The Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday passed Senator Chap Petersen's bill (SB171) that would improve benefits for police and firefighters and other first responders—now advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.

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The Senate voted to pass the original bill on Feb. 3. The Virginia House of Delegates passed a substitute version of the bill, which was agreed to by the Senate on Tuesday.

“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,” Petersen said.

Localities that choose to use the options provided by SB 171 will shoulder the burden of any additional funding necessary.

The localities that currently could take advantage of this option 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