WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 3122

By Delegates Jeffries, Zatezalo, and Horst

[Introduced March 04, 2025; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §8-15-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; related to allowing firefighters work shifts up to 48 hours in duration.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 15. fire fighting; fire companies and departments; civil service for paid fire departments.

§8-15-10. Hours of duty for firemen in a paid fire department.

On and after the effective date of this section, the members of a paid fire department, without any reduction in their total annual compensation as such members, shall not be required to remain on duty in excess of 112 hours during any 14 consecutive days' period. The members of any such paid fire department shall, by a majority vote, determine the schedule of hours to be worked in any twenty-four-hour 48 hour period: Provided, That the members of any paid fire department shall not remain on duty for more than twenty-four-consecutive 48 consecutive hours except in case of an emergency requiring the service of more than one half of the department. In the event that the members of any such paid fire department, by a majority vote, determine to work a 48-hour shift, they may take an off shift of up to 96 hours. The chief executive officer of the department is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to make the necessary assignments as provided in this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the permissible shifts for firefighters to 48 hours.

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