FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5987

                          C 135 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Withdrawing accumulated contributions under the law enforcement officers= and fire fighters= retirement system.

Sponsors:  Senators Goings, Benton, Bauer, Hochstatter, Costa, Gardner and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Members of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters= Retirement System, Plan 2 (LEOFF 2) who become totally incapacitated for continued employment are eligible to receive a disability retirement allowance.  The allowance is canceled if the member recovers from the disability and is no longer entitled to workers= compensation benefits.  The statute also provides that a member who has recovered from a disability shall be restored to duty.

LEOFF 2 members are entitled to a refund of their accumulated member contributions if they cease to be employees of a LEOFF employer, except by service or disability retirement.  A LEOFF 2 member who leaves employment due to a disability retirement, but is not re-employed upon recovery from the disability, is not able to receive a refund of the difference between the disability payments received and the member=s total accumulated contributions.

Summary:  If the disability retirement allowance of a LEOFF 2 member is canceled for any reason other than the member=s re-entry into employment or retirement from service, the member must be paid the excess, if any, of the member=s accumulated contributions over all previous LEOFF 2 payments.  The act applies to any LEOFF 2 member who received a disability allowance after February 1, 1990.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 0

House     93 0

Effective:  July 25, 1999