HOUSE BILL REPORT

 

 

                                    HB 2867

 

 

BYRepresentatives Wang, Silver, H. Sommers, Padden and Locke

 

 

Eliminating health care double coverage for judges.

 

 

House Committe on Appropriations

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ferguson, Hine, Holland, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Wang and Wineberry.

 

      House Staff:Nancy Stevenson (786-7130)

 

 

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 1, 1990

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Under the constitution, the state pays one-half the salary of superior court judges and the counties pay the remaining half.  While not specified in law, because of administrative complications, employee benefits for superior court judges have historically been paid entirely by the state.  In addition, some counties also provide health care and group insurance coverage to superior court judges. A survey prepared in 1988 by the Administrator for the Courts indicates 17 counties provide some level of benefits to superior court judges in addition to the state coverage.

 

SUMMARY:

 

AMENDED BILL: Superior court judges are provided health care and group insurance coverage by the state or the county but not both.  The state includes superior court judges under the state employee benefit board plan unless a county legislative body elects to provide coverage under a county plan.  If the county so elects, then the county is reimbursed by the state in an amount equal to the employer contribution under the state plan.  Judges in that county are no longer provided state coverage.

 

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An RCW reference is corrected.

 

Fiscal Note:      Available.

 

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on January 1, 1991.

 

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    No one.

 

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

 

House Committee - Testimony For:    None.

 

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.