HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5294

                      As Passed House:

                        April 5, 1995

Title:  An act relating to retirement provisions for municipal fire fighters.

Brief Description:  Paying for fire fighters' retirement provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Sheldon, Winsley, C. Anderson, Haugen, Palmer and Roach.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  3/17/95, 3/21/95 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  4/5/95, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  A volunteer fire fighter pension system exists to provide pensions to retired volunteer fire fighters of cities, towns, fire protection districts, and other local governments authorized to provide fire protection services.  The pension system is financed by a variety of sources on money including: (1) Annual employer contributions for each member of a fire department; (2) an employee contribution of $30 per year for each member fire fighter who is a member of the pension system; and (3) 40 percent of the receipts from the state excise tax on fire insurance premiums.

Summary of Bill:  A municipality may voluntarily pay what otherwise would be the fire fighter's contribution for each member of the volunteer fire fighter pension system.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill legalizes a current practice in local jurisdictions which contribute the full amount per year for their volunteer fire fighters.  There is no cost to the state.  This is voluntary, a local government is not required to make the payments.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Sheldon, prime sponsor; Gordon Walgren, and Chief Mike Brown, Washington State Fire Chiefs Association.