Title: An act relating to the membership of the executive committee of the select committee on pension policy.

Brief Description: Changing the membership of the executive committee of the select committee on pension policy.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Fromhold, Crouse, Simpson, Linville and Chase; by request of Select Committee on Pension Policy.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/08/05, 85-0.

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/23/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Erik Sund (786-7454)

Background: The Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) was created by the 2003 Legislature to study pension benefit and funding policies and issues. The SCPP consists of four members from the House of Representatives, four members from the Senate, four employer representatives, four employee representatives, two retiree representatives, and the Directors of the Office of Financial Management and the Department of Retirement Systems. The SCPP replaced the Joint Committee on Pension Policy, which had only legislative members.

The executive committee of the SCPP composed of five members including: the chair and co-chair of the SCPP, who are members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; one member representing active members of the state retirement systems; one member representing state retirement system employers; and either the Director of the Office of Financial Management or the Director of the Department of Retirement Systems, who serves in alternate years.

Summary of Bill: A sixth member is added to the executive committee of the SCPP from among the committee members representing retired members of the state retirement systems. The Director of the Office of Financial Management no longer serves on the executive committee in alternate years, instead the Director of the Department of Retirement Systems serves on the SCPP executive committee every year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For (on companion Senate Bill 5193): The SCPP has proven to be a valuable asset to the state, however retirees' input has been limited by the fact that there is currently no representative of retired pension system members able to vote on the executive committee.

Testimony Against (on companion Senate Bill 5193): None.

Who Testified (on companion Senate Bill 5193): PRO: Cassandra de la Rosa, Retired Public Employees Council of Washington; Leslie Main, Washington State School Retirees' Association.