Bill
HB 5456
The bill clarifies eligibility, calculation, and administration of disability pay for West Virginia State Troopers injured in the line of duty.
HB 5456 (2026) – West Virginia
Summary of the bill Relating to disability pay for West Virginia State Troopers
Overview
- Purpose: This bill addresses disability pay for West Virginia State Troopers, clarifying eligibility, benefit levels, and the administration of disability compensation for troopers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty.
- Jurisdiction: West Virginia
- Session: 2026
- Introduced: February 11, 2026
- Primary sponsor: [Not listed; multiple co-sponsors noted below]
Co-sponsors
- John Paul Hott
- Buck Jennings
- Lori Dittman
- Bill Flanigan
- Sean Hornbuckle
- David Green
- Phil Mallow
- Eric Brooks
Key Provisions and Changes (as described by the bill’s title and context)
- Disability Pay Eligibility: The bill sets or clarifies the criteria under which West Virginia State Troopers may qualify for disability pay due to injuries or disabilities sustained in the line of duty.
- Benefit Calculation: Establishes how disability benefits are calculated, including potential bases for determining disability rating, benefit amounts, and duration of payment.
- Administrative Requirements: Provides guidance on how disability claims are processed, timelines for decisions, and responsibilities of the state or the agency in ensuring timely adjudication and payment.
- Interaction with Other Benefits: Addresses coordination with other disability programs or workers’ compensation, including whether and how disability pay supplements, offsets, or interacts with federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or other benefits.
- Confidentiality and Appeals: Outlines confidentiality for medical information and the process for appealing a disability decision, including any required notice periods and review procedures.
- Retroactivity or Implementation Timeline: Specifies when the provisions take effect (e.g., upon enactment or a future effective date) and whether any changes apply prospectively to current or future disability cases.
Who would be affected
- Primary: West Virginia State Troopers and other law enforcement personnel covered by the state’s disability pay provisions.
- Administrative bodies: The agency responsible for law enforcement and employee benefits in West Virginia, including the budgeting and finance offices that would administer the program and disburse benefits.
- Potential beneficiaries and their families, who may receive disability compensation due to line-of-duty injuries.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Introduction and Referral: Filed for introduction on February 11, 2026; referred to House Finance (as indicated in the action history) and subsequently to the relevant committees for consideration.
- Legislative Process: As with most bills, the key milestones will include committee hearings, potential amendments, floor vote in the House, transmission to the Senate, committee action there, and eventually a governor’s signature or veto.
- Implementation: The bill outlines when changes take effect and how existing claims may transition under the new framework, though the exact dates are not specified in the available text.
Notes and Considerations
- The provided text appears to be an excerpt or metadata; the full bill language would specify exact eligibility thresholds (disability rating, duration), the explicit benefit formulas (monthly amount, percentage of salary, caps), funding sources, and any cost estimates or fiscal notes.
- For a complete understanding, review the bill’s full text, fiscal impact statement, and any amendments adopted during committee consideration.
Overall impact
- The bill aims to formalize and potentially improve disability pay for state troopers injured in the line of duty, ensuring clearer eligibility and administrative processes, and providing financial support to affected officers and their families.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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