By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The bill amending the law and setting an optional retirement age of 30 and mandatory retirement age of 60 of government employees had been passed on third and final reading at the House of Delegates last Wednesday May 9.
Principal author Jonathan Isechal introduced a floor amendment to House Bill No. 7-41-2, HD1 amending the 25 years early retirement as well as the optional discretionary two-year renewal periods for a maximum aggregate renewal of 12 years.
The bill was first introduced on January 17, 2006 but has been shelved for a while.
Isechal’s floor amendment also strikes out the provision which said that such employees remain in their position for up to 12 years beyond the mandatory retirement period, to be divided into incremental renewal periods of up to two years each, upon the approval of aqualified supervisor, however, all employees, regardless of supervisor discretion, must retire at the age of 60.
The bill stated that the employees wishing to retire after 30 years of service to do so for a grace period of one year after the effective date of the new law.
It said that all employees, regardless of the grace period, must retire at the age of 60.
The floor amendment also reinstated a provision which says that "employees covered by the Plan who have 25 years or more of total service, as defined by the Pension Plan, should be eligible for retirement regardless of their age and upon such retirement should receive pension benefits at a level established by the Board.