S-3459.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6228

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, Winsley, Spanel, Rasmussen and McAuliffe

Read first time 01/11/2000.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Providing a death benefit for certain members of the Washington school employees' retirement system.

    AN ACT Relating to providing a death benefit for certain members of the Washington school employees' retirement system; adding a new section to chapter 41.35 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 41.35 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A one hundred fifty thousand dollar death benefit shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust or organization as the member has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department.  If no such designated person or persons are still living at the time of the member's death, the member's death benefit shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse as if in fact the spouse had been nominated by written designation, or if there is no surviving spouse, then to the member's legal representatives.

    (2) The benefit under this section shall be paid only where death occurs as a result of injuries sustained in the course of employment.  The determination of eligibility for the benefit shall be made consistent with Title 51 RCW by the department of labor and industries.  The department of labor and industries shall notify the department of retirement systems by order under RCW 51.52.050.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Section 1 of this act takes effect September 1, 2000.

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