{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-124.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-124.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-124.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-124.3.html"}],"law_id":70634,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70634,"structure_id":14725,"section_number":"51.1-124.3","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1952, c. 157, \u00a7\u00a7 51-111.10, 51-111.31; 1954, cc. 241, 497; 1956, c. 98; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 64; 1958, c. 367; 1960, cc. 400, 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. 296, 597, 611; 1976, cc. 581, 678, 699; 1977, c. 620; 1980, c. 722, \u00a7 51-111.10:01; 1982, cc. 467, 478; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1987, c. 392; 1990, c. 832, \u00a7 51.1-101; 1992, cc. 811, 826; 1993, c. 895; 1994, cc. 4, 85, 876; 1996, cc. 711, 731; 1999, cc. 929, 974; 2000, c. 911; 2001, cc. 686, 697; 2003, c. 628; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2007, c. 89; 2010, cc. 737, 738; 2012, cc. 701, 823; 2014, c. 356; 2018, cc. 53, 305; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 53, 54.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Abolished system” means the Virginia Retirement Act, \u00a7\u00a7 51-30 through 51-111, repealed by Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952.\n\t\t“Accumulated contributions” means the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to his individual account in the member’s contribution account, all amounts the member may contribute to purchase creditable service, all member contributions contributed by the employer on behalf of the employee, on or after July 1, 1980, except those amounts contributed on behalf of members of the General Assembly who are otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter, and all interest accruing to these funds. If a member is retired for disability from a cause which is compensable under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (\u00a7 65.2-100 et seq.), dies in service prior to retirement, or requests a refund of contributions in accordance with \u00a7 51.1-161, “accumulated contributions” shall include all member contributions paid by the employer on behalf of the member on and after July 1, 1980, and all interest which would have accrued to these funds.\n\t\t“Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of actuarial tables adopted by the Board.\n\t\t“Average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation of a member during his 60 highest consecutive months of creditable service or during the entire period of his creditable service if less than 60 months. However, for any member who (i) is not a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, and (ii) as of January 1, 2013, has at least 60 months of creditable service, “average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation of a member during his 36 highest consecutive months of creditable service. A participant in the hybrid retirement program described in \u00a7 51.1-169 shall be considered to be a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, for the purposes of this definition.\n\t\tIf a member ceased employment prior to July 1, 1974, “average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation during the five highest consecutive years of creditable service.\n\t\t“Beneficiary” means any person entitled to receive benefits under this chapter.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Creditable compensation” means the full compensation payable annually to an employee working full time in his covered position. For any state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who is (i) compensated on a salaried basis and (ii) working full time in a covered position pursuant to a contract of employment for a period of at least nine months, creditable compensation means the full compensation payable over the term of any contract entered into between the employee and the employer, without regard to whether or not the term of the contract coincides with the normal scholastic year. However, if the contract is for more than one year, creditable compensation means that compensation paid for the current year of the contract.\n\t\tRemuneration received by members of the General Assembly not otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 30-19.11 and 30-19.12 shall be deemed creditable compensation. In addition, for any member of the General Assembly, creditable compensation shall include the full amount of salaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of whether a contractual salary is reduced and not paid to such member because of service in the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Creditable service” means prior service as set forth in \u00a7 51.1-142.2 plus membership service for which credit is allowable.\n\t\t“Employee” means any teacher, state employee, officer, or employee of a locality participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Employer” means the Commonwealth in the case of a state employee, the local public school board in the case of a teacher, or the political subdivision participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Joint Rules Committee” means those members of the House of Delegates and the Senate designated by the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively, to meet with each other and to act jointly on behalf of the Committee on Rules for each house.\n\t\t“Local officer” means the treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff of any county or city, or deputy or employee of any such officer.\n\t\t“Medical Board” means the boards composed of physicians or other health care professionals as provided by this chapter.\n\t\t“Member” means any person included in the membership of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Membership service” means service as an employee rendered while a contributing member of the Retirement System except as provided in this chapter.\n\t\t“Normal retirement date” means a member’s sixty-fifth birthday. However, for any (i) person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, or (ii) member who does not have at least 60 months of creditable service as of January 1, 2013, under this chapter his normal retirement date shall be the date that the member attains his “retirement age” as defined under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 416 et seq., as now or hereafter amended).\n\t\t“Person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010,” means a person who is not a member of a retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System the first time he is hired on or after July 1, 2010, in a covered position. Subsequent separation from such position and subsequent employment in a covered position shall not alter the status of a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010.\n\t\t“Political subdivision” means any county, city, or town, any political entity, subdivision, branch, or unit of the Commonwealth, or any commission, public authority, or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the powers, privileges, or authority capable of exercise by the commission, public authority, or body corporate.\n\t\t“Prior service” means service rendered prior to becoming a member of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Purchase of service contract” means a contract entered into by the member and the Retirement System for the purchase of service credit by the member as provided in \u00a7 51.1-142.2.\n\t\t“Retirement allowance” means the retirement payments to which a member is entitled.\n\t\t“Retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System” means a retirement plan established under this title administered by the Virginia Retirement System, or by an agency that has been delegated administrative responsibility by the Virginia Retirement System, but such term shall exclude any plan established under Chapter 6 (\u00a7 51.1-600 et seq.) or Chapter 6.1 (\u00a7 58.1-607 et seq.).\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Service” means service as an employee.\n\t\t“Social security disability benefit” means, with respect to any member, the social security disability benefits to which the member is entitled pursuant to the provisions of the federal Social Security Act as in effect at his date of retirement.\n\t\t“State employee” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any department, institution, or agency thereof. “State employee” shall include any faculty member, but not including adjunct faculty, of a public institution of higher education (a) who is compensated on a salary basis, (b) whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, and (c) who regularly works at least 20 hours but less than 40 hours per week (or works the equivalent of one-half of a full time equivalent position) engaged in the performance of teaching, administrative, or research duties at such institution; such faculty member shall be deemed an eligible employee for purposes of the retirement provisions under \u00a7\u00a7 51.1-126, 51.1-126.1, and 51.1-126.3. “State employee” shall also include the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and members of the General Assembly but shall not include (i) any local officer, (ii) any employee of a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, (iii) individuals employed by the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired pursuant to \u00a7 51.5-72, (iv) any member of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, (v) any member of the Judicial Retirement System, or (vi) any member of the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System.\n\t\t“Teacher” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis as a professional or clerical employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":254832,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Abolished system” means the Virginia Retirement Act, \u00a7\u00a7 51-30 through 51-111, repealed by Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952.\n\t\t“Accumulated contributions” means the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to his individual account in the member’s contribution account, all amounts the member may contribute to purchase creditable service, all member contributions contributed by the employer on behalf of the employee, on or after July 1, 1980, except those amounts contributed on behalf of members of the General Assembly who are otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter, and all interest accruing to these funds. If a member is retired for disability from a cause which is compensable under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (\u00a7 65.2-100 et seq.), dies in service prior to retirement, or requests a refund of contributions in accordance with \u00a7 51.1-161, “accumulated contributions” shall include all member contributions paid by the employer on behalf of the member on and after July 1, 1980, and all interest which would have accrued to these funds.\n\t\t“Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of actuarial tables adopted by the Board.\n\t\t“Average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation of a member during his 60 highest consecutive months of creditable service or during the entire period of his creditable service if less than 60 months. However, for any member who (i) is not a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, and (ii) as of January 1, 2013, has at least 60 months of creditable service, “average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation of a member during his 36 highest consecutive months of creditable service. A participant in the hybrid retirement program described in \u00a7 51.1-169 shall be considered to be a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, for the purposes of this definition.\n\t\tIf a member ceased employment prior to July 1, 1974, “average final compensation” means the average annual creditable compensation during the five highest consecutive years of creditable service.\n\t\t“Beneficiary” means any person entitled to receive benefits under this chapter.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Creditable compensation” means the full compensation payable annually to an employee working full time in his covered position. For any state employee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who is (i) compensated on a salaried basis and (ii) working full time in a covered position pursuant to a contract of employment for a period of at least nine months, creditable compensation means the full compensation payable over the term of any contract entered into between the employee and the employer, without regard to whether or not the term of the contract coincides with the normal scholastic year. However, if the contract is for more than one year, creditable compensation means that compensation paid for the current year of the contract.\n\t\tRemuneration received by members of the General Assembly not otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 30-19.11 and 30-19.12 shall be deemed creditable compensation. In addition, for any member of the General Assembly, creditable compensation shall include the full amount of salaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of whether a contractual salary is reduced and not paid to such member because of service in the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Creditable service” means prior service as set forth in \u00a7 51.1-142.2 plus membership service for which credit is allowable.\n\t\t“Employee” means any teacher, state employee, officer, or employee of a locality participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Employer” means the Commonwealth in the case of a state employee, the local public school board in the case of a teacher, or the political subdivision participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Joint Rules Committee” means those members of the House of Delegates and the Senate designated by the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively, to meet with each other and to act jointly on behalf of the Committee on Rules for each house.\n\t\t“Local officer” means the treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff of any county or city, or deputy or employee of any such officer.\n\t\t“Medical Board” means the boards composed of physicians or other health care professionals as provided by this chapter.\n\t\t“Member” means any person included in the membership of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Membership service” means service as an employee rendered while a contributing member of the Retirement System except as provided in this chapter.\n\t\t“Normal retirement date” means a member’s sixty-fifth birthday. However, for any (i) person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010, or (ii) member who does not have at least 60 months of creditable service as of January 1, 2013, under this chapter his normal retirement date shall be the date that the member attains his “retirement age” as defined under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 416 et seq., as now or hereafter amended).\n\t\t“Person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010,” means a person who is not a member of a retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System the first time he is hired on or after July 1, 2010, in a covered position. Subsequent separation from such position and subsequent employment in a covered position shall not alter the status of a person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010.\n\t\t“Political subdivision” means any county, city, or town, any political entity, subdivision, branch, or unit of the Commonwealth, or any commission, public authority, or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the powers, privileges, or authority capable of exercise by the commission, public authority, or body corporate.\n\t\t“Prior service” means service rendered prior to becoming a member of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Purchase of service contract” means a contract entered into by the member and the Retirement System for the purchase of service credit by the member as provided in \u00a7 51.1-142.2.\n\t\t“Retirement allowance” means the retirement payments to which a member is entitled.\n\t\t“Retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System” means a retirement plan established under this title administered by the Virginia Retirement System, or by an agency that has been delegated administrative responsibility by the Virginia Retirement System, but such term shall exclude any plan established under Chapter 6 (\u00a7 51.1-600 et seq.) or Chapter 6.1 (\u00a7 58.1-607 et seq.).\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Service” means service as an employee.\n\t\t“Social security disability benefit” means, with respect to any member, the social security disability benefits to which the member is entitled pursuant to the provisions of the federal Social Security Act as in effect at his date of retirement.\n\t\t“State employee” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any department, institution, or agency thereof. “State employee” shall include any faculty member, but not including adjunct faculty, of a public institution of higher education (a) who is compensated on a salary basis, (b) whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, and (c) who regularly works at least 20 hours but less than 40 hours per week (or works the equivalent of one-half of a full time equivalent position) engaged in the performance of teaching, administrative, or research duties at such institution; such faculty member shall be deemed an eligible employee for purposes of the retirement provisions under \u00a7\u00a7 51.1-126, 51.1-126.1, and 51.1-126.3. “State employee” shall also include the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and members of the General Assembly but shall not include (i) any local officer, (ii) any employee of a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, (iii) individuals employed by the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired pursuant to \u00a7 51.5-72, (iv) any member of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, (v) any member of the Judicial Retirement System, or (vi) any member of the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System.\n\t\t“Teacher” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis as a professional or clerical employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14725,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13056,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:34","permalink":{"id":235039,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14725,"identifier":"1.1","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1","url":"\/51.1\/1\/1.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13056,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Retirement System","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12947,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":235031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13056,"identifier":"1","token":"51.1\/1","url":"\/51.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12947,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement","identifier":"51.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":235029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12947,"identifier":"51.1","token":"51.1","url":"\/51.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68506,"structure_id":14725,"section_number":"51.1-124.1","catch_line":"Virginia Retirement System established","url":"\/51.1-124.1\/","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.1","metadata":false},{"id":64690,"structure_id":14725,"section_number":"51.1-124.10","catch_line":"Falsification of records; 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employer liability","url":"\/51.1-124.9\/","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62021,"structure_id":14725,"section_number":"51.1-124.2","catch_line":"Virginia Supplemental Retirement System continued as Virginia Retirement System","url":"\/51.1-124.2\/","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62870,"structure_id":14725,"section_number":"51.1-124.4","catch_line":"Exemption of assets from taxation; exemption of benefits and assets from execution and assignment; trust funds; unclaimed property; eligible rollover distribution","url":"\/51.1-124.4\/","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.4","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-124.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1952. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 157 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. Unfortunately, the 1952 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 32 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapters 241 and 497; in 1956, chapter 98; in 1958, chapter 367; in 1960, chapters 400 and 604; in 1966, chapters 174 and 175; in 1970, chapter 779; in 1972, chapters 568 and 708; in 1973, chapters 322, 523, 545, and 546; in 1974, chapters 353 and 484; in 1975, chapters 296, 597, and 611; in 1976, chapters 581, 678, and 699; in 1977, chapter 620; in 1980, chapter 722; in 1982, chapters 467 and 478; in 1984, chapter 430; in 1986, chapter 474; in 1987, chapter 392; in 1990, chapter 832; in 1992, chapters 811 and 826; in 1993, chapter 895; in 1994, chapters 4<\/a>, 85<\/a>, and 876<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 711<\/a> and 731<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 929<\/a> and 974<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 911<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 686<\/a> and 697<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 628<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 933<\/a> and 945<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 89<\/a>; in 2010, chapters 737<\/a> and 738<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 701<\/a> and 823<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 356<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 53<\/a> and 305<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60193,"section_number":"19.2-46.2","catch_line":"Full-time magistrates; certification for retirement coverage","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-46.2\/"},{"id":71900,"section_number":"2.2-2203.3","catch_line":"Employees; employment; personnel rules","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2203.3\/"},{"id":61045,"section_number":"2.2-2817.2","catch_line":"Employees of the University of Virginia Medical Center","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2817.2\/"},{"id":68317,"section_number":"2.2-2818","catch_line":"Health and related insurance for state employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2818\/"},{"id":76756,"section_number":"2.2-3204","catch_line":"Retirement program","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3204\/"},{"id":79842,"section_number":"23.1-2415","catch_line":"Employees of the Authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-2415\/"},{"id":82207,"section_number":"51.1-1100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1100\/"},{"id":55138,"section_number":"51.1-1150","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1150\/"},{"id":75770,"section_number":"51.1-124.12","catch_line":"Procedure when employer required to withdraw funds","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.12\/"},{"id":59098,"section_number":"51.1-126.3","catch_line":"Employees of the University of Virginia Medical Center","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-126.3\/"},{"id":71866,"section_number":"51.1-1401","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired teachers","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1401\/"},{"id":61234,"section_number":"51.1-1402","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired local government employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1402\/"},{"id":84044,"section_number":"51.1-1402.1","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired school division employees other than teachers","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1402.1\/"},{"id":54220,"section_number":"51.1-1403","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired constitutional officers, employees of constitutional officers, general registrars, employees of general registrars, and local social service employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1403\/"},{"id":70735,"section_number":"51.1-142.2","catch_line":"Prior service or membership credit for certain members; service credit for accumulated sick leave","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-142.2\/"},{"id":62951,"section_number":"51.1-145","catch_line":"Employer contributions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-145\/"},{"id":72358,"section_number":"51.1-155","catch_line":"Service retirement allowance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-155\/"},{"id":83100,"section_number":"51.1-169","catch_line":"Hybrid retirement program","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-169\/"},{"id":57472,"section_number":"51.1-303","catch_line":"Creditable service","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-303\/"},{"id":70577,"section_number":"51.1-400","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-400\/"},{"id":86887,"section_number":"51.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-500\/"},{"id":83648,"section_number":"51.1-502.1","catch_line":"Certain employees of teaching hospitals","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-502.1\/"},{"id":86868,"section_number":"51.1-505","catch_line":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-505\/"},{"id":78798,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-512\/"},{"id":59839,"section_number":"62.1-129.1","catch_line":"Employees; employment; personnel rules; health insurance; retirement plans","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-129.1\/"},{"id":59551,"section_number":"65.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-101\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70533,"section_number":"30-19.11","catch_line":"Salaries of Speaker of House of Delegates and members of General Assembly","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-19.11\/"},{"id":81066,"section_number":"30-19.12","catch_line":"Compensation of members of the General Assembly and certain commissions engaged in legislative services","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-19.12\/"},{"id":74626,"section_number":"51.1-126","catch_line":"Employees of institutions of higher education","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-126\/"},{"id":70940,"section_number":"51.1-126.1","catch_line":"Certain employees of teaching hospitals","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-126.1\/"},{"id":59098,"section_number":"51.1-126.3","catch_line":"Employees of the University of Virginia Medical Center","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-126.3\/"},{"id":70735,"section_number":"51.1-142.2","catch_line":"Prior service or membership credit for certain members; service credit for accumulated sick leave","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-142.2\/"},{"id":65950,"section_number":"51.1-161","catch_line":"Withdrawal of contributions before retirement","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-161\/"},{"id":83100,"section_number":"51.1-169","catch_line":"Hybrid retirement program","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-169\/"},{"id":68128,"section_number":"51.1-600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-600\/"},{"id":80621,"section_number":"51.5-72","catch_line":"Establishment of rehabilitative manufacturing and service industries; expenditures","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-72\/"},{"id":61164,"section_number":"58.1-607","catch_line":"Moving residence or business into Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-607\/"},{"id":67999,"section_number":"65.2-100","catch_line":"Short title","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":235069,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70634,"identifier":"51.1-124.3","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.3","url":"\/51.1-124.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-124.3\/","token":"51.1\/1\/1.1\/51.1-124.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-124.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Abolished system<\/span>” means the Virginia Retirement Act, \u00a7\u00a7 51-30 through 51-111, repealed by Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952.\n\t\t“Accumulated contributions<\/span>” means the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member<\/span> and credited to his individual account in the member<\/span>’s contribution account, all amounts the member<\/span> may contribute to purchase creditable service<\/span>, all member<\/span> contributions contributed by the employer<\/span> on behalf of the employee, on or after July 1, 1980, except those amounts contributed on behalf of members<\/span> of the General Assembly who are otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter, and all interest accruing to these funds. If a member<\/span> is retired for disability from a cause which is compensable under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (\u00a7 65.2-100<\/a> et seq.), dies in service prior to retirement, or requests a refund of contributions in accordance with \u00a7 51.1-161<\/a>, “accumulated contributions<\/span>” shall include all member<\/span> contributions paid by the employer<\/span> on behalf of the member<\/span> on and after July 1, 1980, and all interest which would have accrued to these funds.\n\t\t“Actuarial equivalent<\/span>” means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of actuarial tables adopted by the Board.\n\t\t“Average final compensation<\/span>” means the average annual creditable compensation<\/span> of a member<\/span> during his 60 highest consecutive months of creditable service<\/span> or during the entire period of his creditable service<\/span> if less than 60 months. However, for any member<\/span> who (i) is not a person who becomes a member<\/span> on or after July 1, 2010, and (ii) as of January 1, 2013, has at least 60 months of creditable service<\/span>, “average final compensation<\/span>” means the average annual creditable compensation<\/span> of a member<\/span> during his 36 highest consecutive months of creditable service<\/span>. A participant in the hybrid retirement program described in \u00a7 51.1-169<\/a> shall be considered to be a person who becomes a member<\/span> on or after July 1, 2010, for the purposes of this definition.\n\t\tIf a member<\/span> ceased employment prior to July 1, 1974, “average final compensation<\/span>” means the average annual creditable compensation<\/span> during the five highest consecutive years of creditable service<\/span>.\n\t\t“Beneficiary<\/span>” means any person entitled to receive benefits under this chapter.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Creditable compensation<\/span>” means the full compensation payable annually to an employee working full time in his covered position. For any state employee<\/span> of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital affiliated with a public institution of higher education who is (i) compensated on a salaried basis and (ii) working full time in a covered position pursuant to a contract of employment for a period of at least nine months, creditable compensation<\/span> means the full compensation payable over the term of any contract entered into between the employee and the employer<\/span>, without regard to whether or not the term of the contract coincides with the normal scholastic year. However, if the contract is for more than one year, creditable compensation<\/span> means that compensation paid for the current year of the contract.\n\t\tRemuneration received by members<\/span> of the General Assembly not otherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 30-19.11<\/a> and 30-19.12<\/a> shall be deemed creditable compensation<\/span>. In addition, for any member<\/span> of the General Assembly, creditable compensation<\/span> shall include the full amount of salaries payable to such member<\/span> for working in covered positions, regardless of whether a contractual salary is reduced and not paid to such member<\/span> because of service in the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Creditable service<\/span>” means prior service<\/span> as set forth in \u00a7 51.1-142.2<\/a> plus membership service<\/span> for which credit is allowable.\n\t\t“Employee” means any teacher<\/span>, state employee<\/span>, officer, or employee of a locality participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Employer<\/span>” means the Commonwealth in the case of a state employee<\/span>, the local public school board in the case of a teacher<\/span>, or the political subdivision<\/span> participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Joint Rules Committee<\/span>” means those members<\/span> of the House of Delegates and the Senate designated by the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively, to meet with each other and to act jointly on behalf of the Committee on Rules for each house.\n\t\t“Local officer<\/span>” means the treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit<\/span> court<\/span>, or sheriff of any county or city, or deputy or employee of any such officer.\n\t\t“Medical Board<\/span>” means the boards<\/span> composed of physicians or other health care professionals as provided by this chapter.\n\t\t“Member<\/span>” means any person included in the membership of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Membership service<\/span>” means service as an employee rendered while a contributing member<\/span> of the Retirement System except as provided in this chapter.\n\t\t“Normal retirement date<\/span>” means a member<\/span>’s sixty-fifth birthday. However, for any (i) person who becomes a member<\/span> on or after July 1, 2010, or (ii) member<\/span> who does not have at least 60 months of creditable service<\/span> as of January 1, 2013, under this chapter his normal retirement date<\/span> shall be the date that the member<\/span> attains his “retirement age<\/span>” as defined under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 416 et seq., as now or hereafter amended).\n\t\t“Person who becomes a member<\/span> on or after July 1, 2010,” means a person who is not a member<\/span> of a retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System<\/span> the first time he is hired on or after July 1, 2010, in a covered position. Subsequent separation from such position and subsequent employment in a covered position shall not alter the status of a person who becomes a member<\/span> on or after July 1, 2010.\n\t\t“Political subdivision<\/span>” means any county, city, or town, any political entity, subdivision, branch, or unit of the Commonwealth, or any commission, public authority, or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the powers, privileges<\/span>, or authority capable of exercise by the commission, public authority, or body corporate.\n\t\t“Prior service<\/span>” means service rendered prior to becoming a member<\/span> of the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Purchase of service contract<\/span>” means a contract entered into by the member<\/span> and the Retirement System for the purchase of service credit by the member<\/span> as provided in \u00a7 51.1-142.2<\/a>.\n\t\t“Retirement allowance<\/span>” means the retirement payments to which a member<\/span> is entitled.\n\t\t“Retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System<\/span>” means a retirement plan established under this title administered by the Virginia Retirement System, or by an agency that has been delegated administrative responsibility by the Virginia Retirement System, but such term shall exclude any plan established under Chapter 6 (\u00a7 51.1-600<\/a> et seq.) or Chapter 6.1 (\u00a7 58.1-607<\/a> et seq.).\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Service” means service as an employee.\n\t\t“Social security disability benefit” means, with respect to any member<\/span>, the social security disability benefits to which the member<\/span> is entitled pursuant to the provisions of the federal Social Security Act as in effect at his date of retirement.\n\t\t“State employee<\/span>” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any department, institution, or agency thereof. “State employee<\/span>” shall include any faculty member<\/span>, but not including adjunct faculty, of a public institution of higher education (a) who is compensated on a salary basis, (b) whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, and (c) who regularly works at least 20 hours but less than 40 hours per week (or works the equivalent of one-half of a full time equivalent position) engaged in the performance of teaching, administrative, or research duties at such institution; such faculty member<\/span> shall be deemed an eligible employee for purposes of the retirement provisions under \u00a7\u00a7 51.1-126<\/a>, 51.1-126.1<\/a>, and 51.1-126.3<\/a>. “State employee<\/span>” shall also include the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General<\/span>, and members<\/span> of the General Assembly but shall not include (i) any local officer<\/span>, (ii) any employee of a political subdivision<\/span> of the Commonwealth, (iii) individuals employed by the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired pursuant to \u00a7 51.5-72<\/a>, (iv) any member<\/span> of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, (v) any member<\/span> of the Judicial Retirement System, or (vi) any member<\/span> of the Virginia Law<\/span> Officers’ Retirement System.\n\t\t“Teacher<\/span>” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis as a professional or clerical employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 51.1-124.3)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Abolished system” means the Virginia Retirement Act, \u00a7\u00a7 51-30\nthrough 51-111, repealed by Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952.\n\t\t“Accumulated contributions” means the sum of all amounts deducted\nfrom the compensation of a member and credited to his individual account in the\nmember’s contribution account, all amounts the member may contribute to\npurchase creditable service, all member contributions contributed by the\nemployer on behalf of the employee, on or after July 1, 1980, except those\namounts contributed on behalf of members of the General Assembly who are\notherwise retired under the provisions of this chapter, and all interest\naccruing to these funds. If a member is retired for disability from a cause\nwhich is compensable under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (\u00a7\n65.2-100 et seq.), dies in service prior to retirement, or requests a refund of\ncontributions in accordance with \u00a7 51.1-161, “accumulated\ncontributions” shall include all member contributions paid by the employer\non behalf of the member on and after July 1, 1980, and all interest which would\nhave accrued to these funds.\n\t\t“Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit of equal value when\ncomputed upon the basis of actuarial tables adopted by the Board.\n\t\t“Average final compensation” means the average annual creditable\ncompensation of a member during his 60 highest consecutive months of creditable\nservice or during the entire period of his creditable service if less than 60\nmonths. However, for any member who (i) is not a person who becomes a member on\nor after July 1, 2010, and (ii) as of January 1, 2013, has at least 60 months of\ncreditable service, “average final compensation” means the average\nannual creditable compensation of a member during his 36 highest consecutive\nmonths of creditable service. A participant in the hybrid retirement program\ndescribed in \u00a7 51.1-169 shall be considered to be a person who becomes a member\non or after July 1, 2010, for the purposes of this definition.\n\t\tIf a member ceased employment prior to July 1, 1974, “average final\ncompensation” means the average annual creditable compensation during the\nfive highest consecutive years of creditable service.\n\t\t“Beneficiary” means any person entitled to receive benefits under\nthis chapter.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement\nSystem.\n\t\t“Creditable compensation” means the full compensation payable\nannually to an employee working full time in his covered position. For any state\nemployee of a public institution of higher education or a teaching hospital\naffiliated with a public institution of higher education who is (i) compensated\non a salaried basis and (ii) working full time in a covered position pursuant to\na contract of employment for a period of at least nine months, creditable\ncompensation means the full compensation payable over the term of any contract\nentered into between the employee and the employer, without regard to whether or\nnot the term of the contract coincides with the normal scholastic year. However,\nif the contract is for more than one year, creditable compensation means that\ncompensation paid for the current year of the contract.\n\t\tRemuneration received by members of the General Assembly not otherwise retired\nunder the provisions of this chapter pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 30-19.11 and 30-19.12\nshall be deemed creditable compensation. In addition, for any member of the\nGeneral Assembly, creditable compensation shall include the full amount of\nsalaries payable to such member for working in covered positions, regardless of\nwhether a contractual salary is reduced and not paid to such member because of\nservice in the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Creditable service” means prior service as set forth in \u00a7\n51.1-142.2 plus membership service for which credit is allowable.\n\t\t“Employee” means any teacher, state employee, officer, or employee\nof a locality participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Employer” means the Commonwealth in the case of a state employee,\nthe local public school board in the case of a teacher, or the political\nsubdivision participating in the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Joint Rules Committee” means those members of the House of\nDelegates and the Senate designated by the Speaker of the House and the Chairman\nof the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively, to meet with each other and to\nact jointly on behalf of the Committee on Rules for each house.\n\t\t“Local officer” means the treasurer, commissioner of the revenue,\nattorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff of any\ncounty or city, or deputy or employee of any such officer.\n\t\t“Medical Board” means the boards composed of physicians or other\nhealth care professionals as provided by this chapter.\n\t\t“Member” means any person included in the membership of the\nRetirement System.\n\t\t“Membership service” means service as an employee rendered while a\ncontributing member of the Retirement System except as provided in this chapter.\n\t\t“Normal retirement date” means a member’s sixty-fifth\nbirthday. However, for any (i) person who becomes a member on or after July 1,\n2010, or (ii) member who does not have at least 60 months of creditable service\nas of January 1, 2013, under this chapter his normal retirement date shall be\nthe date that the member attains his “retirement age” as defined\nunder the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 416 et seq., as now or hereafter\namended).\n\t\t“Person who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2010,” means a\nperson who is not a member of a retirement plan administered by the Virginia\nRetirement System the first time he is hired on or after July 1, 2010, in a\ncovered position. Subsequent separation from such position and subsequent\nemployment in a covered position shall not alter the status of a person who\nbecomes a member on or after July 1, 2010.\n\t\t“Political subdivision” means any county, city, or town, any\npolitical entity, subdivision, branch, or unit of the Commonwealth, or any\ncommission, public authority, or body corporate created by or under an act of\nthe General Assembly specifying the powers, privileges, or authority capable of\nexercise by the commission, public authority, or body corporate.\n\t\t“Prior service” means service rendered prior to becoming a member\nof the Retirement System.\n\t\t“Purchase of service contract” means a contract entered into by\nthe member and the Retirement System for the purchase of service credit by the\nmember as provided in \u00a7 51.1-142.2.\n\t\t“Retirement allowance” means the retirement payments to which a\nmember is entitled.\n\t\t“Retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System”\nmeans a retirement plan established under this title administered by the\nVirginia Retirement System, or by an agency that has been delegated\nadministrative responsibility by the Virginia Retirement System, but such term\nshall exclude any plan established under Chapter 6 (\u00a7 51.1-600 et seq.) or\nChapter 6.1 (\u00a7 58.1-607 et seq.).\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Service” means service as an employee.\n\t\t“Social security disability benefit” means, with respect to any\nmember, the social security disability benefits to which the member is entitled\npursuant to the provisions of the federal Social Security Act as in effect at\nhis date of retirement.\n\t\t“State employee” means any person who is regularly employed full\ntime on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or\nprovisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable,\nno more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any\ndepartment, institution, or agency thereof. “State employee” shall\ninclude any faculty member, but not including adjunct faculty, of a public\ninstitution of higher education (a) who is compensated on a salary basis, (b)\nwhose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, and\n(c) who regularly works at least 20 hours but less than 40 hours per week (or\nworks the equivalent of one-half of a full time equivalent position) engaged in\nthe performance of teaching, administrative, or research duties at such\ninstitution; such faculty member shall be deemed an eligible employee for\npurposes of the retirement provisions under \u00a7\u00a7 51.1-126, 51.1-126.1, and\n51.1-126.3. “State employee” shall also include the Governor,\nLieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and members of the General Assembly but\nshall not include (i) any local officer, (ii) any employee of a political\nsubdivision of the Commonwealth, (iii) individuals employed by the Department\nfor the Blind and Vision Impaired pursuant to \u00a7 51.5-72, (iv) any member of the\nState Police Officers’ Retirement System, (v) any member of the Judicial\nRetirement System, or (vi) any member of the Virginia Law Officers’\nRetirement System.\n\t\t“Teacher” means any person who is regularly employed full time on\na salaried basis as a professional or clerical employee of a county, city, or\nother local public school board.\n\nHISTORY: 1952, c. 157, \u00a7\u00a7 51-111.10, 51-111.31; 1954, cc. 241, 497; 1956, c.\n98; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 64; 1958, c. 367; 1960, cc. 400, 604; 1966, cc. 174,\n175; 1970, c. 779; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 88, 185; 1972, cc. 568, 708; 1973, cc.\n322, 523, 545, 546; 1974, cc. 353, 484; 1975, cc. 296, 597, 611; 1976, cc. 581,\n678, 699; 1977, c. 620; 1980, c. 722, \u00a7 51-111.10:01; 1982, cc. 467, 478; 1984,\nc. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1987, c. 392; 1990, c. 832, \u00a7 51.1-101; 1992, cc. 811,\n826; 1993, c. 895; 1994, cc. 4, 85, 876; 1996, cc. 711, 731; 1999, cc. 929, 974;\n2000, c. 911; 2001, cc. 686, 697; 2003, c. 628; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2007, c. 89;\n2010, cc. 737, 738; 2012, cc. 701, 823; 2014, c. 356; 2018, cc. 53, 305; 2021,\nSp. Sess. I, cc. 53, 54.","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}}