H-2318.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1971

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              55th Legislature             1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Bush, Lambert, Carrell, Talcott, Johnson, Hickel, Cody, Linville, Mitchell, Delvin, Mulliken, Veloria, Zellinsky, Thompson, Smith, Tokuda, Koster, Sherstad, Cole, Mastin, D. Schmidt and Backlund)

Read first time 02/26/97.  Referred to Committee on .

Preventing double payment for insurance benefits for teachers who are legislators.

     AN ACT Relating to preventing double payment for insurance benefits for teachers who are members of the legislature; adding new sections to chapter 44.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

     The chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate shall prepare vouchers for the state treasurer for sums covering amounts due a school district for any teacher who is on a leave of absence as a legislator, and who has chosen to continue insurance benefits provided by the school district, in lieu of insurance benefits provided to that legislator as a state employee.  The amount of reimbursement due the school district is for the actual cost of continuing benefits, but may not exceed the cost of the insurance benefits package that would otherwise be provided through the health care authority.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

     The authority shall adopt rules that provide for members of the legislature who choose reimbursement under section 1 of this act in lieu of insurance benefits under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

     Upon presentation to the state treasurer of a warrant issued by the treasurer and drawn for the purposes under section 1 of this act, the treasurer shall pay the amount necessary from appropriated funds.  If sufficient funds have not been appropriated, the treasurer shall endorse the warrant and the warrant draws interest from the date of the endorsement until paid.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

                                    --- END ---