HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1990

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to minimum retirement benefits.

Brief Description:  Providing minimum retirement benefits.

Sponsors:  Representatives Robertson, Chappell and Delvin.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  2/1/96, 2/5/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Pelesky, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Valle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Beeksma; Brumsickle; Carlson; Chappell; Cooke; Crouse; Dellwo; Dyer; Foreman; Grant; Hargrove; Hickel; Jacobsen; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; McMorris; Poulsen; Reams; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Silver; Talcott and Wolfe.

Staff:  Elissa Benson (786-7191).

Background:  For the State Patrol Retirement System, the minimum monthly retirement benefit is $13 per year of service for members and surviving spouses receiving social security.  The minimum monthly retirement benefit for surviving spouses not receiving social security is $23 per year of service.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A minimum monthly retirement benefit of $500 is established for retired members with 25 years of service.  

The minimum monthly benefit for surviving spouses of members that had 25 years of service cannot be less than $500.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill did not restrict the minimum monthly benefit of $500 to members and surviving spouses of members with 25 years of service.  The original bill eliminated the qualification that surviving spouses receiving social security income would receive a monthly minimum benefit of $13 per year of service.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  There are several retired Washington State Patrol (WSP) members who receive less than $500 per month even though they worked for over 20 years for the WSP.  The bill provides a minimum benefit for these people.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified: Representative Eric Robertson,  prime sponsor.