WACOPS Legislative Update – Final Week
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There is will be an opening on the LEOFF 2 Plan Board this summer. State law reads that that the law enforcement officer board members are appointed by the Governor from a list provided by a recognized statewide council whose membership consists exclusively of guilds, associations, and unions representing state and local government police officers, deputies, and sheriffs and excludes federal law enforcement officers.
- the adoption of actuarial standards to be applied to the plan;
- providing for additional benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers subject to the cost limitations provided for in chapter 2, Laws of 2003;
- exercising fiduciary responsibility in the oversight of those pension management functions assigned to the board;
- providing effective monitoring of the plan by providing an annual report to the legislature, to the members and beneficiaries of the plan, and to the public;
- establishing contribution rates for employees, employers, and the state of Washington that will guaranty viability of the plan, subject to the limitations provided for in chapter 2, Laws of 2003;
- provide for an annual budget and to pay costs from the trust, as part of the normal cost of the plan; and
- retain professional and technical advisers as necessary for the fulfillment of their statutory responsibilities.
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Carryover Bills It is strategically helpful to understand the nature of “carryover bills” when we start looking ahead to special sessions and the 2016 legislative session. The legislature works within the framework of a two-year cycle. Just because a bill did not make it all the way through during the regular session in the odd-numbered year does not mean it is “dead.” At the end of the session, all bills in the second house are returned to the first house; so a House bill in committee in the Senate when session ends is returned to the House. At the start of the next session, be it a special session or the next regular session, bills from the previous session are reintroduced and retained in their present position. “Carryover” bills can be taken up again in anytime during the biennium. This is in addition to the new bills introduced during the current session. This procedure can make it difficult to keep track of bills during a special session or the second regular session. |
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WACOPS Bill Report Click here for the bill report. We appreciate your input and welcome suggestions. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments. We work for you and the greater input we get, the better we can represent you. |
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