(a) Each county commission or political subdivision shall prepare a written notice to be delivered to each emergency medical services officer employed prior to July 1, 2007. This notice shall clearly and accurately explain the benefits, financial implications and consequences to an emergency medical services officer of electing to participate in the retirement plan created in this article, including the consequences and financial implications in regard to the benefits under the Public Employees Insurance Plan as set forth in this code for those emergency medical services officers employed by a county commission or political subdivision which participates in that insurance plan. This notice shall be distributed to each emergency medical services officer and the county or political subdivision shall obtain a signed receipt from each emergency medical services officer acknowledging that the emergency medical services officer was provided a copy of the notice required in this subsection. If an emergency medical services officer makes the election provided in section six of this article, he or she shall be considered to have made a voluntary, informed decision in regard to the election to participate in the retirement system created in this article.

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-5V-10

  • County commission or political subdivision: has the meaning ascribed to it in this code. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2
  • Emergency medical services officer: means an individual employed by the state, county or other political subdivision as a medical professional who is qualified to respond to medical emergencies, aids the sick and injured and arranges or transports to medical facilities, as defined by the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2
  • Plan: means the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Retirement System established by this article. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2
  • Political subdivision: means a county, city or town in the state. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2
  • retirement: means the first day of the month following or coincident with the latter of the last day the member worked in covered employment or the member's normal retirement age and after completing proper written application for retirement on an application supplied by the board. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2
  • Spouse: means the person to whom the member is legally married on the annuity starting date. See West Virginia Code 16-5V-2

(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to alter, affect or change any of the rights and benefits of any emergency medical services officer who has insurance coverage under article sixteen, chapter five of this code as a result of being a spouse or dependant of a participant who is the primary insured under article sixteen, chapter five of this code.

(c) Nothing contained in this section may be construed to affect or pertain to any life insurance coverage under article sixteen, chapter five of this code.