HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6037

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to rescinding a retirement allowance agreement.

Brief Description:  Rescinding a retirement allowance agreement.

Sponsors:  Senators Shin and Prentice.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  2/26/00, 2/28/00 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$A Public Employees' Retirement System Plan 1 retiree can rescind a beneficiary's entitlement to a survivor benefit if there is a restraining order against the beneficiary and a court finds that the beneficiary violated that order.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 21 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander; Cody; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; McMorris; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan and Tokuda.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Benson; Clements; Crouse; Lambert; Mulliken; Parlette; Sump and Wensman.

Staff:  Denise Graham (786-7137).

Background:

Upon retirement, a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System Plan 1 (PERS 1) may choose a joint and survivor retirement allowance option.  The joint and survivor option provides a reduced allowance to the retiree and, upon the death of the retiree, a continuing allowance to the beneficiary of the survivor option.  The survivor option and beneficiary are selected at retirement, and neither may be changed thereafter.

Summary of Bill:

If the beneficiary of a PERS 1 joint and survivor option violates a restraining order issued on behalf of the PERS 1 retiree, the retiree may rescind the beneficiary's entitlement to the joint and survivor option.  The retiree must first obtain permission of a court, and must forward a certified copy of the court order to the Department of Retirement Systems.  The retiree's benefit will not increase by result of the rescission and the retiree may not select another beneficiary.  The change applies to all current and future PERS 1 retirees.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.