HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1021

Brief Description:  Providing membership in the public employees' retirement system for the chief administrative officer of a public utility district or a county.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

$ Allows the chief administrative officers of public utility districts and counties to opt out of membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System.

Background:   Most full-time public employees employed by an employer under the Public Employees= Retirement System (PERS) are required to be members of PERS.  Exemptions from membership are provided in a limited number of cases.  Optional membership is allowed for elected officials, gubernatorial appointments and city managers.

Summary:   Membership in PERS is optional for chief administrative officers of public utility districts and chief administrative officers of counties.  Such employees have the option of applying for membership in PERS within thirty days of appointment to such positions.  Employees who opt for membership after the thirty days may become members by paying the actuarial value of the service from the date of their appointment to the date of acceptance of membership.

Employees serving in such positions as of the effective date of this act have until December 31, 1999, to notify the director of the Department of Retirement Systems of their desire to withdraw from membership in PERS.  Those who withdraw from membership receive a refund of the member=s accumulated contributions. 

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

Fiscal Note:  Available.