HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1990

 

                      As Passed House:

                      February 9, 1996

 

Title:  An act relating to minimum retirement benefits.

 

Brief Description:  Providing minimum retirement benefits.

 

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Robertson, Chappell and Delvin).

 

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

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

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  2/9/96, 98-0.

 

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 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.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

Effective Date:  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.