The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance participation in the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System by removing the requirement for home confinement officers to be certified as law enforcement officers to join the retirement system. It also defines "accrued benefit" to include service credit for emergency medical services officers and home confinement officers. The legislation allows current emergency medical services officers in the Public Employees Retirement System to elect to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System, facilitating the transfer of qualified years of service. Additionally, the bill extends deadlines for eligible home confinement officers to make their participation election, aiming to improve retirement benefits for these personnel.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that home confinement officers hired on or after July 1, 2025, must join the new retirement plan and cannot qualify for other retirement systems while employed in covered positions. It includes provisions for transferring assets from the Public Employees Retirement System to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System, ensuring that credited service is recognized. Officers employed before July 1, 2026, who are rehired can count their prior service towards retirement benefits, provided they have not withdrawn their contributions. The bill mandates the completion of asset transfers by March 31, 2027, and sets a benefit multiplier of two percent for each year transferred, with specific processes for calculating and repaying amounts owed. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f
Committee Substitute: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 16-5V-2, 16-5V-6f, 16-5V-6g