HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1718

BYRepresentatives Hine, Silver, Baugher and D. Sommers; by request of  Department of Retirement Systems

Changing provisions relating to disability retirement for Washington state patrol.

House Committe on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass. (25)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, May, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle and Wineberry.

House Staff:Ranky Acker (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Members of the Washington State Patrol Retirement System (WSPRS) who become disabled while actively employed receive a disability allowance paid directly by the Washington State Patrol.  The contributions which they have made to the WSPRS remain on deposit with the retirement system during their disability since there is no statutory authority for refunding contributions.  Upon the death of a disabled WSPRS member, a survivor allowance is paid to the surviving spouse from the WSPRS.  There is currently ambiguous language in statute which can be interpreted as authorizing a refund in the case of a disability.  There have been two recent appeals filed in which the plaintiff argued that the language authorized a refund.

SUMMARY:

Language is deleted to clarify that members of the Washington State Patrol Retirement System who receive a disability allowance are not authorized to receive a refund of their contributions.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Sheryl Wilson, Department of Retirement Systems.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This bill will help to avoid future litigation or misunderstandings by members of the Washington State Patrol Retirement System.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.