FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6523

PARTIAL VETO

C 236 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Providing service credit for pension purposes for certain emergency medical services employees.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Pearson, Hasegawa and Conway).

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, two or more units of local governments can join together in a consortium to jointly perform various public duties that are within the statutory powers of the local governments. Some local governments have formed nonprofit corporations to provide emergency medical services within the jurisdictions of the local governments.

The eligibility of the employees of such nonprofit corporations to participate in state retirement systems was uncertain until an Attorney General's Opinion (AGO 2007 No. 6) was issued in 2007 that determined that the nonprofit corporations would qualify as an eligible employer for the purposes of participating in state retirement coverage.

Summary: An employee providing emergency medical services to a consortium of local governments may choose to establish service credit in the Public Employees' Retirement System for service performed prior to July 23, 2003, if the service was performed in a county with a current population exceeding 700,000 but fewer than 800,000. The employee must pay both the employer and employee contribution, as calculated by the Department of Retirement Systems, within five years of making the election to establish service credit.

Votes on Final Passage:

Partial Veto Summary: The Governor vetoed section 1 of the bill, which was a legislative declaration and statement of intent. The substantive provisions of the bill are unchanged.