HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  SB 6602

Title:  An act relating to disability board membership.

Brief Description:  Revising membership of certain LEOFF disability boards.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland and Patterson.

Background:  The statutes creating the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters retirement system, Plan 1 (LEOFF 1) provide for the creation of city and county disability boards.  These boards rule on claims for disability retirement for LEOFF 1 members, designate which medical services are available to LEOFF 1 retirees, and may require a LEOFF 1 retiree who seeks payment for medical services to submit to a medical exam.

Each county has a disability board which has five members.  The board has jurisdiction over LEOFF 1 members who are not employed by a city that has its own disability board.  Under current law one of the members of the county board must be a member of a city or town legislative body located within the county which does not have its own board.  This member must be chosen by a majority of the mayors of such cities or towns.

Summary of Bill:  In counties with a population of less than 60,000, the member of a county  LEOFF 1 disability board who is appointed by the mayors of the cities and towns that do not have their own disability boards must be a resident of one of those cities or towns, but need not be a member of a city or town legislative body.

Appropriation:  None.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Fiscal Note:  Available.