S-1661               _______________________________________________

                                         SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 121

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Lee, Hayner, Craswell, McDonald and Bluechel

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

          THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article XXIX of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

Article XXIX, section --.      (1) No statute that grants an increase in benefits to members or beneficiaries of a  public retirement system funded by the state shall be effective unless it (a) receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature and (b) includes an appropriation sufficient to fully fund the present value of the increase in benefits.

          (2) "Increase in benefits," as used in this section, means a modification in the retirement system that results in an increase in the liability of the system, as determined by the state actuary.

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.