The bill amends the definition of "participating public employer" within the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act to include not only county commissions, political subdivisions, or county 911 public safety answering points that cover their emergency medical services officers or 911 personnel under the retirement system, but also any emergency medical services agency licensed under 16-4C-6a that is designated by a county commission to provide emergency response through a county emergency dispatch center. This change aims to broaden the scope of entities eligible for participation in the retirement system, potentially increasing the number of emergency medical services personnel who can access retirement benefits.

In addition to the new definition, the bill introduces various relevant definitions for the retirement system, including terms such as "regular interest," "required beginning date," "retirant," and "year of service." It outlines the criteria for determining total disability and the conditions under which members earn service credit, particularly concerning their first and last years of employment and the effects of disability payments on service credit. The bill also clarifies the definition of "911 personnel" to encompass individuals employed full-time at county 911 public safety answering points, ensuring comprehensive coverage for those involved in emergency response services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-5V-2