Labor & Employment

SB 774 allows county emergency medical services (EMS) officers to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System (EMSRS), removing a prior requirement that they be certified as law enforcement officers. It enables current EMS officers enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) to elect to switch to the EMSRS and transfer their eligible service years to the new system. The bill clarifies how retirement benefits are calculated for these officers, ensuring their prior service counts toward future benefits. This change directly affects county EMS officers by providing them with a retirement system tailored to their profession.

SB 141 increases retirement benefits for West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officers who retire on or after January 1, 2029. The bill amends the retirement system to set the accrued benefit at 2.75% of an officer's final average salary multiplied by years of service (up from 2.5% for those retiring after July 1, 2025). This change directly affects active members of the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officer Retirement System who meet the retirement date criteria. The legislation also requires additional funding for the retirement system to cover this benefit increase. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the calculation method for retirement benefits, without altering other eligibility rules or funding mechanisms.