HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1010

BYRepresentatives Sayan, Patrick, Wang, Wineberry, R. King, Rector, Dellwo, Winsley, Basich and Day

Revising provisions for disability leave supplement for law enforcement officers and fire fighters.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Patrick, Ranking Republican Member; Jones, R. King, Leonard, Prentice, C. Smith, Walker and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1985, law enforcement officers and fire fighters in the LEOFF II system were provided with a disability supplement program to augment the workers' compensation benefits paid during duty-related injury.  The supplement is an amount that, in combination with workers' compensation temporary total disability payments, provides the officer or fire fighter with the same net pay that he or she received for active duty.  The disability supplement cost is shared by the employer and employee.  The supplement payments begin on the sixth day of absence from work.  The program expires on June 30, 1989.

The Legislative Budget Committee reviewed the program in 1987.  The LBC concluded that the program had minimal financial effects on local governments.

SUMMARY:

The June 30, 1989, expiration date of the disability leave supplement program for law enforcement officers and fire fighters under LEOFF II is deleted.  The date on which the disability supplement will begin is changed from the sixth day of absence from work to the sixth calendar day after the injury.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 16, 1989.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Charlie Marsh, Washington State Council of Police Officers; and Howard Vietzke, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.

NEUTRAL:  Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The program has worked very well during its first four years and should be made a permanent program.  The cost to local government has been minimal.  The bill makes one change in the program to clarify when the disability supplement should begin.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.