SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6305

              As Passed Senate, February 17, 1998

Title:  An act relating to death and disability benefits for certain general authority police officers.

Brief Description:  Providing a death benefit for certain general authority police officers.

Sponsors:  Senators Roach, Long, Rossi, Fraser, Oke and Rasmussen; by request of Joint Committee on Pension Policy.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  1/28/98, 2/10/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/17/98, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Fraser, Hochstatter, Long, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow and Swecker.

Staff:  Debrah Kime (786-7454)

Background:  In 1996, the Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5322 (Chapter 226, Laws of 1996) which provided an additional $150,000 duty-related death benefit to survivors of members of Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters (LEOFF) and Washington State Patrol Retirement Systems.

The result of the 1996 legislation is that LEOFF university and port police officers are eligible for the additional death benefit; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) university and port police officers are not eligible.

Summary of Bill:  An additional $150,000 duty-related death benefit is provided to survivors of PERS 1 general authority police officers employed by ports and higher education, the members who had the opportunity to transfer to the LEOFF retirement system pursuant to Chapter 502, Laws of 1993 but elected to remain in PERS.

RCW 41.20.060 is divided into two separate sections, distinguishing between disability benefits received for duty-related disabilities and those received for disabilities not incurred in the line of duty.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  The bill provides equity for PERS 1 members.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Randy Stegmeier, University of Washington Police Department (pro); Anthony Anderson, Council of Police Officers, Port of Seattle (pro).

House Amendment(s):  PERS 2 officers employed by ports and higher education are also eligible for an additional $150,000 duty-related death benefit.

The phrase Ageneral authority police@ has been removed.