Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
HB 1349
Brief Description: Concerning the purchase of pension service credit for authorized leaves of absence.
Sponsors: Representatives Griffey, Bronoske, Bergquist, Couture, Rule, Ormsby, Hill and Nance; by request of LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits members of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Plan 2 on authorized leaves of absence to purchase up to two years of service credit if the member retires, rather than returns to work.
Hearing Date: 1/23/25
Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).
Background:

The Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Plan 2 contains provisions for employer authorized?unpaid leaves of absences.? Under these provisions, members may purchase up to two years of service credit upon return to full service, by paying the member, employer, and state contributions to the Department of Retirement Systems within five years of returning to service.
Summary of Bill:

A member of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Plan 2 on an authorized leave of absence is authorized to purchase up to two years of service credit if the member retires, rather than returns to work.? The contributions shall be based on the member's basic salary at the time the leave was authorized, adjusted for pay increases provided by the employer for similar jobs during the period of leave.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2025.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.