SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2456
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 3, 2014
Title: An act relating to correcting the expiration date of a definition of firefighter.
Brief Description: Correcting the expiration date of a definition of firefighter.
Sponsors: Representatives Gregerson, Freeman, Tarleton, Orwall, Sells, Ryu, Appleton, Van De Wege, Goodman, Morrell and Muri; by request of LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/14, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/03/14 [DP, DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Hill, Chair; Baumgartner, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Member on the Capital Budget; Ranker, Assistant Ranking Member on the Operating Budget; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Braun, Conway, Dammeier, Fraser, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hatfield, Kohl-Welles, Padden, Rivers, Schoesler and Tom.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Honeyford, Capital Budget Chair.
Staff: Pete Cutler (786-7474)
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, including cities, towns, counties, districts, municipal corporations, general authority law enforcement agencies, or four-year institutions of higher education that had working fire departments before January 1, 1996. Certain EMTs were moved from membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to LEOFF 2 by two bills enacted by the Legislature in 2005 and 2007. Each bill provided a mechanism to enable EMT members of LEOFF 2 to earn future service credit in LEOFF 2, and for members to transfer past service earned as an EMT in PERS Plan 2.
EMT LEOFF 2 members transferring PERS service are required to pay the difference between the contributions paid into the 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, 2023. The changes to the LEOFF 2 definition that included EMTs expired in the 2005 legislation (Chapter 459, Laws of 2005), and in the 2007 legislation (Chapter 304, Laws of 2007) two conflicting provisions were included: one that indicated the definition change would not expire, and one that indicated the entire act, including the definition section, would expire in 2023.
Summary of Bill: The July 1, 2023, expiration date of the portion of the LEOFF 2 membership definition that includes qualified EMTs in LEOFF 2 is eliminated by specifying that only certain sections of Chapter 304, Laws of 2007 expire, rather than the entire chapter.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying: N/A.