HB 1705: Virginia Retirement System; disability benefits for certain emergency dispatchers. - Virginia

Appropriations Substitute → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill transitioned from a House Substitute version to its final Chaptered form, incorporating formatting changes and minor text adjustments while maintaining the same substantive policy provisions. The legislation establishes disability benefit programs for Virginia Retirement System participants, specifically including emergency dispatchers who will become eligible for the program starting July 1, 2026.

Scope change

No substantive change in scope; the bill covers the same sections of the Code of Virginia (51.1-1150, 51.1-1153, 51.1-1161, and 51.1-1169) relating to the Virginia Retirement System's disability benefits program.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and layout changes from House Substitute to Chaptered version, including removal of 'House Substitute' headers and addition of 'Virginia Acts of Assembly' and chapter designation (Chapter 190) with approval date.

Text formatting adjustments including removal of line numbers and amendment markup indicators (1[...]1) while preserving all substantive legislative language.

ELIGIBILITY

Substantive eligibility criteria for the disability program remain identical, including the July 1, 2026 start date for eligible dispatchers and the one-year continuous service requirement for benefit receipt.

Compensation and Retirement Substitute Offered → Appropriations Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amendment primarily updates formatting and presentation details of HB 1705 without changing substantive policy provisions. The text shows the bill being reclassified from an 'Offered' version to a 'House Substitute' version with updated dates (January 29, 2025) and line number formatting, but the actual legislative content regarding disability benefits, eligibility criteria, and retirement provisions remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Updated document header from 'OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/27/2025' to 'HOUSE SUBSTITUTE' with new date January 29, 2025

Reformatted bill text with line numbers and proper spacing consistent with House substitute markup standards

Added bill tracking number 25106144D and proper House substitute formatting headers

Enrolled → Compensation and Retirement Substitute Offered · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was converted from an Enrolled Act to a Substitute Offered for Consideration, indicating it is now a proposed amendment rather than final law. The substantive policy content regarding Virginia Retirement System disability benefits for emergency dispatchers appears unchanged in the visible text, though the document includes formatting and header changes typical of legislative markup.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain the same; it still amends the same Code of Virginia sections (51.1-1150, 51.1-1153, 51.1-1161, and 51.1-1169) relating to the Virginia Retirement System, disability benefits, and emergency dispatchers.

TECHNICAL

Document header changed from 'ENROLLED' to 'OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION' with date 1/27/2025, indicating this is a substitute bill version rather than enacted law.

Added House Bill formatting elements including page numbers, committee attribution (House Committee on Appropriations), and patron information (Delegate Bulova).

Removed 'VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER' header and approval language that indicated the bill had been enacted.

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 21, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was enacted into law as HB 1705, expanding the Virginia Retirement System's disability program to include emergency dispatchers starting July 1, 2026. The enrolled version adds new provisions allowing dispatchers to opt out of the program in favor of existing local disability coverage and includes grandfathering provisions for those already receiving disability retirement benefits. The bill also expands the scope of amended statutes to include additional sections (51.1-1161 and 51.1-1169) not mentioned in the original introduction.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from amending only §§ 51.1-1150 and 51.1-1153 to also amending §§ 51.1-1161 and 51.1-1169, and added new provisions specifically addressing eligible dispatchers' participation options and grandfathering arrangements.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility rules for emergency dispatchers to participate in the disability program beginning July 1, 2026, with provisions for localities that have existing comparable disability coverage.

Created grandfathering provisions allowing dispatchers who were awarded disability retirement benefits before July 1, 2026, or were employed on June 30, 2025, to elect to remain on existing disability retirement coverage.

TIMELINE

Established specific dates for dispatcher participation (July 1, 2026) and opt-out election deadlines (March 31, 2026) for those wishing to remain on existing disability retirement benefits.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill's scope from amending two sections to four sections of the Code of Virginia, including §§ 51.1-1161 and 51.1-1169.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'Eligible dispatcher' to specify that dispatchers must be employed by a locality participating in the retirement system pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 1.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that localities employing eligible dispatchers provide costs for funding program participation pursuant to § 51.1-1183.

Virginia Retirement System; disability benefits for certain emergency dispatchers.

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