Latest Passed Legislative Bills Update- March 12, 2010
Submitted by tanya on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 3:50pm
Follow the link below to read about the bills:
Catastrophic Disability Medical Insurance (SHB 1679 - SB 5541) - PASSED
Duty-Related Death Benefits (EHB 2519 - SB 6407) - PASSED
Service Credit for Shared Leave ( SB 6453) Passes Legislature and Awaits Govenor Gregoire's Signature Catastrophic Disability Medical Insurance (SHB 1679 - SB 5541) - PASSED
LEOFF Plan 2 and Washington State Patrol Members who suffer catastrophic duty-related disabilities may not be able to afford the cost of continuing their health care insurance. This bill would reimburse members who are catastrophically disabled in the line of duty for the premiums they pay for employer provided health insurance for themselves and their spouses and dependent children. Members eligible for Medicare coverage would be required to enroll in Medicare in order to be eligible for reimbursement.
Status:
SHB 1679:
Signed by the Speaker of the House (3/10/10)
Signed by the President of the Senate (3/10/10)
Delivered to the Governor (3/11/10)
SB 5541:
Did not pass out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee prior to the Feb 9, Fiscal Policy committee cutoff.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1679&year=2009
Duty-Related Death Benefits (EHB 2519 - SB 6407) - PASSED
Members need a comprehensive and complete package of duty-related death benefits to fill gaps in the current benefit structure. This bill provides a comprehensive package of benefits to augment the existing duty-related death benefits. This legislation does six things:
1. Provides survivors of duty-related deaths in LEOFF 2 and WSPRS 2 with the same choice currently provided to survivors of members with 10 or more years of service (ongoing pension or 150% withdrawal).
2. Eliminates the actuarial reduction for the joint and 100% survivor benefit for duty-related deaths in LEOFF 2 and WSPRS 2.
3. Provides a 10% minimum pension benefit for duty-related deaths.
4. Increases the $150,000 lump-sum duty-related death benefit to reflect inflation since 1996 and adds an inflationary adjustment for the future.
5. Eliminates the remarriage prohibition for workers' compensation benefits on surviving spouses of public safety employees killed in the course of employment. Surviving spouses who have already had their benefits suspended due to remarriage will have their benefits resume.
A Senate amendment removed this provision of the bill and retains the remarriage prohibition on surviving spouses for workers' compensation benefits of public safety employees killed in the course of employment.
6. Requires state universities and community colleges to waive all tuition fees and services and activities fees for children and surviving spouses of any law enforcement officer or firefighter who is killed or totally disabled in the line of duty.
Status:
EHB 2519:
Signed by the Speaker of the House (3/10/10)
Signed by the President of the Senate (3/10/10)
Delivered to the Governor (3/11/10)
SB 6407:
Did not pass out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee prior to the Feb 9, Fiscal Policy committee cutoff.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2519&year=2009
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2519.PL.pdf
Service Credit for Shared Leave ( SB 6453) Passes Legislature and Awaits Govenor Gregoire's Signature
SB 6453, LEOFF 2 Service Credit for Shared Leave passed the House on March 3, 96-0 and will be forwarded to the Governor for signature. When signed into law, this legislation will ensure service credit for all LEOFF 2 members using shared leave.
Many employers have shared leave programs which allow members to donate and receive sick or annual leave under certain conditions. Shared leave received from another employee is not considered “compensation earnable” for local government employees; therefore, the leave cannot be used for service credit or for computing final average salary (FAS) in LEOFF Plan 2. Other pension plans allow service credit for shared leave and passage of this bill corrects the disparity in state statute.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6453&year=2009
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