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Legislation 2018

Information regarding Legislation having an impact on LEOFF Plan 2 is posted as it becomes available. For general legislative information and bills not listed on this site, visit the Washington State Legislature. For additional information, call us at (360) 586-2320. 

LEOFF 2 Board Bills

Addressing the Definition of Veteran (ESHB 2701/SB 6377)

ESHB 2701: Addressing the Definition of Veteran

SSB 6377: Addressing the Definition of Veteran Companion bill to 2701 - same language, same substitutes

Status:

  • Adds a provision that ensures members are eligible for free interruptive military service credit for multiple deployments to the same conflict
  • Adds an end date in statute for the end of the Gulf War
  • Adds two combat operations for which free interruptive military service credit was not eligible to be granted, because the operations were not listed in the definition of veteran
    • Inherent Resolve, Iraq and Syria
    • Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan
  • Substitute bill amends this definition for all state pension systems
    • Signed by the Governor March 13, 2018. Chapter 61, 2018 Laws. Effective date 6/7/2018.
    • View Session Law
  • Status:
    • February 2 - Passed through the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections as substituted and referred to Ways & Means. (View Substitute)
    • January 15 - First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections. (Original Bill)
Concerning the Setting the Salary of the Executive Director (HB 2709)

HB 2709: Concerning the authority of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board to set the salary of the executive director.

  • Gives the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board the authority to set salary for its executive director
  • The amendments stipulates that the salary should be set in consultation with the director of the Office of Financial Management and that notice shall be provided to the chairs of the House and Senate fiscal committees as changes are made

Status:

Bills Impacting LEOFF 2

2017-18 Supplemental Operating Budget (ESHB 2299/ESSB 6032)

ESHB 2299: Making Supplemental Operating Appropriations

Two items regarding LEOFF 2 are present in the House supplemental budget proposal:

  • No change to proposed LEOFF 2 contribution rate
  • No funds are appropriated for the Benefit Improvement Account

Status:

  • February 23 - Floor Amendments adopted, placed on Third Reading (View 1st Substitute)
  • February 21 - Executive session in the House Committee on Appropriations 
  • February 20 - Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations
  • January 8 - First reading, referred to Appropriations (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report) (Original Bill)

ESSB 6032: Making Supplemental Operating Appropriations

Two items regarding LEOFF 2 are present in the Senate supplemental budget proposal:

  • No change to proposed LEOFF 2 contribution rate
  • No funds are appropriated for the Benefit Improvement Account

Status:

Extending Presumptive Benefits for LEOFF Members (SHB 2633/ESB 6213)

SHB 2633: Addressing the presumption of occupational disease for purposes of workers' compensation by adding medical conditions to the presumption and extending the presumption to certain publicly employed firefighters and investigators and law enforcement

Status:

  • February 19 - Referred to Rules 2 Consideration
  • February 6 - Passed through the House Committee on Appropriations as substituted and referred to Rules 2 (View Substitute)
  • January 23 - Passed by the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards
ESB 6213: Addressing the presumption of occupational disease for purposes of workers' compensation by adding medical conditions to the presumption and extending the presumption to certain publicly employed firefighters and investigators and law enforcement
  • Expands presumptive disease coverage to include stroke, mesothelioma, adenocarcinoma, certain cancers and MRSA
  • Expands coverage to fully compensated EMTs working for a LEOFF 2 employer and public fire investigators
  • Expands coverage to law enforcement officers for heart problems, stroke, and infectious diseases

Status:

  • March 8 - Returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading
  • March 1 - Placed on second reading
  • February 26 - Motion to report the bill out of the House Committee on Appropriations failed
  • February 20 - Passed through the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards
  • February 19 - Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards
  • February 13 - Passed through the Senate as amended (View Adopted Amendment)
  • January 24 - Passed at executive session in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce
Providing Worker's Compensation for Stress-caused Disabilities of LEOFF Members (SHB 1655/SSB 6214)

SHB 1655: Providing industrial insurance coverage for stress-caused mental disorders and disabilities of members of the law enforcement officers’ and firefighters’ retirement system

  • Allows for claims resulting from repeated exposure
  • Claims can be filed within two years of the doctor’s diagnosis

Status:

  • February 21 – Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce 
  • January 18 – Passed through the House

SSB 6214: Allowing industrial insurance coverage for post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) of law enforcement and firefighters

  • Allows for claims resulting from repeated exposure
  • Claims can be filed within two years of the doctor’s diagnosis
  • Establishes PTSD as a presumptive disease for LEOFF members (Requires PTSD screening for new hires)

Status:

Property Tax Exemption for Military and LEOFF Survivors (SB 6300)

SB 6300: Concerning the creation of a property tax exemption for spouses of military members or first responders killed in the line of duty

  • Proposes to provide a property tax exemption for spousal survivors of military or first responders killed in the line of duty
  • Exemption begins the year following the claim
  • Claimant must be occupying the residence at the time of filing
  • Claimant must own the residence in full or partial at the time of filing

Status:

  • January 25 – Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means
Definition of Employer and Fire Department (SHB 2786)

SHB 2786:Concerning membership in the law enforcement officers’ and firefighters’ retirement system plan 2 for firefighters employed by the department of corrections or the department of social and health services and serving at a prison or civil commitment center located on an island

  • Adds the department of social and health services and the department of corrections when employing firefighters serving at a prison or civil commitment center on an island to the list of employers for LEOFF Plan 2
  • Adds “Fire department” to the list of definitions in LEOFF 2, as “a fire station operated by the department of social and health services or the department of corrections when employing firefighters serving a prison or civil commitment center on an island”

Status:

  • March 8 – Signed by the Senate President
  • March 3 – Signed by the Speaker of the House
  • March 1 – Passed through the Senate
  • February 26 – Passed through the Senate Committee on Ways & Means, referred to Rules Committee 
  • February 24 – Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means
  • February 15 – Referred to Senate Ways & Means
  • February 13 – Passed out of the House as substituted
  • February 6 – Passed through the House Committee as substituted on Appropriations and referred to Rules 2 (View Substitute)