{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-131.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-131.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-131.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-131.html"}],"law_id":73929,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73929,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-131","catch_line":"Local pension systems; transfer to retirement system","history":"1952, c. 157, \u00a7 51-111.34; 1960, c. 604; 1973, c. 523; 1976, c. 654; 1978, c. 841; 1990, c. 832.","full_text":"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.\n\t\tIf 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.\n\t\tIf 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":265923,"text":"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.\n\t\tIf 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.\n\t\tIf 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.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15102,"edition_id":1,"name":"Participation of Political Subdivisions in Retirement System","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13056,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:09","permalink":{"id":235243,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15102,"identifier":"5","token":"51.1\/1\/5","url":"\/51.1\/1\/5\/","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":72480,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-130","catch_line":"Resolution of governing body; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-130\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-130","metadata":false},{"id":73929,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-131","catch_line":"Local pension systems; transfer to retirement system","url":"\/51.1-131\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-131","metadata":false},{"id":81431,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-132","catch_line":"Eligible employees","url":"\/51.1-132\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-132","metadata":false},{"id":83773,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-133","catch_line":"Limitation on membership","url":"\/51.1-133\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-133","metadata":false},{"id":57542,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-134","catch_line":"Optional membership; creditable service","url":"\/51.1-134\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-134","metadata":false},{"id":62836,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-135","catch_line":"Compulsory membership","url":"\/51.1-135\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-135","metadata":false},{"id":85532,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-136","catch_line":"Submitting information and performing duties prescribed by Board","url":"\/51.1-136\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-136","metadata":false},{"id":78267,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-137","catch_line":"Computation of employer contribution rates; reimbursement by Commonwealth","url":"\/51.1-137\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-137","metadata":false},{"id":84786,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-137.1","catch_line":"Certain local data to be provided","url":"\/51.1-137.1\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-137.1","metadata":false},{"id":60634,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-138","catch_line":"Benefits","url":"\/51.1-138\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-138","metadata":false},{"id":76070,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-139","catch_line":"Procedure when employer in default","url":"\/51.1-139\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-139","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72480,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-130","catch_line":"Resolution of governing body; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-130\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-130","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":81431,"structure_id":15102,"section_number":"51.1-132","catch_line":"Eligible employees","url":"\/51.1-132\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-132","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-131\/","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 5 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 1960, chapter 604; in 1973, chapter 523; in 1976, chapter 654; in 1978, chapter 841; in 1990, chapter 832.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":235249,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73929,"identifier":"51.1-131","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-131","url":"\/51.1-131\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-131\/","token":"51.1\/1\/5\/51.1-131","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local pension systems; transfer to retirement system","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-131","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The members<\/span> of any annuity fund, benevolent association, or retirement system<\/span> of any political subdivision<\/span>, hereafter referred to as a local pension system, may elect to become members<\/span> of the retirement system<\/span> by submitting to the Board<\/span> a petition<\/span> duly signed by a majority of the members<\/span>. The Board<\/span> may approve the participation of such members<\/span> in the retirement system<\/span> 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<\/span> whose rights are vested may retain their rights under the local pension system and be paid at their existing rates by the retirement system<\/span>. 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.\n\t\tIf deemed practicable by the Board<\/span>, any cash and securities credited to the local pension system shall be transferred to the retirement system<\/span> 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<\/span> and the relative shares of the members<\/span>. If appropriate, the accumulated contributions<\/span> and shares shall be credited to the individual accounts of the members<\/span> in the members<\/span>’ contribution account. The operation of the local pension system shall be discontinued as of the effective date of coverage.\n\t\tIf the Board<\/span> determines that the transfer of funds is not practicable, the Board<\/span> may enter into an agreement with the employer<\/span> to coordinate any benefits payable under this chapter with any vested benefits payable under the discontinued local system.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL PENSION SYSTEMS; TRANSFER TO RETIREMENT SYSTEM (\u00a7 51.1-131)\n\nThe members of any annuity fund, benevolent association, or retirement system of\nany political subdivision, hereafter referred to as a local pension system, may\nelect to become members of the retirement system by submitting to the Board a\npetition duly signed by a majority of the members. The Board may approve the\nparticipation of such members in the retirement system as though the local\npension system was not in operation, and the provisions of this article shall\nthereupon apply. Existing pensioners or annuitants of the local pension system\nwho are being paid pensions on the effective date of coverage and former\nemployees whose rights are vested may retain their rights under the local\npension system and be paid at their existing rates by the retirement system.\nAfter the local pension system is discontinued, the rates may be increased by\nall future percentage increases which are granted to beneficiaries retired under\nthe provisions of this chapter.\n\t\tIf deemed practicable by the Board, any cash and securities credited to the\nlocal pension system shall be transferred to the retirement system as of the\neffective date of coverage. The administrative head of the local pension system\nshall certify the proportion of the funds of the system that represents the\naccumulated contributions and the relative shares of the members. If\nappropriate, the accumulated contributions and shares shall be credited to the\nindividual accounts of the members in the members’ contribution account.\nThe operation of the local pension system shall be discontinued as of the\neffective date of coverage.\n\t\tIf the Board determines that the transfer of funds is not practicable, the\nBoard may enter into an agreement with the employer to coordinate any benefits\npayable under this chapter with any vested benefits payable under the\ndiscontinued local system.\n\nHISTORY: 1952, c. 157, \u00a7 51-111.34; 1960, c. 604; 1973, c. 523; 1976, c. 654;\n1978, c. 841; 1990, c. 832.","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}}