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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69138</law_id><section_number>51.1-205</section_number><catch_line>Service retirement generally</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3204</reference><reference>51.1-138</reference><reference>51.1-1400</reference><reference>51.1-165.01</reference><reference>51.1-206</reference><reference>51.1-210</reference></referred_to_by><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="2">State Police Officers' Retirement System</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Normal retirement. &#x2014; Any <span class="dictionary">member</span> in service at his <span class="dictionary">normal retirement date</span> with five or more years of creditable service (i) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by this chapter, (ii) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.), or (iii) while earning the benefits permitted by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a> may retire upon written notification to the Board, setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective. Any <span class="dictionary">member</span>, except one appointed by the Governor or elected by the people, or a regional jail or jail farm superintendent, who attains 70 years of age shall be retired within 60 days of attaining age 70. Any employer, subsequent to the <span class="dictionary">employee</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">normal retirement date</span>, may provide for compulsory service retirement upon a determination that age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or that the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> is incapable of performing his duties in a safe and efficient manner. Any such determination shall be made by the employer.
			Effective December 31, 2003, any <span class="dictionary">member</span> in service on June 30, 2002, and July 1, 2002, who is credited with five or more years of creditable service rendered under Chapter 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Repealed" href="/51.1-100/">51.1-100</a> et seq.), this chapter, or Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.) shall not be subject to the vesting requirements of this section, and &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a> and <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-216/">51.1-216</a>. <a id="paragraph-250182" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-205/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Early retirement. &#x2014; Any <span class="dictionary">member</span> in service who has attained his fiftieth birthday with five or more years of creditable service (i) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by this chapter, (ii) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.), or (iii) while earning the benefits permitted by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a> may retire upon written notification to the Board setting forth the date the retirement is to become effective.
			Effective December 31, 2003, any <span class="dictionary">member</span> in service on June 30, 2002, and July 1, 2002, who is credited with five or more years of creditable service rendered under Chapter 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Repealed" href="/51.1-100/">51.1-100</a> et seq.), this chapter, or Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.) shall not be subject to the vesting requirements of this section, and &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a> and <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-216/">51.1-216</a>. <a id="paragraph-250183" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-205/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Deferred retirement for <span class="dictionary">members</span> terminating service. &#x2014; Any <span class="dictionary">member</span> who terminates service after five or more years of creditable service (i) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by this chapter, (ii) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.), or (iii) while earning the benefits permitted by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a>, may retire under the provisions of subsection A, B, or D if he has not withdrawn his accumulated contributions prior to the effective date of his retirement or if he has five or more years of creditable service (a) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by this chapter, (b) as a <span class="dictionary">member</span> in the <span class="dictionary">retirement system</span> established by Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.), or (c) while earning the benefits permitted by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a>, regardless of termination date, for which his employer has paid the contributions and such contributions cannot be withdrawn. For the purposes of this subsection, any requirements as to the <span class="dictionary">member</span> being in service shall not apply.
			Effective December 31, 2003, any <span class="dictionary">member</span> in service on June 30, 2002, and July 1, 2002, who is credited with five or more years of creditable service rendered under Chapter 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Repealed" href="/51.1-100/">51.1-100</a> et seq.), this chapter, or Chapter 2.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System" href="/51.1-211/">51.1-211</a> et seq.) shall not be subject to the vesting requirements of this section, and &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Benefits" href="/51.1-138/">51.1-138</a> and <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-216/">51.1-216</a>. <a id="paragraph-250184" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-205/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Effective date of retirement. &#x2014; The effective date of retirement shall be after the last day of service of the <span class="dictionary">member</span>, but shall not be more than 90 days prior to the filing of the notice of retirement. <a id="paragraph-250185" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-205/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Notification on behalf of <span class="dictionary">member</span>. &#x2014; If the <span class="dictionary">member</span> is physically or mentally unable to submit written notification of his intention to retire, the <span class="dictionary">member</span>&#x2019;s appointing authority may submit notification on his behalf. <a id="paragraph-250186" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-205/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 51-134, 51-150; 1950, p. 884; 1954, c. 139; 1956, c. 562; 1962, c. 585; 1966, c. 628; 1970, c. 657; 1977, c. 620; 1982, c. 427; 1984, c. 430; 1986, c. 474; 1988, c. 222; 1989, c. 484; 1990, c. 832; 1995, cc. 152, 692, 811; 1996, c. 997; 1999, c. 111; 2000, cc. 66, 657, 911; 2002, c. 466; 2004, c. 83; 2005, c. 146; 2008, c. 28; 2011, c. 483; 2012, c. 85.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
