FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6305

                          C 157 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing a death benefit for certain general authority police officers.

Sponsors:  Senators Roach, Long, Rossi, Fraser, Oke and Rasmussen; by request of Joint Committee on Pension Policy.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  In 1996, the Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5322 (Chapter 226, Laws of 1996) which provided an additional $150,000 duty-related death benefit to survivors of members of Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF) and Washington State Patrol retirement systems.

The result of the 1996 legislation is that LEOFF university and port police officers are eligible for the additional death benefit; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) university and port police officers are not eligible.

Summary:  A $150,000 duty-related death benefit is provided to survivors of PERS I and PERS II members who had the opportunity to transfer to the LEOFF retirement system pursuant to Chapter 502, Laws of 1993, but elected to remain in PERS.

RCW 41.20.060 is divided into two separate sections, distinguishing between disability benefits received for duty-related disabilities and those received for disabilities not incurred in the line of duty.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     98 0 (House amended)

Senate 46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  March 25, 1998