SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5880

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                  Ways & Means, March 6, 1995

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:  Senators Haugen, Spanel and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  3/3/95, 3/6/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5880 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Denise Graham (786-7715)

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 five  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 Substitute Bill:  A member of the Public Employee's 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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill provides for early retirement of certain members rather than for disability retirement as in the original bill.  The original bill allowed the member to receive a benefit only as long as the spouse was disabled, leaving it unclear what benefit, if any, the member would receive if the spouse died. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would help an employee of Mount Vernon whose wife has M.S.  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 have her cared for.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, prime sponsor.