WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4687

By Delegates R. Thompson, Evans, Rodighiero, Hicks, Tomblin, Lovejoy and Pyles

[Introduced February 04, 2020; Referred to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §23-4-1h, relating to workers’ compensation; and specifying that when a volunteer or part-volunteer firefighter is injured while performing tree or debris removal from state highways and rights-of-way, on behalf of the Commissioner of Highways, the injury is received in the course of and resulting from his or her covered employment.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4. DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS.

§23-4-1h. Injuries received by volunteer or part-volunteer firefighter while performing tree or debris removal from state highways and rights-of-way.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, when a volunteer or part-volunteer firefighter is injured while performing tree or debris removal from state highways and rights-of-way, under §17-2A-8d of this code, the injury is received in the course of and resulting from his or her covered employment.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to specify that when a volunteer or part-volunteer firefighter is injured while performing tree or debris removal from state highways and rights-of-way, under §17-2A-8d of this code, the injury is covered under workers’ compensation.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.