BILL REQ. #:  Z-0299.1 

Read first time 01/12/2007.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to contribution rates in the Washington state patrol retirement system; amending RCW 41.45.0631; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.45.0631 and 2006 c 94 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 2001, the required contribution rate for members of the Washington state patrol retirement system shall be ((two percent or equal to the employer rate adopted under RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.070 for the Washington state patrol retirement system, whichever is greater)) adopted under RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.070, subject to the following funding policies:
     (a) The required member contribution rate shall be one-third of the required total Washington state patrol retirement system contribution rate or seven percent, whichever is less. The required basic employer contribution rate shall be the balance of the total contribution rate. The allocation formula between employer and employee shall be applied only after the total Washington state patrol contribution rate has been determined, and the determination shall include the application of any minimum total contribution rate that may be in effect for the Washington state patrol retirement system.
     (b) The ((employee)) member contribution rate as determined under (a) of this subsection shall not((, however,)) include any increase as a result of distributions under RCW 43.43.270(2) for survivors of members who became disabled under RCW 43.43.040(2) prior to July 1, 2006.
     (c) Beginning July 1, 2009, a minimum total contribution rate is established for the Washington state patrol retirement system. The total Washington state patrol retirement system contribution rate as adopted by the pension funding council and subject to revision by the legislature may exceed, but shall not drop below, the established minimum total contribution rate. The minimum total contribution rate shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund seventy percent of the Washington state patrol retirement system's normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. Upon completion of each biennial actuarial valuation, the state actuary shall review the appropriateness of this minimum total contribution rate and recommend to the legislature any adjustments as may be needed.
     (2) Beginning July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2009, the resulting required member contribution rate shall be 4.47 percent and the resulting required basic employer contribution rate shall be 9.98 percent.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2007.