HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESSB 5880

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to retirement in order to care for a disabled spouse.

Brief Description:  Authorizing retirement to care for a disabled spouse.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Spanel and Winsley).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  3/30/95, 4/3/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 30 members:  Representatives Silver, Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Huff, Vice Chairman; Pelesky, Vice Chairman; Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Valle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brumsickle; Carlson; Chappell; Cooke; Crouse; Dellwo; G. Fisher; Foreman; Grant; Hargrove; Hickel; Jacobsen; Lambert; Lisk; McMorris; Poulsen; Reams; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott; Thibaudeau and Wolfe.

Staff:  Dan Chang (786-7191).

Background:  A member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Plan I can retire after 30 years of service at any age, after 25 years of service at age 55, and after 5 years of service at age 60.  A member of PERS Plan I who becomes disabled may retire at any age, with the benefit reduced by 2 percent for each year under age 55.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A member of the Public Employees' Retirement System Plan I whose spouse is mentally or physically incapacitated may retire early if the incapacity is likely to be permanent, the spouse needs 24 hour in-home care, and the member submits an application for retirement by July 1, 1995.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:  The substitute bill provides a retirement benefit which is actuarially reduced from the earliest date which the member would be available for normal retirement under PERS Plan I.  The original bill provided an unreduced benefit.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would help an employee of Mt. Vernon whose wife has multiple sclerosis.  The member wants to be able to retire so that he can take care of his wife.  Otherwise, they are not sure how they can afford to provide care for her.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, prime sponsor.