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

HB 1679

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Determining membership on the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 board.

Sponsors: Representatives Ericks, Hinkle, Conway, Buri, McDonald, Hurst, Haigh and Simpson; by request of LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Removes the requirement that for appointments to fill vacancies after January 1, 2007, one of the three law enforcement officer members and one of the three fire fighter members of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 2 Retirement Board (LEOFF 2 Board) be retired members.
  • Changes the length of the initial terms of appointment of the three employer members of the LEOFF 2 Board to four, five, and six year terms, and appointments of the employer members thereafter will be for four-year terms.
  • Changes the initial terms of the Legislative members of the LEOFF 2 Board to four years and six months, and subsequent terms to two years, beginning on January 1 of odd-numbered years.

Hearing Date: 2/1/07

Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).

Background:

The Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 2 Retirement Board (LEOFF 2 Board) was created in 2003 by the passage of Initiative 790 in 2002. The LEOFF 2 Board is the board of trustees for the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Plan 2 (LEOFF 2), and has the authority to administer LEOFF 2, as well as choose the economic assumptions and set the contribution rates for LEOFF 2 employees, employers, and the state.

The LEOFF 2 Board is composed of eleven members, including three members representing law enforcement officers, three members representing fire fighters, three members representing employers, one member of the Senate, and one member of the House of Representatives.

The member representatives are appointed by the Governor to six-year terms (initially staggered) from a list provided by a recognized statewide council of law enforcement or fire fighter labor associations. Beginning January 1, 2007, for filling vacancies in the law enforcement officer and fire fighter positions on the board, at least one of each of the three positions must be filled by a retired member of LEOFF 2.

The three employer representatives are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms (not staggered), and all of these initial terms are scheduled to expire in 2007. The Senate member on the Board is appointed by the Governor based on the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate to a four-year term, and the House of Representatives member is appointed by the Governor based on the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to a four-year term.

Summary of Bill:

The requirement that one of the law enforcement officer and one of the fire fighter positions on the LEOFF 2 Board be filled by a retired member for appointments made for vacancies after January 1, 2007, is removed. One board member from each of the member groups may be either an active or retired member.

The terms of the initial three employer LEOFF 2 Board members are changed from four years to four, five and six years. Subsequent employer board member appointments are for four years.

The terms of the initial Legislative members of the LEOFF 2 Board are changed to four years and six months. Subsequent Legislative board member appointments are for two-year terms beginning on January 1 of odd-numbered years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.