<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65802</law_id><section_number>51.1-142.3</section_number><catch_line>Purchase of additional prior service credit by certain school division superintendents</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="51.1">Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Virginia Retirement System</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Creditable Service</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In addition to the four years of <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit that may be purchased under clause (iv) of subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prior service or membership credit for certain members; service credit for accumulated sick leave" href="/51.1-142.2/">51.1-142.2</a>, a school division superintendent appointed by a school <span class="dictionary">board</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Appointment and term of superintendent; certain contractual matters" href="/22.1-60/">22.1-60</a>, with at least five years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> in the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span>, may purchase up to a maximum of 10 additional years of <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit for <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> of another state or of a <span class="dictionary">political subdivision</span>, or public school system of this or another state, as certified by such state, <span class="dictionary">political subdivision</span>, or public school system. Except as otherwise required by Chapter 1223 of Title 10 of the United States Code, the service credit made available under this section may not be purchased if, before being purchased or at the time of such purchase pursuant to this section, the service to be purchased is service that is included in the calculation of any <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> received or to be received by the <span class="dictionary">member</span> from this or any other <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span>.
			The school <span class="dictionary">board</span> that has appointed such school division superintendent may purchase such <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit on behalf of the school division superintendent. <a id="paragraph-239162" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The cost at the time of purchase for each additional year of service credit (or portion thereof) pursuant to this section, shall be 10 percent of the school division superintendent&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">creditable compensation</span> or 10 percent of the school division superintendent&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">average final compensation</span>, whichever is greater, provided that the service credit to be purchased is paid for in one lump-sum payment within one year after the school division superintendent first became eligible to purchase such service credit or by July 1, 2004, whichever is later.
			A school division superintendent shall first become eligible to purchase <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit under this section as follows: <a id="paragraph-239163" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> For <span class="dictionary">members</span> in service on June 30, 2003, and July 1, 2003, upon attaining five years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> as a school division superintendent in the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span>; <a id="paragraph-239164" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For <span class="dictionary">members</span> in service on June 30, 2003, and July 1, 2003, who become a school division superintendent on or after July 1, 2003, upon attaining five years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> as a school division superintendent in the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span>; and <a id="paragraph-239165" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> For <span class="dictionary">members</span> not in service on June 30, 2003, upon the <span class="dictionary">member</span> earning five years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> as a school division superintendent in the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> for service performed after June 30, 2003. <a id="paragraph-239166" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In any case in which <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit pursuant to this section has been purchased by or on behalf of a school division superintendent, if the school division superintendent, subsequent to the date of such purchase, does not remain in such position with the local school <span class="dictionary">board</span> for at least the number of years purchased: (i) the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> shall reduce the <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> credited to the school division superintendent by an amount equivalent to the number of years of <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> purchased less the number of years served by the person as a school division superintendent with the local school <span class="dictionary">board</span> subsequent to the date of such purchase. Such reduction in <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> shall be deemed to be forfeited by the school division superintendent for purposes of this chapter and the contributions representing that forfeited service shall be refunded to the school division superintendent; and (ii) the school division superintendent shall be liable to the local school <span class="dictionary">board</span> for the amount paid by the local school <span class="dictionary">board</span> for purchasing the forfeited <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit. <a id="paragraph-239167" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If a school division superintendent does not purchase the <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit described in subsection A within the timeframe provided in subsection B, such <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit may be purchased at the <span class="dictionary">actuarial equivalent</span> cost, provided that in no case shall any person purchase more than 10 years of such <span class="dictionary">prior service</span> credit under this section. <a id="paragraph-239168" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-142.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, c. 947; 2015, c. 508.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
