FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1453

                          C 11 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for reserve officers' retirement.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Foreman, Ogden, Chappell, Costa, Dickerson, Schoesler, Stevens and Radcliff).

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:   Local governments have the option of joining the Volunteer Fire Fighters' Relief and Pension Fund.  The fund provides two kinds of benefits to volunteer fire fighters:  1) relief benefits providing medical and survivor needs, and 2) pension benefits providing for retirement. 

Base retirement benefits are calculated for each member upon retirement.  The base provides $25 per month plus $8 for each year in which contributions were made, not to exceed $225 per month.  A percentage factor based on years of service is then applied to the base in order to arrive at the monthly benefit.

The fund is administered by the State Board of Volunteer Fire Fighters who sets annual contribution rates.  The total cost of providing the pension fund is $109 per member for which members contribute $30 per year, the municipality contributes $30 per year, and the remaining cost is paid from the fire insurance premium tax.

No provisions exist for providing pension benefits to reserve law officers.  Reserve law officers comprise 23 percent (2,349) of the state's law enforcement officers working in 172 cities in the state of Washington.  There are currently 7,876 (77 percent) regular officers.

Summary:   Local government reserve officers may join the pension benefits portion of the Volunteer Fire Fighters' Relief and Pension Fund.  Members will be charged an annual $30 fee and employers will be charged a fee which will be established by the Board of Volunteer Fire Fighters so as not to change current contribution rates or current funding structure.  Prior service credit may be purchased.  Reserve officers must complete at least three years of service after the bill's effective date to receive benefits.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    47 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995