SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6276

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1992

Brief Description:  Providing compensation limits for district judges vacating office.

SPONSORS: Senators Snyder and Nelson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, M. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, Rasmussen, and A. Smith.

Staff:  Susan Carlson (786‑7418)

Hearing Dates: February 5, 1992; February 7, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Upon election, district court judges are entitled to sick leave in the same manner as other county employees.  This language has been used as the basis for claiming application of accrued sick leave toward a judge's retirement benefits.  Because of the resulting uncertainty in the cost of retirement benefits to counties, it has been suggested that this language should be clarified.  

SUMMARY:

When vacating office, a district judge may receive remuneration for unused leave at a rate equal to one day's pay for each full day of accrued leave.  Unused sick leave is compensated at a rate of one day's pay for each four full days of accrued sick leave.  The total remuneration for leave and sick leave may not exceed the equivalent of 30 days' compensation.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill clarifies an ambiguity that has led to uncertainty in the calculation of retirement benefits for district court judges.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Kurt Sharar, Washington Association of Counties; Judge Kip Stilz, District and Municipal Judges Association; Melanie Stewart, Washington State District Court Judges