{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1544.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1544.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1544.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1544.html"}],"law_id":66857,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66857,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1544","catch_line":"Counties, cities, towns, school divisions, and certain political subdivisions may establish local trusts or equivalent arrangements to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions","history":"2007, c. 710.","full_text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town may establish a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for the purpose of accumulating and investing assets to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions, as defined herein. Deposits to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements and any earnings on those deposits shall be irrevocable; shall be dedicated to providing benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the plans or programs providing postemployment benefits other than pensions; and shall be exempt from taxation and execution, attachment, garnishment, or any other process. For the purposes of this article, an equivalent arrangement shall mean any fund or similar arrangement established by the governing body pursuant to this article under which funds are irrevocably allocated, segregated, or otherwise dedicated to providing postemployment benefits other than pension benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries. The governing body of any such county, city, or town also may make appropriations to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, and any such governing body may require active and former employees covered by a postemployment benefit plan or program to contribute to such a trust or equivalent arrangement through payments or deductions from their wages, salaries, or pensions. Officers and employees who are subject to inclusion in the retirement plans described in \u00a7 51.1-800 also may be included in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements by the governing body.\n\t\tThe governing body also may authorize the governing body of any other political subdivision that is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body of such county, city, or town, to establish and fund a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. Any appointed or elected school board may establish and fund such a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. The governing body of any county, city, or town also may enter into agreements with the appointed or elected school board that provides public schools within its boundaries or with any other political subdivision, which is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body of any such county, city, or town, to permit any such school board or such other political subdivision to participate in any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements established by the governing body of any such county, city, or town.\n\t\tThe governing body of any such county, city, or town, the school board of the local school divisions, and the governing body of any other political subdivision that establishes or participates in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, shall have the right to revise or discontinue its plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for its active and former officers and employees as it may deem necessary or transfer any assets held in any trust or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article to any other trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article; provided, however, any amendment, suspension, or revocation of any plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions or transfer of assets held in a trust or equivalent arrangement shall not have the effect of diverting the assets of any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the active or former employees or their dependents or beneficiaries entitled to such postemployment benefit. If all plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which a trust or equivalent arrangement is established are repealed or terminated by the governing body that created such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, then there shall be no continuing responsibility for that governing body to continue to make appropriations to such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, and the assets of any such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements shall be used to provide any benefits continuing to be due to active or former employees (and their dependents or beneficiaries) under such plans or programs. If there are no active or former employees (or dependents or beneficiaries) due a benefit under any plan or program providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which the trust or equivalent arrangement was established, then any remaining assets may revert to the locality.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242429,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town may establish a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for the purpose of accumulating and investing assets to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions, as defined herein. Deposits to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements and any earnings on those deposits shall be irrevocable; shall be dedicated to providing benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the plans or programs providing postemployment benefits other than pensions; and shall be exempt from taxation and execution, attachment, garnishment, or any other process. For the purposes of this article, an equivalent arrangement shall mean any fund or similar arrangement established by the governing body pursuant to this article under which funds are irrevocably allocated, segregated, or otherwise dedicated to providing postemployment benefits other than pension benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries. The governing body of any such county, city, or town also may make appropriations to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, and any such governing body may require active and former employees covered by a postemployment benefit plan or program to contribute to such a trust or equivalent arrangement through payments or deductions from their wages, salaries, or pensions. Officers and employees who are subject to inclusion in the retirement plans described in \u00a7 51.1-800 also may be included in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements by the governing body.\n\t\tThe governing body also may authorize the governing body of any other political subdivision that is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body of such county, city, or town, to establish and fund a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. Any appointed or elected school board may establish and fund such a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. The governing body of any county, city, or town also may enter into agreements with the appointed or elected school board that provides public schools within its boundaries or with any other political subdivision, which is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body of any such county, city, or town, to permit any such school board or such other political subdivision to participate in any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements established by the governing body of any such county, city, or town.\n\t\tThe governing body of any such county, city, or town, the school board of the local school divisions, and the governing body of any other political subdivision that establishes or participates in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, shall have the right to revise or discontinue its plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for its active and former officers and employees as it may deem necessary or transfer any assets held in any trust or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article to any other trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article; provided, however, any amendment, suspension, or revocation of any plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions or transfer of assets held in a trust or equivalent arrangement shall not have the effect of diverting the assets of any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the active or former employees or their dependents or beneficiaries entitled to such postemployment benefit. If all plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which a trust or equivalent arrangement is established are repealed or terminated by the governing body that created such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, then there shall be no continuing responsibility for that governing body to continue to make appropriations to such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, and the assets of any such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements shall be used to provide any benefits continuing to be due to active or former employees (and their dependents or beneficiaries) under such plans or programs. If there are no active or former employees (or dependents or beneficiaries) due a benefit under any plan or program providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which the trust or equivalent arrangement was established, then any remaining assets may revert to the locality.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":16058,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Trusts to Fund Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12734,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:04:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:04:55","permalink":{"id":153279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16058,"identifier":"8","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8","url":"\/15.2\/II\/15\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12734,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Government Personnel, Qualification for Office, Bonds, Dual Office Holding and Certain Local Government Officers","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":153003,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12734,"identifier":"15","token":"15.2\/II\/15","url":"\/15.2\/II\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66857,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1544","catch_line":"Counties, cities, towns, school divisions, and certain political subdivisions may establish local trusts or equivalent arrangements to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions","url":"\/15.2-1544\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1544","metadata":false},{"id":63092,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1545","catch_line":"Postemployment benefits other than pensions defined","url":"\/15.2-1545\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1545","metadata":false},{"id":86833,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1546","catch_line":"Assets of trusts or equivalent arrangements for postemployment benefits other than pensions","url":"\/15.2-1546\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1546","metadata":false},{"id":81208,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1547","catch_line":"Creation of local finance boards to manage the assets of postemployment benefits trust or equivalent arrangement; composition of such boards; alternatives to such boards; liability; and removal from office","url":"\/15.2-1547\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1547","metadata":false},{"id":68979,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1548","catch_line":"Finance boards or alternatives thereto to manage the assets of trusts or equivalent arrangements to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions and provide annual reports; exemption from Public Procurement Act","url":"\/15.2-1548\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1548","metadata":false},{"id":82231,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1549","catch_line":"Investment of assets of trusts or equivalent arrangement for postemployment benefits other than pensions","url":"\/15.2-1549\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1549","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":63092,"structure_id":16058,"section_number":"15.2-1545","catch_line":"Postemployment benefits other than pensions defined","url":"\/15.2-1545\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1545","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1544\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2007. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 710<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79544,"section_number":"2.2-3705.7","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3705.7\/"},{"id":72789,"section_number":"2.2-3711","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Closed meetings authorized for certain limited purposes","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3711\/"},{"id":55021,"section_number":"2.2-4513.1","catch_line":"Investment of funds in qualified investment pools","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4513.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82031,"section_number":"51.1-800","catch_line":"Counties, cities, and certain towns to establish local systems or participate in Virginia Retirement System","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-800\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153281,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66857,"identifier":"15.2-1544","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1544","url":"\/15.2-1544\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1544\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/8\/15.2-1544","dublin_core":{"Title":"Counties, cities, towns, school divisions, and certain political subdivisions may establish local trusts or equivalent arrangements to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1544","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The governing body<\/span> of any county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> may establish a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for the purpose of accumulating and investing assets<\/span> to fund postemployment benefits other than pensions, as defined herein. Deposits to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements and any earnings on those deposits shall be irrevocable; shall be dedicated to providing benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the plans or programs providing postemployment benefits other than pensions; and shall be exempt from taxation and execution, attachment<\/span>, garnishment<\/span>, or any other process. For the purposes of this article, an equivalent arrangement shall mean any fund or similar arrangement established by the governing body<\/span> pursuant to this article under which funds are irrevocably allocated, segregated, or otherwise dedicated to providing postemployment benefits other than pension benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries. The governing body<\/span> of any such county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> also may make appropriations to any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, and any such governing body<\/span> may require active and former employees covered by a postemployment benefit plan or program to contribute to such a trust or equivalent arrangement through payments or deductions from their wages, salaries, or pensions. Officers and employees who are subject to inclusion in the retirement plans described in \u00a7 51.1-800<\/a> also may be included in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements by the governing body<\/span>.\n\t\tThe governing body<\/span> also may authorize the governing body<\/span> of any other political subdivision that is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body<\/span> of such county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span>, to establish and fund a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. Any appointed or elected school board may establish and fund such a trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. The governing body<\/span> of any county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> also may enter into agreements with the appointed or elected school board that provides public schools within its boundaries or with any other political subdivision, which is appointed in whole or in part by the governing body<\/span> of any such county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span>, to permit any such school board or such other political subdivision to participate in any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements established by the governing body<\/span> of any such county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span>.\n\t\tThe governing body<\/span> of any such county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span>, the school board of the local school divisions, and the governing body<\/span> of any other political subdivision that establishes or participates in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements, shall have the right to revise or discontinue its plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for its active and former officers and employees as it may deem necessary or transfer any assets<\/span> held in any trust or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article to any other trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to this article; provided, however, any amendment, suspension, or revocation<\/span> of any plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions or transfer of assets<\/span> held in a trust or equivalent arrangement shall not have the effect of diverting the assets<\/span> of any trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the active or former employees or their dependents or beneficiaries entitled to such postemployment benefit. If all plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which a trust or equivalent arrangement is established are repealed or terminated by the governing body<\/span> that created such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, then there shall be no continuing responsibility for that governing body<\/span> to continue to make appropriations to such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, and the assets<\/span> of any such trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements shall be used to provide any benefits continuing to be due to active or former employees (and their dependents or beneficiaries) under such plans or programs. If there are no active or former employees (or dependents or beneficiaries) due a benefit under any plan or program providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which the trust or equivalent arrangement was established, then any remaining assets<\/span> may revert to the locality<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOUNTIES, CITIES, TOWNS, SCHOOL DIVISIONS, AND CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS\nMAY ESTABLISH LOCAL TRUSTS OR EQUIVALENT ARRANGEMENTS TO FUND POSTEMPLOYMENT\nBENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS (\u00a7 15.2-1544)\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town may establish a trust, trusts,\nor equivalent arrangements for the purpose of accumulating and investing assets\nto fund postemployment benefits other than pensions, as defined herein. Deposits\nto any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements and any earnings on those\ndeposits shall be irrevocable; shall be dedicated to providing benefits to\nretirees and their beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the plans or\nprograms providing postemployment benefits other than pensions; and shall be\nexempt from taxation and execution, attachment, garnishment, or any other\nprocess. For the purposes of this article, an equivalent arrangement shall mean\nany fund or similar arrangement established by the governing body pursuant to\nthis article under which funds are irrevocably allocated, segregated, or\notherwise dedicated to providing postemployment benefits other than pension\nbenefits to retirees and their beneficiaries. The governing body of any such\ncounty, city, or town also may make appropriations to any such trust, trusts, or\nequivalent arrangements, and any such governing body may require active and\nformer employees covered by a postemployment benefit plan or program to\ncontribute to such a trust or equivalent arrangement through payments or\ndeductions from their wages, salaries, or pensions. Officers and employees who\nare subject to inclusion in the retirement plans described in \u00a7 51.1-800 also\nmay be included in any such trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangements by the\ngoverning body.\n\t\tThe governing body also may authorize the governing body of any other\npolitical subdivision that is appointed in whole or in part by the governing\nbody of such county, city, or town, to establish and fund a trust, trusts, or\nequivalent arrangements for its active and former employees. Any appointed or\nelected school board may establish and fund such a trust, trusts, or equivalent\narrangements for its active and former employees. The governing body of any\ncounty, city, or town also may enter into agreements with the appointed or\nelected school board that provides public schools within its boundaries or with\nany other political subdivision, which is appointed in whole or in part by the\ngoverning body of any such county, city, or town, to permit any such school\nboard or such other political subdivision to participate in any trust, trusts,\nor equivalent arrangements established by the governing body of any such county,\ncity, or town.\n\t\tThe governing body of any such county, city, or town, the school board of the\nlocal school divisions, and the governing body of any other political\nsubdivision that establishes or participates in any such trust, trusts, or\nequivalent arrangements, shall have the right to revise or discontinue its plans\nor programs providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for its\nactive and former officers and employees as it may deem necessary or transfer\nany assets held in any trust or equivalent arrangement established pursuant to\nthis article to any other trust, trusts, or equivalent arrangement established\npursuant to this article; provided, however, any amendment, suspension, or\nrevocation of any plans or programs providing such postemployment benefits other\nthan pensions or transfer of assets held in a trust or equivalent arrangement\nshall not have the effect of diverting the assets of any trust, trusts, or\nequivalent arrangements to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the\nactive or former employees or their dependents or beneficiaries entitled to such\npostemployment benefit. If all plans or programs providing such postemployment\nbenefits other than pensions for which a trust or equivalent arrangement is\nestablished are repealed or terminated by the governing body that created such\ntrust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, then there shall be no continuing\nresponsibility for that governing body to continue to make appropriations to\nsuch trust, trusts or equivalent arrangements, and the assets of any such trust,\ntrusts or equivalent arrangements shall be used to provide any benefits\ncontinuing to be due to active or former employees (and their dependents or\nbeneficiaries) under such plans or programs. If there are no active or former\nemployees (or dependents or beneficiaries) due a benefit under any plan or\nprogram providing such postemployment benefits other than pensions for which the\ntrust or equivalent arrangement was established, then any remaining assets may\nrevert to the locality.\n\nHISTORY: 2007, c. 710.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}