SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 2419

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Regarding the retroactive application of RCW 41.32.555.

SPONSORS: Representatives Spanel, Silver and Hine

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Gaspard, Hayner, M. Kreidler, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, L. Smith, Talmadge, Williams, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Denise Graham (786‑7715)

Hearing Dates: February 20, 1992; February 24, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Prior to 1991, only persons employed on a full-time basis were eligible to receive a disability allowance under plan I of the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) if they became permanently disabled.  In 1991, the Legislature allowed part-time employees to become eligible for disability benefits.  The 1991 law applied retroactively to persons who became disabled in the 1986-87 school year, but such persons would only begin to receive benefits after the effective date of the law which was July 1991.

Persons who retired under TRS I due to disability prior to 1990 did not have the right to elect a benefit which included a survivor option.

SUMMARY:

Members of the Teachers' Retirement System, plan I, who were under annual half-time contract in the 1986-87 school year and retired due to disability in that year, are made eligible for disability retirement payments retroactive to the month following their retirement due to disability.  If such members have not begun collecting disability benefits, they may select a benefit that includes a survivor option.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one