BILL REQ. #:  Z-0398.1 

Read first time 01/23/09.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to a study of disability benefit options for members of the public employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3, the teachers' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3, and the school employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   During the 2009 legislative interim, the Washington state institute for public policy, with the assistance and support of the office of the state actuary, shall study the options available to the legislature for addressing the needs of members of the public employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3, the teachers' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3, and the school employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3, to have adequate disability benefit coverage through disability benefits under the public pension systems, through access to long-term disability insurance coverage, or a combination of both. Options could include but are not limited to recommended statutory changes to the public pension systems, an insurance product available to all members administered by a state agency, expansion of eligibility for the current long-term disability benefits offered by the public employees' benefits board, or other options as developed by the institute. The institute shall report the findings and recommendations of its study to the select committee on pension policy no later than November 1, 2009.