H-4230              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1897

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representative Patrick

Read first time 1/29/88 and referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to police benefits; and amending RCW 41.20.120.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 13, chapter 39, Laws of 1909 as last amended by section 4, chapter 191, Laws of 1961 and RCW 41.20.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          Whenever any active member of the police department, or any member ((hereafter)) who retired after January 1, 1961, on account of service, sickness or disability, not caused or brought on by dissipation or abuse, of which the board shall be judge, is confined in any hospital or in his home and, whether or not so confined, requires nursing, care, or attention, the board shall pay for such active or retired member the necessary hospital, care, and nursing expenses of such member or retiree out of the fund((; and the board may pay for such retired member hospital, care, and nursing expenses as are reasonable, in the board's discretion)).  The salary of such active member shall continue while he is necessarily confined to such hospital or home or elsewhere during the period of recuperation, as determined by the board, for a period not exceeding six months; after which period the other provisions of this chapter shall apply:  PROVIDED, That the board in all cases may have the active or retired member suffering from such sickness or disability examined at any time by a licensed physician or physicians, to be appointed by the board, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature and extent of the sickness or disability, the physician or physicians to report to the board the result of the examination within three days thereafter.  Any active or retired member who refuses to submit to such examination or examinations shall forfeit all his rights to benefits under this section:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the board shall designate the hospital and medical services available to such sick or disabled policeman.