Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2802%20SUB.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&i=2802
Timestamp: 2018-03-21 15:21:53
Document Index: 744347090

Matched Legal Cases: ['§16', '§16', '§16', '§16', '§16', '§16', '§16', '§16']

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-5V-2, §16-5V-8, §16-5V-11, §16-5V-20, §16-5V-21 and §16-5V-24 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §16-5V-8a and §16-5V-35, all relating to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System; modifying the definition of annual compensation as it relates to determining benefits; adding a definition for contributing service to this article; adding a definition for the terms retire and retirement to this article; providing for correction of participating public employer errors by the board; providing eligibility requirements for commencement of benefits; specifying that the board must be in receipt of a request for estimation of benefits prior to providing a member with an explanation of their estimated gross monthly annuity and a retirement application; providing that a member shall have at least ten years of contributing service to qualify for nonduty related disability retirement; specifying that the total nonduty disability award received by a member shall be based on their average monthly compensation during the twelve month period immediately preceding the disability award; providing that all costs associated with disability benefit examinations shall be paid from the board’s expense fund; providing that disability benefits shall cease on the first day of the month following termination of disability by the board; requiring annual disability recertification for a retirant who is less than sixty years of age during the first five years of retirement and once every three years thereafter; providing that if a member who is receiving a nonduty disability benefit dies the surviving spouse shall receive the average monthly compensation received by the member prior to the disability award; and providing for the annuity calculation for a member who returns to covered employment after retirement.
(s) (t) "Final average salary" means the average of the highest annual compensation received for covered employment by the member during any five consecutive plan years within the member's last ten years of service while employed, prior to any disability payment. If the member did not have annual compensation for the five full plan years preceding the member's attainment of normal retirement age and during that period the member received disability benefits under this article, then "final average salary" means the average of the monthly salary determined paid to the member during that period as determined under section nineteen of this article multiplied by twelve. "Final average salary" does not include any lump sum payment for unused, accrued leave of any kind or character.
(a) The board may require any member who has applied for or is receiving disability benefits under this article to submit to a physical examination, mental examination or both, by a physician or physicians selected or approved by the board. and may cause all All costs incident to the any examination and approved by the board to by a board selected physician shall be paid from the board’s expense fund. The costs may include hospital, laboratory, X-ray, medical and physicians' fees. A report of the findings of any physician shall be submitted in writing to the board for its consideration. If, from the report, independent information, or from the report and any hearing on the report, the board is of the opinion and finds that: (1) The member has become reemployed as an emergency medical services officer; (2) a physician who has examined the member has found that considering the opportunities for emergency medical services in West Virginia, the member could be so employed as an emergency medical services officer; or (3) other facts exist to demonstrate that the member is no longer totally disabled, then the disability benefits shall cease the first day of the month following board action. Benefits shall cease once the member has been found to be no longer totally disabled. (b) The board shall require annual recertification for a disabled retirant, who has not attained age sixty, at least once each year during the first five years following his or her retirement and at least once in each three year period thereafter.