BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to disability board membership; and amending RCW 41.26.110.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 41.26.110 and 1988 c 164 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All claims for disability shall be acted upon and either approved or disapproved by either type of disability board hereafter authorized to be created.

(a) Each city having a population of twenty thousand or more shall establish a disability board having jurisdiction over all members employed by said cities and composed of the following five members: Two members of the city legislative body to be appointed by the mayor, one active or retired fire fighter to be elected by the fire fighters employed by or retired from the city, one active or retired law enforcement officer to be elected by the law enforcement officers employed by or retired from the city and one member from the public at large who resides within the city to be appointed by the other four members heretofore designated in this subsection. Retired members who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board have both the right to elect and the right to be elected under this section. Each of the elected members shall serve a two year term. The members appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve for two year terms: PROVIDED, That cities of the first class only, shall retain existing firemen's pension boards established pursuant to RCW 41.16.020 and existing boards of trustees of the relief and pension fund of the police department as established pursuant to RCW 41.20.010 which such boards shall have authority to act upon and approve or disapprove claims for disability by fire fighters or law enforcement officers as provided under the Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system act.

(b) Each county shall establish a disability board having jurisdiction over all members residing in the county and not employed by a city in which a disability board is established. The county disability board so created shall be composed of five members to be chosen as follows: One member of the legislative body of the county to be appointed by the county legislative body, one member of a city or town legislative body located within the county which does not contain a city disability board established pursuant to subsection (1)(a) of this section to be chosen by a majority of the mayors of such cities and towns within the county which does not contain a city disability board, one fire fighter or retired fire fighter to be elected by the fire fighters employed or retired in the county who are not employed by or retired from a city in which a disability board is established, one law enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer to be elected by the law enforcement officers employed in or retired from the county who are not employed by or retired from a city in which a disability board is established, and one member from the public at large who resides within the county but does not reside within a city in which a city disability board is established, to be appointed by the other four members heretofore designated in this subsection. However, in counties with a population less than sixty thousand, the member of the disability board appointed by a majority of the mayors of the cities and towns within the county that do not contain a city disability board must be a resident of one of the cities and towns but need not be a member of a city or town legislative body. Retired members who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board have both the right to elect and the right to be elected under this section. All members appointed or elected pursuant to this subsection shall serve for two year terms.

(2) The members of both the county and city disability boards shall not receive compensation for their service upon the boards but said members shall be reimbursed by their respective county or city for all expenses incidental to such service as to the amount authorized by law.

(3) The disability boards authorized for establishment by this section shall perform all functions, exercise all powers, and make all such determinations as specified in this chapter.