The bill amends the Emergency Medical Services Retirement Act in West Virginia to establish benefits for members who become partially disabled due to duty-related injuries, illnesses, or diseases. It defines "partially disabled" as a member's inability to perform their job duties due to a medically determinable impairment lasting at least 12 months, while still allowing for the possibility of engaging in other employment that does not yield more than two-thirds of the average annual compensation of active members.

Under the new provisions, members who are partially disabled will receive 45 percent of their average full monthly compensation for the 12-month period preceding their disability award. This is in addition to the existing benefits for total disability, which remain at 90 percent of the member's average full monthly compensation. The bill also specifies that disability benefit payments will commence the month following the termination of employment and the submission of a disability retirement application.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-5V-19
Committee Substitute: 16-5V-19
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 16-5V-19