| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Appropriations Committee | |
HB 1824
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Allowing the survivors of certain firefighters to remarry without a loss of benefits.
Sponsors: Representatives Chase, O'Brien, Simpson, Williams and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/8/07
Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).
Background:
The Firemen's Relief and Pensions System–1955 Act (FRPS) covered firefighters prior to the
establishment of the statewide Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System
(LEOFF) in 1970. It is administered in part by firemen's pension boards in each fire protection
district. It is commonly referred to as the Fireman's "prior act," and unlike the LEOFF, the
benefits are not supported by a state fund. Each municipality that has members of the FRPS
instead has a separate pension fund that supports the benefits owed to members and beneficiaries
from that municipality. These funds are supported by revenue from 25 percent of the 2 percent
state tax on fire insurance policies, and up to 45 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
from municipalities' property tax levies.
Members and the beneficiaries of members who left service after 1970 are generally entitled to
the better of the benefits that were offered either by the FRPS or the LEOFF Plan 1; however
members who left service prior to the creation of the LEOFF Plan 1 in 1970 are entitled to
benefits only from the FRPS.
The surviving spouses of members of the FRPS who were killed in the line of duty are entitled to
a benefit equal to 50 percent of the deceased member's basic salary at time of death. The
surviving spouse of a member who left service due to duty-related disability is equal to the
monthly pension the member was receiving at the time of the member's death. The surviving
spouse of a member who died as a result of a non duty-related disability is equal to one-third of
the basic salary the member was receiving at the time of the member's death, plus additional
amounts for dependent children.
In all three cases of members of the FRPS killed in the line of duty or disabled from further duty,
the benefits to the surviving spouse cease if the surviving spouse remarries.
Summary of Bill:
The line-of-duty death and disability benefits paid to the surviving spouses of members of the
FRPS do not cease upon the remarriage of the surviving spouse.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 5, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.