This bill amends the Emergency Medical Services Salary Enhancement Fund in West Virginia, specifically section 16-4C-25 of the Code of West Virginia. It establishes that 10 percent of the salary enhancement funds will be allocated to a comprehensive statewide plan for first responder mental health, which will be overseen by the Director of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. The bill also modifies the language regarding the use of funds, changing "must" to "shall" and allowing any remaining balance in the fund at the end of the fiscal year to "may" not revert to the General Revenue Fund, ensuring it remains available for future expenditures.

Additionally, the bill requires the Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services to propose legislative rules for distributing the salary enhancement funds, with a focus on counties demonstrating the most need, those with special levies for emergency medical services, and those facing challenges in recruiting and retaining personnel. An annual report detailing the distribution of funds and the number of emergency medical service workers receiving salary enhancements will be prepared for the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, with the first report due by July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-4C-25