Authority: Title 9.1, Chapter 4; Title 51.1, Chapters 1, 2, 2.1, and 3, Code of Virginia.

A. The Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System is hereby authorized to charge a participation fee to each employer served by the Virginia Retirement System for any services provided pursuant to Title 51.1, Code of Virginia. The fee shall be utilized to pay the administrative expenses of all administrative services, including non-retirement programs. Retirement contributions required by the board shall be reduced to pay such fees in a manner prescribed by the Board of Trustees.

B. State agencies and institutions of higher education shall make payments to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) for VRS-administered benefits no less often than monthly.

C. The Virginia Retirement System shall make changes to administrative policies, procedures, and systems as necessary for implementation of the public employee retirement reforms provided in Chapter 701 of the Acts of Assembly of 2012.

D.1. Out of this appropriation, $185,137 the first year and $80,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for expenses associated with the Volunteer Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Service Award Fund.

2. Gains forfeited prior to July 1, 2016 pursuant to § 51.1-1206, Code of Virginia, and the accumulated earnings thereon shall be used to provide the reimbursement described in § 51.1-1200, Code of Virginia. All future gains forfeited pursuant to § 51.1-1206, Code of Virginia, shall also be used to provide the reimbursement described in § 51.1-1200, Code of Virginia.

E. The Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System shall provide notification to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee when a political subdivision becomes more than 60 days in arrears in their contributions to the Virginia Retirement System. Such notification shall occur within 15 days of when the 60 day period has occurred.

F.1. Pursuant to the administration of Chapter 4 of Title 9.1, Code of Virginia, the following provisions are effective July 1, 2017:

2. For purposes of this Item, employer contributions for coverage provided to members of the National Guard and Virginia Defense Force on active duty shall be paid by the Department of Military Affairs.

3. In addition to any other benefit provided by law, an additional death benefit in the amount of $20,000 for the surviving spouses and dependents of certain members of the National Guard and United States military reserves killed in action in any armed conflict on or after October 7, 2001, are payable pursuant to § 44-93.1.B., Code of Virginia, from the Line of Duty Death and Health Benefits Trust Fund. The Virginia Retirement System, with support from the Department of Military Affairs, shall determine eligibility for this benefit.

4. Funding for the inclusion of a member of any fire company providing fire protection services for facilities of the Virginia National Guard or the Virginia Air National Guard will be paid by the Department of Military Affairs out of its appropriation in Item 416 of this act.

5. Any locality that has established a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for the purpose of accumulating and investing assets to fund post-employment benefits other than pensions under § 15.2-1544, Code of Virginia, may fund Line of Duty Act benefits from the assets of the trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements.

G. Notwithstanding § 51.1-124.20, Code of Virginia, or any other provision of law, the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System shall consist of 12 members; of which, three members shall be ex-officio and non-voting members. The three ex-officio members shall include the following: the Secretary of Finance, or his designee, the staff director of the Senate Finance Committee, or his designee, and the staff director of the House of Appropriations Committee, or his designee.