SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5061

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Government Operations, February 7, 1995

Title:  An act relating to law enforcement officers and fire fighters plan I disability board operating expenses.

Brief Description:  Authorizing sharing of administrative costs of disability boards under LEOFF plan I.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Winsley and Fraser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/24/95, 2/7/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5061 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  County disability boards that hear claims for disability from LEOFF Plan I members often also serve cities and towns within their jurisdictions.  There is no statutory provision for sharing the administrative costs of the county disability board among those local governments that benefit from it.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Each county, city and town authorized to use a county disability board must share in the administrative costs of operating the board.  The contribution of each local government is its pro rata share of total membership in Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters retirement system Plan I.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Cities with populations of 10,000 or more are required to establish a disability board.  This results in more cities establishing boards because current law makes this requirement only of cities with 20,000 or more population.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 17, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  This is a fairness and equity issue.

Testimony Against:  Responsibility for LEOFF I has been countywide for 25 years, paid for by sales and property taxes.  Cities with populations exceeding 10,000 should establish their own boards because in the sparsely populated counties the bulk of the population may live in a city, even though the city's population does not exceed 20,000.

Testified:  Gary Lowe, WSAC (pro); Stan Finkelstein, AWC (con).