SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6621

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to transferring service credit and contributions into the Washington state patrol retirement system by members who served as communications officers or commercial vehicle enforcement officers and who became commissioned officers in the Washington state patrol prior to July 1, 2000.

Brief Description: Transferring service credit and contributions into the Washington state patrol retirement system by members who served as communication officers or commercial vehicle enforcement officers who became commissioned officers in the Washington state patrol prior to July 1, 2000.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Delvin, Haugen, Tom, Brandland, Prentice, Marr, Shin, Hewitt and Roach).

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6621 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Benton, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Hatfield, Jacobsen, Kauffman, Kilmer, King and Sheldon.

Background: Noncommissioned employees of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) are part of the Public Employees Retirement System 2 (PERS 2). Commissioned Employees are part of the WSP Retirement System (WSPRS). Prior to 2000, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers were noncommissioned employees. In 2000 all the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers were made commissioned employees and their PERS 2 credits were transferred to the WSPRS. This transfer did not affect employees that had been Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers and became commission employees prior to 2000.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill: Active members of WSPRS are allowed to transfer service credits earned as a Communications Officer or a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers in PERS 2 to WSPRS. If the employee chooses to transfer credits to the WSPRS, they must pay the difference between the employee and employer contributions that would have been paid to WSPRS, and any other amount, to ensure that the funding status of WSPRS does not change due to the transfer.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: This bill provides equity to those officers that transferred prior to 2000.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Davor Gjurasic, WSP Troopers Association; Mike Groesch, WSP Lieutenants and Captains Association.