HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 47

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives May, Ferguson, Haugen, Schoon, Nutley, Jacobsen and Walker)

Including persons employed as public safety officers in the LEOFF retirement system.

House Committe on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (22)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery , Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:Randy Acker (786-7153)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Membership in the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) is open only to fire fighters and law enforcement officers.  A fire fighter is defined as (1) a person serving as a full time, fully compensated member of a fire department or (2) supervisory fire fighter personnel.  A law enforcement officer is defined as any person serving as (1) a full time, fully compensated county sheriff or deputy sheriff, or (2) a full time commissioned police officer.  Public safety directors are not eligible to be members of LEOFF.

SUMMARY:

Under the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) the terms "law enforcement officer" and "fire fighter" are changed to include any person employed on or after November 1, 1975 and prior to December 1, 1975 as a public safety director with only police and/or fire duties.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Directors of public safety are not required to meet the age standards established under LEOFF Plan I.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Jan Deveny, Director of Public Safety, City of Mercer Island; Ron Dickinson, City of Mercer Island.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The current law prevents directors of public safety from being members of LEOFF even when the director's duties are no different than those of a fire chief or police chief.  When cities attempt to economize by combining police and fire chiefs under a single director of public safety title, the eligibility requirements for LEOFF membership keep potential candidates from applying since they must leave the LEOFF system to assume a position with a new title.  It is unfair that a change in title should make a person ineligible for membership in LEOFF when the duties are the same.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:   Representative Padden