Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HCR 4425

Brief Description:  Studying the impact of multistate pensions on teachers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Clements, Quall, Talcott, Skinner, Alexander and Rockefeller.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Directs the Joint Committee on Pension Policy to study the situation of teachers who may have retirement service credit in more than one state.

Hearing Date:  2/26/02

Staff:  Andrea Hardy (786‑7349).

Background:

The Joint Committee on Pension Policy (JCPP) was established in 1987 as a standing committee to provide the Legislature in‑depth analysis of pension issues.  Issues studied by the JCPP may include, but are not limited to, retirement age, service credit, cost‑of‑living adjustments, benefits plan design, level of state funding of retirement benefits, and other issues affecting members of the state's retirement systems. The committee is bipartisan, with eight members each appointed from the House and the Senate.

In recent years, the issue has been raised that teachers who are members of the Washington Teachers' Retirement System may also be members of retirement systems in other states. An interest has been expressed that this issue be studied by the JCPP.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature recognizes that teachers in Washington may receive pension benefits from several retirement systems, and it is important to have a better understanding of what benefits these members are entitled to through these other systems.  The JCPP is directed to study the situation of those teachers who may have retirement service credit in more than one state.  The JCPP will report the results of this study to the Legislature during the 2003-2005 biennium.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.