SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5120

                As Passed Senate, March 1, 1995

Title:  An act relating to death benefits under the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system.

Brief Description:  Providing death benefits under LEOFF.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Newhouse, Bauer, Winsley, Loveland, Fraser and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  2/2/95, 2/7/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/1/95, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Drew, Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, Moyer, Pelz, Quigley, Roach, Sheldon, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, West, Winsley and Wojahn.

Staff:  Denise Graham (786-7715)

Background:  A member of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) Plan II with ten or more years of service who leaves employment or who becomes disabled may choose an annuity benefit at age 55 or withdraw 150 percent of accumulated contributions.  If, however, such a member dies while an active member, the survivor may choose an annuity benefit or withdraw 100 percent of accumulated contributions.

A LEOFF Plan II member who leaves active service and withdraws contributions and later rejoins active service has a five-year window in which to restore those contributions.   A member who misses the five-year window may restore withdrawn contributions by paying the full actuarial value of the increased benefit.

Summary of Bill:  The survivor of a member of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Plan II with ten or more years of service may choose an annuity benefit or withdraw 150 percent of accumulated contributions.  The death of the member must have occurred on or after July 25, 1993.

Any accumulated contributions attributable to restorations made after five years will be refunded at 100 percent.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill corrects an omission that was made in 1993 when changes were made to the LEOFF II pension system.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mike Patrick, Washington State Council of Police Officers (pro); Howard Vietzke, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The House amendment corrects an RCW reference.