwealth pays the salaries of the officer or shares or would share in the excess fees from the office. Payment shall be made from funds appropriated for this purpose.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.36; 1956, c. 560; 1958, c. 367; 1974, c. 353; 1982, c. 443; 1984, c. 430; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-137.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-137.1. Certain local data to be provided

In addition to the annual actuarial evaluation currently provided to participating localities by the Virginia Retirement System, VRS annually shall provide each participating locality the locality-specific data on which the annual actuarial evaluation is based, and such other information as may be necessary for each locality to determine the specific assumptions that are driving its VRS-related costs, and to understand the retirement costs of different classes of covered employees. The Virginia Retirement System is authorized to assess fees for data collection, reporting, actuarial analysis, and other requested services beyond those required for the annual actuarial valuation provided to each participating employer. Such fees may be collected from funds maintained and invested by the Virginia Retirement System on behalf of each requesting employer.2007, c. 466.
VA Code § 51.1-139 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-139. Procedure when employer in default

An employer's agreement to contribute on behalf of its employees who become members shall be irrevocable. If an employer for any reason becomes financially unable to make the contributions payable on behalf of the members, the employer shall be deemed to be in default and the employees' membership in the Retirement System shall be terminated. As of the date of the default, (i) each member or beneficiary whose coverage under the Retirement System is affected by such default shall become fully vested, (ii) the actuary of the Retirement System shall determine by actuarial valuation the amount of the reserves held on behalf of each then member and each then beneficiary, and (iii) the Retirement System shall credit to each member and each beneficiary the amount of reserve so held. The reserve so credited together with the amount of the accumulated contributions of each member, shall be disbursed in a manner prescribed by the Board consistent with the applicable tax qualification rules of the Internal Revenue Code, whereupon the rights and privileges of the members and beneficiaries shall terminate.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.38; 1960, c. 604; 1986, c. 474; 1990, c. 832; 2004, c. 207.
VA Code § 51.1-141 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-141. Service equivalents

The Board shall determine how much service in any month is the equivalent of a month of service or how much service in any year is the equivalent of a year of service. The Board shall not allow more than one year of service credit for all service rendered in any period of twelve consecutive months.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.40; 1956, c. 560; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-143.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-143.1. Portability of service credit between the Virginia Retirement System and certain political subdivisions of the Commonwealth

The Virginia Retirement System may enter into an agreement with any political subdivision of the Commonwealth which has a defined benefit plan that is not supplemental to the Retirement System to permit any vested member of the political subdivision's plan, upon entering service in a covered position and filing a written application with the Retirement System, to purchase service credit, of an amount to be determined by the Board of Trustees, in the Retirement System. The purchase shall be accomplished by and upon the transfer of assets to the Retirement System from the political subdivision's plan as provided in the agreement.1996, cc. 939, 990.
VA Code § 51.1-146 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-146. Failure to report or pay contributions or insurance premiums

Every employer shall file all reports and pay all contributions and insurance premiums required by this title or Board regulation. Failure to file reports or pay contributions or insurance premiums by the end of the month in which due may result in a penalty of five percent of the amount due plus interest at the rate of one percent per month until payment is made. The Board may waive all or a part of the penalty and interest if good cause is shown. Delinquent contributions, insurance premiums, penalties, and interest may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction. At the discretion of the Board, contributions, insurance premiums, penalties and interest may be deducted from the retirement allowance account of the employer or may be deducted by the State Treasurer, upon warrant of the Comptroller, from any nonearmarked moneys distributable to the employer by any department or agency of the Commonwealth.1980, c. 644, § 51-111.47:1; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1990, c. 832; 1995, c. 307; 1997, c. 273.
VA Code § 51.1-147 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-147. Members' contribution account

A. All members' contributions and interest allowances shall be credited to the member's contribution account. Accumulated contributions required to be returned to a member or required to be paid in the event of a member's death before retirement shall be paid from the member's contribution account.B. At the end of each payroll period, the Comptroller shall transfer to the members' contribution account an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the deductions which would have been made for the preceding payroll period from the salaries of all members from the appropriate fund in the state treasury. The Comptroller shall forward a record of all such transfers to the Board. In all other cases, the employer shall transmit its warrant to the State Treasurer for the payment of an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the deductions made for each payroll period from the salaries of all members paid by the employer for the preceding payroll period. The funds collected by the State Treasurer shall be credited to the members' contribution account. The State Treasurer shall transmit a record of all moneys collected to the Comptroller and the Board.C. Each individual account of the members' contribution account shall be credited annually with interest at the rate of four percent annually on the accumulated contributions of the member. Interest shall accrue on any contribution beginning at the end of the fiscal year in which the contribution was made. The Board shall have the authority to determine the manner in which the interest is to be credited to the members' contribution account.D. Upon the retirement of a member, his accumulated contributions shall be transferred from the members' contribution account to the retirement allowance account.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.49; 1966, c. 174; 1970, c. 476; 1976, c. 540; 1982, c. 467; 1986, c. 474; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-148 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-148. Retirement allowance account

A. All employer contributions, all amounts transferred from the members' contribution account, and all income from the invested assets of the retirement system shall be credited to the retirement allowance account. All benefits under the retirement system, other than refunds of members' accumulated contributions, and all administrative expenses of the retirement system, except to the extent that such expenses are otherwise paid, shall be paid from the retirement allowance account. At the discretion of the Board, contributions, penalties, and interest assessments may be deducted from the retirement allowance account of the employer.B. The amount of the interest allowances provided for in this chapter shall be transferred from the retirement allowance account to the members' contribution account annually.C. The records of the retirement allowance account shall be maintained so that the portion that is applicable to each respective employer may be ascertained at all times.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.50; 1956, c. 560; 1978, c. 841; 1980, c. 137; 1984, c. 430; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-149 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-149. Appointment of custodian; payments

The Board is authorized to appoint custodians for the safekeeping and payment of retirement system assets. The selection of these investment services shall be governed exclusively by the fiduciary standard set forth in this chapter.The Board may request the State Treasurer to issue retirement benefit payments on behalf of the retirement system. At the direction of the Board, retirement payments from the accounts shall be made by the State Treasurer, on warrants of the Comptroller, issued upon vouchers signed by persons designated by the Board. A duly attested copy of a resolution of the Board designating the persons and bearing on its face the specimen signatures of the persons shall be filed with the Comptroller as his authority for issuing warrants upon such vouchers. No voucher shall be drawn unless it has been authorized by Board resolution.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.51; 1988, c. 809; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-150 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-150. Deposits

For the purpose of meeting disbursements for retirement allowances and other payments, cash, not exceeding ten percent of the total amount in the accounts of the retirement system, may be kept on deposit to the credit of the State Treasurer in one or more banks or trust companies, located in Virginia, organized under the laws of Virginia or of the United States and qualified as state depositories.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.52; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-152 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-152. Limitations on average final compensation

If an employee receives increases in compensation in the last four years of service which are not related to promotion and which exceed the average increase received by other employees of the same employer holding comparable positions, the excess shall be excluded when computing the average final compensation if the Board finds, after consideration of all circumstances, that the primary purpose of the salary increase was to increase the retirement benefit of the employee. If there are no employees of the same employer holding comparable positions, the increases may be excluded from the average final compensation if they exceed the average percentage increase received by all other employees of the same employer. Creditable compensation assumed to have been received for the purpose of purchasing service shall be excluded from a member's average final compensation.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.10; 1954, c. 497; 1956, c. 98; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 64; 1960, c. 604; 1966, cc. 174, 175; 1970, c. 779; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 88, 185; 1972, cc. 568, 708; 1973, cc. 322, 523, 545, 546; 1974, cc. 353, 484; 1975, cc. 597, 611; 1976, cc. 678, 699; 1977, c. 620; 1980, c. 722, § 51-111.10:01; 1982, cc. 467, 478; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1987, c. 392; 1990, c. 832.
VA Code § 51.1-154 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 51.1 - Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement|Chapter 1 - Virginia Retirement System|§ 51.1-154. Compulsory service retirement

Any employer, subsequent to the employee's normal retirement date, may provide for compulsory service retirement upon a determination that age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or that an employee is incapable of performing his duties in a safe and efficient manner. Any such determination shall be made by the employer.1952, c. 157, § 51-111.54; 1954, c. 460; 1956, c. 458; 1958, c. 356; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 59; 1966, c. 147; 1968, c. 177; 1970, c. 476; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 185; 1972, c. 26; 1974, c. 353; 1975, c. 611; 1980, c. 595; 1982, c. 406; 1984, c. 430; 1987, c. 571; 1990, c. 832.