{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/65.2-102.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/65.2-102.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/65.2-102.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/65.2-102.html"}],"law_id":74882,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74882,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-102","catch_line":"Coverage of firefighters and law-enforcement officers in off-duty capacity","history":"1993, c. 719; 2001, c. 330; 2008, c. 109; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim for workers’ compensation benefits shall be deemed to be in the course of employment of any firefighter or law-enforcement officer who, in an off-duty capacity or outside an assigned shift or work location, undertakes any law-enforcement or rescue activity. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer from using any defense otherwise available under this title.B\n\nFor purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Firefighter” means all (i) salaried firefighters, including special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, emergency medical services personnel, and arson investigators and (ii) volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency as employees for purposes of this title.\n\t\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means all (i) members of county, city, town, or authority police departments, (ii) sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, (iii) auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriff force is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs as employees for purposes of this title, (iv) members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, and (v) members of the Capitol Police as described in § 30-34.2:1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":269026,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim for workers’ compensation benefits shall be deemed to be in the course of employment of any firefighter or law-enforcement officer who, in an off-duty capacity or outside an assigned shift or work location, undertakes any law-enforcement or rescue activity. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer from using any defense otherwise available under this title.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":269027,"text":"For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Firefighter” means all (i) salaried firefighters, including special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, emergency medical services personnel, and arson investigators and (ii) volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency as employees for purposes of this title.\n\t\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means all (i) members of county, city, town, or authority police departments, (ii) sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, (iii) auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriff force is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs as employees for purposes of this title, (iv) members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, and (v) members of the Capitol Police as described in § 30-34.2:1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15021,"edition_id":1,"name":"Definitions and General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13199,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:34","permalink":{"id":276117,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15021,"identifier":"1","token":"65.2\/1","url":"\/65.2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13199,"edition_id":1,"name":"Workers' Compensation","identifier":"65.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:26","permalink":{"id":276115,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13199,"identifier":"65.2","token":"65.2","url":"\/65.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67999,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-100","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/65.2-100\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-100","metadata":false},{"id":59551,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/65.2-101\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-101","metadata":false},{"id":57932,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-101.1","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/65.2-101.1\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-101.1","metadata":false},{"id":74882,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-102","catch_line":"Coverage of firefighters and law-enforcement officers in off-duty capacity","url":"\/65.2-102\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-102","metadata":false},{"id":79344,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-103","catch_line":"Coverage of members of the Virginia National Guard or Virginia Defense Force during response to orders","url":"\/65.2-103\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-103","metadata":false},{"id":59660,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-104","catch_line":"Coverage of first responders in off-duty capacity during state of emergency","url":"\/65.2-104\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-104","metadata":false},{"id":57280,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-105","catch_line":"Presumption that certain injuries arose out of and in the course of employment","url":"\/65.2-105\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-105","metadata":false},{"id":57573,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-106","catch_line":"Criminal justice training academy trainees","url":"\/65.2-106\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-106","metadata":false},{"id":58233,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-107","catch_line":"Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters","url":"\/65.2-107\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-107","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57932,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-101.1","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/65.2-101.1\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-101.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79344,"structure_id":15021,"section_number":"65.2-103","catch_line":"Coverage of members of the Virginia National Guard or Virginia Defense Force during response to orders","url":"\/65.2-103\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-103","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/65.2-102\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1993. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 719 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1993 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2001, chapter 330<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 109<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71520,"section_number":"18.2-251.03","catch_line":"Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-251.03\/"},{"id":72165,"section_number":"18.2-51.1","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-51.1\/"},{"id":64628,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57\/"},{"id":64111,"section_number":"3.2-6504.1","catch_line":"Civil immunity; forcible entry of motor vehicle to remove unattended companion animal","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6504.1\/"},{"id":85102,"section_number":"65.2-402.1","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-402.1\/"},{"id":72312,"section_number":"8.01-225","catch_line":"Persons rendering emergency care, obstetrical services exempt from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-225\/"},{"id":86202,"section_number":"8.01-341.1","catch_line":"Exemptions from jury service upon request","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-341.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":87311,"section_number":"10.1-1135","catch_line":"Appointment and compensation of forest wardens; oath; powers","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1135\/"},{"id":68320,"section_number":"30-34.2:1","catch_line":"Powers, duties and functions of Capitol Police","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-34.2_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":276131,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74882,"identifier":"65.2-102","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-102","url":"\/65.2-102\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/65.2-102\/","token":"65.2\/1\/65.2-102","dublin_core":{"Title":"Coverage of firefighters and law-enforcement officers in off-duty capacity","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 65.2-102","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, a claim for workers’ compensation benefits shall be deemed to be in the course of employment of any firefighter<\/span> or law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> who, in an off-duty capacity or outside an assigned shift or work location, undertakes any law<\/span>-enforcement or rescue activity. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer<\/span> from using any defense otherwise available under this title. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Firefighter<\/span>” means all (i) salaried firefighters<\/span>, including special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135<\/a>, emergency medical services personnel, and arson<\/span> investigators and (ii) volunteer firefighters<\/span> and emergency medical services personnel, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency medical services agency as employees for purposes of this title.\n\t\t\t“Law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>” means all (i) members of county, city, town, or authority police departments, (ii) sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, (iii) auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs, if the governing body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriff force is located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs as employees for purposes of this title, (iv) members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, and (v) members of the Capitol Police as described in § 30-34.2:1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOVERAGE OF FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OFF-DUTY CAPACITY (\u00a7\n65.2-102)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim for workers’\ncompensation benefits shall be deemed to be in the course of employment of any\nfirefighter or law-enforcement officer who, in an off-duty capacity or outside\nan assigned shift or work location, undertakes any law-enforcement or rescue\nactivity. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer from using any\ndefense otherwise available under this title.\n\nB. For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Firefighter” means all (i) salaried firefighters, including\nspecial forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, emergency\nmedical services personnel, and arson investigators and (ii) volunteer\nfirefighters and emergency medical services personnel, if the governing body of\nthe political subdivision in which the principal office of such volunteer fire\ncompany or volunteer emergency medical services agency is located has adopted a\nresolution acknowledging such volunteer fire company or volunteer emergency\nmedical services agency as employees for purposes of this title.\n\t\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means all (i) members of county, city,\ntown, or authority police departments, (ii) sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, (iii)\nauxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs, if the\ngoverning body of the political subdivision in which the principal office of\nsuch auxiliary or reserve police and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriff force\nis located has adopted a resolution acknowledging such auxiliary or reserve\npolice and auxiliary or reserve deputy sheriffs as employees for purposes of\nthis title, (iv) members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System,\nand (v) members of the Capitol Police as described in § 30-34.2:1.\n\nHISTORY: 1993, c. 719; 2001, c. 330; 2008, c. 109; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}