HB 1680

SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1680

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.

As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Ways & Means, March 20, 2007

Title: An act relating to transfers of service credit for emergency medical technicians under the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2.

Brief Description: Addressing transfers of service credit for emergency medical technicians under the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2.

Sponsors: Representatives Hunter, Haler, P. Sullivan, Priest, Hurst, Conway, Schual-Berke, Haigh and Simpson; by request of LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hewitt, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Background: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are included in the membership of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 2 (LEOFF 2) if they work on a full-time, fully compensated basis for public employers. Certain EMTs were moved from membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to LEOFF 2 by bills enacted by the Legislature in 2003 and 2005. Each bill allowed eligible EMTs to join LEOFF 2 on a prospective basis, allowing them to earn future service credit in LEOFF 2. Each bill also included provisions for members to transfer past service earned as an EMT in PERS Plan 2 into LEOFF 2.

The EMT members of LEOFF 2 must elect to transfer past service no later than June 30, 2013, and must earn at least five years of service in LEOFF 2 before the PERS Plan 1 or 2 service is actually transferred from LEOFF 2. An EMT LEOFF 2 member transferring PERS service is also required to pay the difference between the contributions paid into PERS and those that would have been paid had the member earned the service originally in LEOFF 2, plus interest. The member payment must be completed within five years of electing to transfer the service.

The provisions permitting EMT members of LEOFF 2 to transfer past service from PERS expire July 1, 2013.

Summary of Bill: If an EMT member of LEOFF 2 who has elected to transfer service credit dies or retires for disability prior to five years from the date of election, the member or surviving spouse may complete payment of the required contributions or receive an actuarial reduction to the continuing monthly benefit that reflects the amount of the unpaid obligation.

The expiration of the EMT service credit transfer laws are changed from July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2023.

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