The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow home confinement officers to participate in the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. It introduces a new section, designated 16-5V-6f, which outlines the eligibility criteria and process for these officers to transfer from the Public Employees Retirement System to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. The bill expands the definition of "covered employment" to include full-time county home confinement officers and establishes a new definition for "home confinement officer." It ensures that officers hired on or after July 1, 2025, will be eligible for retirement benefits comparable to those of other emergency service personnel.

Additionally, the bill specifies that home confinement officers cannot hold active membership in other retirement systems while employed in this role. It details the transfer process for service credits and contributions, including the calculation of assets to be transferred and the conditions for receiving credited service for prior employment. Key changes include the introduction of a 2.75 percent multiplier for transferred service credits, which enhances retirement benefits for home confinement officers, and provisions that allow those employed before July 1, 2025, to count their prior service towards retirement benefits, provided they have not withdrawn their contributions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f
Committee Substitute: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f
Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f