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Subcommittee hears unanimous support for classifying 911 dispatchers as first responders; action postponed
Summary
A Virginia House subcommittee heard testimony from dispatchers, firefighters and law-enforcement groups urging inclusion of 911 telecommunicators in enhanced retirement benefits. Committee members postponed final action to allow further review.
Delegate Cherry told the subcommittee that when someone dials 911 "there's someone who answers that phone, and they are the first of the first responders," and urged the panel to reclassify telecommunicators so they can access enhanced retirement and mental-health benefits.
The testimony came during a multi-bill presentation on legislation that would extend enhanced retirement or hazardous-duty recognition to telecommunicators at both the state and local level (HB 1563, HB 1564 and HB 1619). Speakers representing localities, public-safety associations and dispatchers described high stress, understaffing and workplace trauma and said…
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