SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6086

BYSenators Vognild and Johnson

Allowing retirement credit for prior service.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Michael Groesch (786-7715)

                  February 12, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In March, 1970 the Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Fighters Retirement System (LEOFF) was established.  In defining "service" for members of LEOFF Plan I, prior service credit was given under certain circumstances to members who were employed under coverage of a prior pension act.  Those circumstances include:  1) military service, not to exceed five years, which was creditable under the prior pension system; 2) other periods of service creditable under provisions of RCW 41.18.165 (membership in a private fire fighting organization acquired by a municipality), RCW 41.20.160 (membership in a private law enforcement agency acquired by a city of the first class) and RCW 46.20.170 (transfer from city employees' retirement fund to city police relief and pension fund).

For those members who had withdrawn contributions and interest from the prior pension system, service credit could be reestablished by paying to LEOFF I an amount equal to that which was withdrawn. Additionally, if a member had been employed in a position covered by a prior pension act, but had not yet become a member of the pension system, the member could establish prior service credit by paying to LEOFF I an amount equal to the employer's contribution which would have been required under the prior act.

The period for buyback into LEOFF I for service credit from a prior system expired March 1, 1975.

SUMMARY:

The period for prior service credit buyback into LEOFF I is extended to June 30, 1990.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: No one