WACOPS LEGISLATIVE REPORT
REGULAR SESSION FINAL

Thursday, March 11, was the last day of the regular legislative session. The legislature has been called back to pass a budget and revenue package and the special session will begin Monday, March 15th. We will continue to track the budget process for funding measures important to law enforcement. There is still a possibility that priority legislation that did not pass during the regular session may be funded – notably SB 6550 and SB 6316.

WACOPS has had an overwhelmingly successful session. The murders of our Lakewood police officers magnified problems with our LEOFF benefit structure and our criminal justice system. By the time the Governor convened the Task Force on the Lakewood Police Murders in late December we had already drafted an agenda and met with key legislators to establish priorities. The task force adopted our recommendations and we formed a strong coalition of supporters for our legislation. During the first week of session we held our WACOPS Day on the Hill and Legislative Reception where law enforcements officers from around the state met with their local legislators and briefed them on our issues. This step, along with the continued efforts of the WACOPS Government Relations Committee, were the keys to our success. Each week of the session involved committee hearings and the retelling of the stories that proved the need for measures that would provide support for the survivors of the fallen officers and to provide for officer and public safety. It was an emotional session and we are pleased that the legislators listened to and acted on our requests.

The attached chart shows the final status of legislation we followed this session. You can find detailed information and the final language in the bills at this link: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

LEOFF 2

HB 2519 – Survivor Benefits

• Increases the lump-sum duty-related death benefit from $150,000 to $214,000 and automatically adjusts it each year by an amount equal to the CPI. Retroactive to January 1, 2009.
• Removes the 10 year service requirement for a survivor annuity. Applies to all future payments of benefits for members that were killed in the line of duty since October 1, 1977.
• Establishes a minimum duty-related death survivor annuity of 10 percent of average final salary. Applies to all future payments of benefits for members that were killed in the line of duty since October 1, 1977.
• Requires state higher education institutions to waive payment of all tuition, services, and activity fees for both the children and surviving spouses of officers that died or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
• Removes the actuarial reduction for a joint and 100 percent survivor option applied to survivor annuities. Applies to all future payments of benefits for members that were killed in the line of duty since October 1, 1977.
• Increases the optional lump sum payment of worker’s compensation provisions payable upon remarriage from an amount equal to 24 times the monthly allowance that the member was receiving at the time of remarriage to an amount equal to 36 times the monthly allowance.

SB 6453 – Allows shared leave used by LEOFF Plan 2 employees to be included in pension calculations.

HB 1679 - Reimburses totally disabled public safety personal for medical insurance.

WORKPLACE ISSUES

HB 1317 - Exempts photographs and date and year of birth in personnel files of criminal justice employees from disclosure under the Public Records Act. The most important aspect of this bill is the legislative statement made about the need for protecting your personal information.

SB 6590 - This bill was drafted in response to the Kitsap County court case involving the conduct of a law enforcement officer. The original language would have interfered with arbitration and collective bargaining rights. After much negotiation, the bill now reads “It is the policy of the state of Washington that all commissioned, appointed, and elected law enforcement personnel comply with their oath of office and agency policies regarding the duty to be truthful and honest in the conduct of their official business. “

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

HJR 4220 – Constitutional Amendment to allow judges to deny bail. This will now go to the ballot and a campaign committee, Remember Lakewood, has been formed to help get this important measure passed. WACOPS will be participating with this committee.

SB 6293 - Increases the penalty for the crime of Rendering in the first degree to a class B felony offense if the person is not related to the offender, and to a level III, Class C felony offense when the person is related to the offender.

SB 6548 – Provisions related to the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. The provisions in this bill will assist WA State in negotiations with the ruling Commission.

SB 6610 - Includes several procedures relating to the commitment of persons found guilty by reasons of insanity.