Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Local Government Committee
HB 1798
Brief Description: Enabling county auditors and county treasurers to have designees appointed to firefighters' pension boards.
Sponsors: Representatives Volz, Chase and Eslick.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows a county auditor and county treasurer to send designees to sit on the Prior Act's firefighters' pension boards.
Hearing Date: 2/11/25
Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).
Background:

The Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) Plan 1 provides retirement and disability benefits to law enforcement officers and firefighters who entered eligible employment between 1969 and 1977.? Since 1977 eligible law enforcement officers and firefighters have entered LEOFF Plan 2.? Before the implementation of LEOFF Plan 1 in 1970, law enforcement and firefighter pensions, referred to as Prior Act systems, were administered by local pension boards.

?

The Prior Act's firefighters' pension boards for qualifying fire protection districts consist of five members, which include:

  • the chairperson of the fire commissioners for the fire protection district;
  • the county auditor;
  • the county treasurer; and
  • two regularly employed or retired firefighters elected through secret ballot.
Summary of Bill:

The county auditor and county treasurer are authorized to send a designee to sit on the Prior Act's firefighters' pension boards.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.