The bill amends various sections of the West Virginia Code to improve retirement provisions for law enforcement and emergency services personnel, specifically targeting home confinement officers and campus police officers. It introduces a new definition for "bona fide separation from service upon retirement," requiring retirees to have completely terminated employment with any participating public employer for at least 60 consecutive days. The bill allows campus police officers hired before January 1, 2026, to participate in the Municipal Police and Firefighters Retirement System under certain conditions, while mandating that all newly hired campus police officers must join this system starting January 1, 2026. Additionally, it expands retirement options for home confinement officers, allowing them to participate in the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System, with new hires required to enroll beginning January 1, 2025.

Moreover, the bill clarifies the definitions and conditions related to retirement benefits for emergency medical services officers, 911 personnel, home confinement officers, and county firefighters. It specifies that members are not entitled to credit for service years during periods of disability payments and outlines the calculation of "accrued benefits," with a maximum cap of 90 percent of the final average salary for certain personnel. The bill also introduces provisions for adjusting employee contribution rates based on the retirement plan's funding status and details various retirement-related terms to ensure clarity in eligibility and benefit calculations. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the structure and sustainability of retirement benefits for emergency service personnel in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-4-5, 18B-7-5
Committee Substitute: 8-22A-2, 18B-4-5, 18B-7-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 8-22A-2, 16-5V-2, 18B-4-5, 18B-7-5, 16-5V-6f