HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2813

                       As Passed House

                      February 15, 1992

Title:  An act relating to members of the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system.

Brief Description:  Allowing the transfer of the state law enforcement officers and fire fighters retirement system to the state health care authority.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Bowman, Prentice, Riley, Braddock, Cantwell, Van Luven and Brumsickle.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 6, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 15, 1992, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Minority Member; Casada, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Edmondson; Morris; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  When the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) was created in 1970 (LEOFF-I), the law required local governmental entities to provide full 24 hour health benefit coverage.  When the State Employee Insurance Board (SEIB), predecessor of the Health Care Authority (HCA), was created, LEOFF was excluded in an effort to avoid that potentiality of high cost responsibility, even though other local governmental employee groups, eventually, were given the option of participating.

In recent years, several developments occurred that made LEOFF participation in the HCA plan advantageous:  (1) LEOFF-II, created in 1976, did not require health coverage; (2) retiree coverage, required in LEOFF I, has become difficult to obtain other than through the HCA; and (3) local governments, which covered non-LEOFF employees through the HCA, have been finding it increasingly difficult to obtain separate coverage for LEOFF employees.

Presently, there are 4,363 active member in LEOFF I and 6,899 in LEOFF II.

Summary of Bill:  To permit LEOFF enrollment in the HCA plan, current law that prohibits LEOFF participation in the HCA benefits plan is deleted.  However, LEOFF members' right to bargain collectively is unchanged.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 6, 1992.

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

Testimony For:  This language is necessary to provide adequate health care for law enforcement officers and fire fighters.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Bowman, prime sponsor (pro); Randy Hamilton, Chehalis Police Chief (pro); and Dave Campbell (pro).