Today, the full General Assembly passed Senator Chap Petersen's bill (SB171) to permit localities the flexibility to improve retirement benefit packages for first responders such as police, fire fighters, EMS personnel and correctional employees. The Senate voted on February 3rd to pass the original bill by a vote of 38-0. The House of Delegates passed a substitute version of the bill, 97-0, which was agreed to today by the Senate.
Many localities, particularly towns and cities, initially included first responders in their VRS contribution rates in order to establish pension benefit stability. Today, many of these localities need to change their first responder pension benefits in order to continue to attract talented personnel.
Senator Petersen:
"SB 171 is a common-sense measure which will give flexibility to the 64 small jurisdictions, including Fairfax City, which cover firefighters, EMT's, police, and correctional employees in their VRS plans. As a result of this bill, smaller localities – like the larger cities and counties – will be able to provide enhanced benefits to uniformed personnel in high-stress positions. Essentially, this bill will allow these localities to give competitive benefits so they can continue to hire qualified individuals."
Any localities that elect to use the options available in SB 171 will bear the full cost of any additional funding. The bill now moves on to the Governor.
The localities that currently could take advantage of this option for VRS contribution requirements for first responders include:
CITY OF FAIRFAX
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
ACCOMACK COUNTY
FAUQUIER COUNTY
TOWN OF WYTHEVILLE
TOWN OF ABINGDON
TOWN OF SOUTH HILL
TOWN OF BLUEFIELD
TOWN OF TAZEWELL
BEDFORD COUNTY
CARROLL COUNTY
TOWN OF BLACKSTONE
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
TOWN OF LEBANON
TOWN OF BERRYVILLE
TOWN OF CHASE CITY
TOWN OF TAPPAHANNOCK
TOWN OF WEST POINT
TOWN OF CLARKSVILLE
PAGE COUNTY
TOWN OF GORDONSVILLE
TOWN OF SALTVILLE
TOWN OF WAVERLY
CLARKE COUNTY
RICHMOND COUNTY
TOWN OF CREWE
TOWN OF HALIFAX
TOWN OF KENBRIDGE
TOWN OF LAWRENCEVILLE
TOWN OF LOUISA
TOWN OF PENNINGTON GAP
TOWN OF SHENANDOAH
TOWN OF ST. PAUL
TOWN OF WEBER CITY
TOWN OF WINDSOR
PULASKI COUNTY
TOWN OF GRUNDY
TOWN OF JONESVILLE
TOWN OF MT JACKSON
TOWN OF ONANCOCK
TOWN OF CRAIGSVILLE
TOWN OF ONLEY
TOWN OF BLACKSBURG
TOWN OF BROOKNEAL
TOWN OF EDINBURG
TOWN OF HAYSI
TOWN OF INDEPENDENCE
TOWN OF LA CROSSE
TOWN OF PARKSLEY
TOWN OF QUANTICO
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY
TOWN OF BOYDTON
TOWN OF BOYKINS
TOWN OF BRODNAX
TOWN OF BURKEVILLE
TOWN OF CAPE CHARLES
TOWN OF COURTLAND
TOWN OF DUBLIN
TOWN OF GLASGOW
TOWN OF PEMBROKE
TOWN OF RICH CREEK
TOWN OF RURAL RETREAT
TOWN OF STANLEY
TOWN OF WARRENTON
