This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to modify disability and retirement benefits for municipal police and firefighters under the oversight of the Municipal Pensions Oversight Board. It allows certain police and firefighters who are disabled in the line of duty to reassess their retirement benefits as if they had reached retirement age prior to their disability. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for police and firefighters who are disabled not in the line of duty to provide their tax returns to the pension and relief fund once they reach the Social Security normal retirement age.

Key changes include the insertion of provisions that enable members under the age of 50 with 21 to 30 years of service to petition for a transition from disability pension to regular retirement pension upon reaching age 50. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that starting July 1, 2026, members who previously qualified for total disability not incurred in the line of duty will no longer need to submit tax returns to continue receiving their benefits. These modifications aim to enhance the financial security and retirement options for municipal police and firefighters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-22-24