SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5221

                As Passed Senate, March 5, 1997

Title:  An act relating to eligibility for survivor benefits.

Brief Description:  Specifying eligibility for survivor benefits.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Winsley, Fraser, Bauer, Franklin and Patterson; by request of Joint Committee on Pension Policy.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  2/5/97, 2/6/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/5/97, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Debrah Kime (786-7454)

Background:  Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Plan 1 and Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Plan 1 survivor benefits may be lower when a member dies in active service rather than after retirement for disability.  Occasionally, a PERS 1 or TRS 1 member dies between the time they have begun applying for disability retirement and official retirement for disability.  In these cases the survivor benefit is based on the member being active rather than retired.

Summary of Bill:  The beneficiary of a disability retiree, or a disability retirement applicant, has the option of choosing between the active member and disability retiree death benefit if the member dies within 60 days after applying for a disability retirement.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 20, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.