ESSB 6573 -
By Representative Ericks
ADOPTED AS AMENDED 03/07/2008
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that local
governments need additional revenues to provide public safety resources
in order to protect the citizens of Washington from fire and crime.
The legislature finds that the current benefit formula and
contributions for the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan
2 are inadequate to modify that formula in recognition of the shorter
working careers for firefighters and police officers. The legislature
recognizes that although some officers and firefighters are able to
work comfortably beyond twenty-five years, the combat nature of fire
suppression and law enforcement generally require earlier retirement
ages. In recognition of the physical demands of the professions and
the inherent risks faced by law enforcement officers and firefighters,
eligibility for retirement in the law enforcement officers' and
firefighters' plan 2 system has been set at age fifty-three. However,
the benefit formula is designed for careers of thirty-five to forty
years, making retirement at age fifty-three an unrealistic option for
many.
Therefore, the legislature declares that it is the purpose of this
act to provide local government public safety employers and the law
enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 pension plan with
additional shared revenues when general state revenues exceed by more
than five percent the previous fiscal biennium's revenue.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 41.26 RCW
to read as follows:
The local public safety enhancement account is created in the state
treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
All receipts from section 4 of this act must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from the account may be used as follows:
(1) Following appropriation, fifty percent of the money in the
account shall be transferred to the law enforcement officers' and
firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account
established in section 3 of this act.
(2) Following appropriation, the balance shall be distributed by
the state treasurer to all jurisdictions with law enforcement officers'
and firefighters' plan 2 members. Each year, the department of
retirement systems will determine each jurisdictions' proportionate
share of funds based on the number of plan 2 members each jurisdiction
has on June 1st of the prior year divided by the total number of plan
2 members in the system. The department of retirement systems shall
provide the distribution allocation to the state treasurer.
Distributions by the state treasurer shall be made annually each
January 1st with one-half of the appropriation being distributed in the
first year of the appropriation and any remainder the following year.
If an appropriation is made for a single fiscal year, the entire
appropriation shall be distributed the following January 1st.
Jurisdictions that contract with other eligible jurisdictions for law
enforcement services or fire protection services must agree on the
distribution of funds between the contracting parties and must inform
the department of retirement systems as to how the distribution is to
be made. Distributions will continue to be made under the terms of the
agreement until the department of retirement systems is notified by the
eligible jurisdiction of any agreement revisions. If there is no
agreement within six months of the distribution date, the moneys lapse
to the state treasury. Moneys distributed from the balance of the
public safety enhancement account may be used for the following
purposes: (a) Criminal justice, including those where an ancillary
benefit to the civil justice occurs, and includes domestic violence
programs; (b) information and assistance to parents and families
dealing with at-risk or runaway youth; or (c) public safety.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 41.26 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The local law enforcement officers' and firefighters'
retirement system benefits improvement account (benefits account) is
created within the law enforcement officers' and firefighters'
retirement system plan 2 fund. All receipts from section 2(1) of this
act must be deposited into the account.
(2) The funds in the benefits account shall not be included by the
actuary retained by the board in the calculation of the market value of
assets of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement
system plan 2 fund until the board directs the actuary retained by the
board in writing to do so for purposes of financing benefits enacted by
the legislature. The board shall, in consultation with the state
investment board and within ninety days of the transfer of funds into
the benefits account, provide the actuary retained by the board, in
writing, the market value of the amount directed from the benefits
account for inclusion in the calculation of the market value of assets
of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system
plan 2 fund. The market value of the amount directed from the benefits
account shall be an amount determined by the state actuary to
sufficiently offset the unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities of
benefit improvements financed from this account. The market value of
the amount directed from the benefits account shall be determined as of
the date of the direction from the board to include this amount for
purposes of financing benefits enacted by the legislature.
(3) The law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2
retirement board shall administer the fund in an actuarially sound
manner.
(4) The state investment board has the full power to invest,
reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in the
benefits account. The state investment board is authorized to adopt
investment policies for the money in the benefits account. All
investment and operating costs associated with the investment of money
within the benefits account shall be paid pursuant to RCW 43.33A.160
and 43.84.160. With the exception of these expenses, the earnings from
the investment of the money shall be retained by the benefits account.
(5) All investments made by the state investment board shall be
made with the exercise of that degree of judgment and care pursuant to
RCW 43.33A.140 and the investment policy established by the state
investment board.
(6) When appropriate for investment purposes, the state investment
board may commingle money in the fund with other funds.
(7) The authority to establish all policies relating to the
benefits account, other than the investment policies set forth in this
section, resides with the law enforcement officers' and firefighters'
plan 2 retirement board. Other than investments by and expenses of the
state investment board, disbursements from this fund may be made only
on the authorization of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters'
plan 2 retirement board for purposes of funding the member, employer,
and state cost of financing benefits enacted by the legislature.
(8) The state investment board shall routinely consult with and
communicate with the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan
2 retirement board on the investment policy, earnings of the trust, and
related needs of the benefits account.
(9) Funds in the benefits account cannot be used to finance future
benefit improvements if the state actuary determines that the actuarial
present value of fully projected benefits for current and future
members for all benefits being financed from this account exceeds the
actuarial present value of the revenue provided under section 4 of this
act and the accrued earnings of the benefits account. When making the
determination under this subsection, the state actuary shall select
assumptions and methods to reduce the risk that the actual revenue
received is less than the assumed revenue.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 A new section is added to chapter 41.26 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) By September 30, 2011, if the prior fiscal biennium's general
state revenues exceed the previous fiscal biennium's revenues by more
than five percent, subject to appropriation by the legislature, the
state treasurer shall transfer five million dollars to the local public
safety enhancement account.
(2) By September 30, 2013, if the prior fiscal biennium's general
state revenues exceed the previous fiscal biennium's revenues by more
than five percent, subject to appropriation by the legislature, the
state treasurer shall transfer ten million dollars to the local public
safety enhancement account.
(3) By September 30, 2015, if the prior fiscal biennium's general
state revenues exceed the previous fiscal biennium's revenues by more
than five percent, subject to appropriation by the legislature, the
state treasurer shall transfer twenty million dollars to the local
public safety enhancement account.
(4) By September 30, 2017, and by September 30 of each odd-numbered
year thereafter, if the prior fiscal biennium's general state revenues
exceed the previous fiscal biennium's revenues by more than five
percent, subject to appropriation by the legislature, the state
treasurer shall transfer the lesser of one-third of the increase, or
fifty million dollars, to the local public safety enhancement account.
Sec. 5 RCW 41.26.720 and 2003 c 2 s 5 are each amended to read as
follows:
(1) The board of trustees have the following powers and duties and
shall:
(a) Adopt actuarial tables, assumptions, and cost methodologies in
consultation with an enrolled actuary retained by the board. The state
actuary shall provide assistance when the board requests. The actuary
retained by the board shall utilize the aggregate actuarial cost
method, or other recognized actuarial cost method based on a level
percentage of payroll, as that term is employed by the American academy
of actuaries. The actuary retained by the board shall adjust the
actuarial cost method to recognize the actuarial present value of
future revenue that will be included in the calculation of the market
value of assets pursuant to section 3(2) of this act, using the methods
and assumptions employed by the state actuary in section 3(9) of this
act. In determining the reasonableness of actuarial valuations,
assumptions, and cost methodologies, the actuary retained by the board
shall provide a copy of all such calculations to the state actuary. If
the two actuaries concur on the calculations, contributions shall be
made as set forth in the report of the board's actuary. If the two
actuaries cannot agree, they shall appoint a third, independent,
enrolled actuary who shall review the calculations of the actuary
retained by the board and the state actuary. Thereafter, contributions
shall be based on the methodology most closely following that of the
third actuary;
(b)(i) Provide for the design and implementation of increased
benefits for members and beneficiaries of the plan, subject to the
contribution limitations under RCW 41.26.725. An increased benefit may
not be approved by the board until an actuarial cost of the benefit has
been determined by the actuary and contribution rates adjusted as may
be required to maintain the plan on a sound actuarial basis. Increased
benefits as approved by the board shall be presented to the legislature
on January 1st of each year. The increased benefits as approved by the
board shall become effective within ninety days unless a bill is
enacted in the next ensuing session of the legislature, by majority
vote of each house of the legislature, repealing the action of the
board;
(ii) As an alternative to the procedure in (b)(i) of this
subsection, recommend to the legislature changes in the benefits for
members and beneficiaries, without regard to the cost limitations in
RCW 41.26.725(3). Benefits adopted in this manner shall have the same
contractual protections as the minimum benefits in the plan. The
recommendations of the board shall be presented to the legislature on
January 1st of each year. These measures shall take precedence over
all other measures in the legislature, except appropriations bills, and
shall be either enacted or rejected without change or amendment by the
legislature before the end of such regular session;
(c) Retain professional and technical advisors necessary for the
accomplishment of its duties. The cost of these services may be
withdrawn from the trust;
(d) Consult with the department for the purpose of improving
benefit administration and member services;
(e) Provide an annual report to the governor and the legislature
setting forth the actuarial funding status of the plan and making
recommendations for improvements in those aspects of retirement
administration directed by the legislature or administered by the
department;
(f) Establish uniform administrative rules and operating policies
in the manner prescribed by law;
(g) Engage administrative staff and acquire office space
independent of, or in conjunction with, the department. The department
shall provide funding from its budget for these purposes;
(h) ((The board shall publish [Publish])) Publish on an annual
basis a schedule of increased benefits together with a summary of the
minimum benefits as established by the legislature which shall
constitute the official plan document; and
(i) Be the fiduciary of the plan and discharge the board's duties
solely in the interest of the members and beneficiaries of the plan.
(2) Meetings of the board of trustees shall be conducted as
follows:
(a) All board meetings are open to the public, preceded by timely
public notice;
(b) All actions of the board shall be taken in open public session,
except for those matters which may be considered in executive session
as provided by law;
(c) The board shall retain minutes of each meeting setting forth
the names of those board members present and absent, and their voting
record on any voted issue; and
(d) The board may establish, with the assistance of the appropriate
office of state government, an internet web site providing for
interactive communication with state government, members and
beneficiaries of the plan, and the public.
(3) A quorum of the board is six board members. All board actions
require six concurring votes.
(4) The decisions of the board shall be made in good faith and are
final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. The decisions of the
board shall be subject to judicial review as provided by law.
(5) A law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system
plan 2 expense fund is established for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of the board. The board shall cause an annual budget to be
prepared consistent with the requirements of chapter 43.88 RCW and
shall draw the funding for the budget from the investment income of the
trust. Board members shall be reimbursed for travel and education
expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. The board shall
make an annual report to the governor, legislature, and state auditor
setting forth a summary of the costs and expenditures of the plan for
the preceding year. The board shall also retain the services of an
independent, certified public accountant who shall annually audit the
expenses of the fund and whose report shall be included in the board's
annual report."
Correct the title.