To All WVTA Members:

      The 2008 Legislative Session has begun and I would like to take this opportunity to update each of you on upcoming events and provide you with the legislative agenda of the West Virginia Troopers Association. Bills have been drafted to address each of these issues.

 SB 285 This Bill will change the retirement age for our members to age 50 with 25 years of service or age 52 with 20 years of service.    

 -West Virginia State Police Retirement (Plan B) has the highest minimum retirement age (55 years) when compared to surrounding states. Virginia's retirement age is 50 years. Ohio's retirement age is 48 years. Kentucky, Maryland and Pennsylvania do not have a mandatory minimum age (Kentucky and Pennsylvania require 20 years of service as a minimum and Maryland requires 22 years of service). West Virginia also has the highest employer contribution to their retirement at 12%. The surrounding state average is 8%. In West Virginia, Deputy Sheriffs, City Police Officers and EMS personnel can retire at age 50 but, Troopers must remain until age 55.

 The State Police has the highest in state employer (correction - should be employee) contribution:   State Police Plan A (9%), State Police Plan B (12%) (As of July 2006 431 members), Judges System (10.5%), Public Employees PERS (4.5%), Deputy Sheriffs (8.5%), Teachers Defined TFS (6%), Teachers TDC (4.5%)

SB 250- This Bill would provide compensation for the members that are required to be on-call and ready to immediately respond to provide law enforcement services to the citizens.

-On-Call - Due to the lack of numbers with the West Virginia State Police, the department has utilized a type of on-call status that requires a member to remain ready to respond and to serve the citizens of the State. This is needed to provide Law Enforcement services to the State due to the lack of numbers available. Most States do not have on-call status due to their having twenty-four (24) hour coverage. The following States have a similar on-call status, however those States provide compensation for the same type of service. (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa).

-Education Bill- This Bill has not yet been assigned a number. This Bill will allow a member of the State Police to attend a State College, tuition exempt, in return providing the Colleges with a certified and trained law enforcement officers presence within the classrooms.

-Pay- We expect to see a pay raise. I am reluctant to provide a number at this time due to anticipated meetings and discussions concerning this issue. We currently are ranked 5^th with in-state comparisons with various Sheriff and Municipal departments and as promised should be number one.

        If you have an opportunity to speak with your Senators or Delegates, take the opportunity to stress to them how important the above issues are to you and the citizens that we serve.

        Law Enforcement Appreciation Day will be held on Monday, February 25, 2008, at 1230 hours, at the State Capitol rotunda. Law Enforcement professionals and their families will attend this special event from around the State. This is an opportunity to remember those who have given their lives to protect our State. Our State legislative leaders and government officials will also be in attendance thereby providing a great opportunity for each of us to share with our legislative representatives the issues that are greatly affecting stability within our department.  

       Enclosed are Applications for the Scholarship Program and the Trooper of the Year  Nominations. These need to be completed and returned by the established deadlines. You may also go on-line to obtain the required scholarship criteria and Trooper of the Year guidelines and obtain the needed documentation at www.wvtroopers.org  (Programs).

        Lakeview Resort, located near Morgantown, West Virginia, has been chosen to host the West Virginia Troopers Association 2008 Conference. The 2008 Conference will be held on June 13-14, 2008. Information will be sent at a later date concerning Registration for the WVTA Conference.  

 John W. Smith, Jr., President