RFFOW President's Messaged for March 2010
http://www.leoff1.net/articles/99/1/RFFOW-Presidents-Messaged-for-March-2010/Page1.html
By Dick Warbrouck
Published on 03/13/2010
MEETING CHANGE NOTICE: The day and the location for meetings of the Retired Firefighters of Washington has been changed to the second Wednesday of each month, except for June, July and August. Beginning this month, Wednesday March 10th and each month thereafter, the meetings will be held at the Ballard Elks, 6411 Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107 beginning at 11:00 am.
I want to acknowledge that Caroline Brakken has resigned as Secretary- Treasurer of the RFFOW effective February 2010. Susan Lang, former Executive Secretary of the Seattle Fire Fighter Family Medical insurance program, is now serving as interim Secretary-Treasurer. Monica Blum is serving as our interim Newsletter editor and is solely responsible for this March 2010 Newsletter. We were very fortunate to have these two well qualified women step in to fill the vacancy created by Caroline’s resignation. We do want to thank Caroline for her time and effort on behalf of the RFFOW.
Susan was the Executive Secretary of Seattle Family Medical for twenty-two years and was recently dismissed when Local 27 made the decision to enter into a contract with an outside medical insurance broker and hire an outside plan administrator. Monica previously served as Communications Director for Seattle Firefighters Union Local 27 and as editor of The Third Rail Newsletter. Monica received IAFF awards while serving as editor of the Newsletter. She left Local 27 after reorganization and decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Having the assistance of these two ladies is Local 27’s loss and our gain.
We have developed a current job description for each of these positions and have some well qualified candidates interested in one or both positions. As we interview for the two positions, we will decide if we want to separate the responsibilities or have one person fill both positions as in the past.
The Ballard Elks will be our new meeting location beginning March 10th and will provide us with a nice evenly heated meeting room on the second floor. There is an elevator and plenty of convenient parking. Hopefully the Ballard Elks will be our hone for several years. HB 2529 is the LEOFF 11 board bill that is moving on a fast pace through the legislative process. As of this date the bill has passed the House and the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is now in the Senate Rules Committee. In a very short time the bill should advance to the Senate floor for a vote and on to the Governor where it is assured of her signature. Representative Tami Green, the prime sponsor of the bill, the LEOFF 11 board along with the WSCFF, WACOPS, WSP Association, COMPAS and the survivors of deceased officers are to be congratulated for their efforts in getting this bill passed. HB 2529:
Finally, for eligible children and surviving spouses of all law enforcement officers, firefighters or Washington State patrol officers killed or totally disabled in the line of duty, the bill requires state universities and community colleges to waive all fees for tuition, services, and activities. This also applies to LEOFF 1. HB 2492-SB 6453: Shared Leave for All LEOFF Plan 2 Members
This bill allows shared leave to be treated as reportable compensation for all members of LEOFF Plan 2. Earnings can be used in the calculation of a member’s benefit, and service credit will be earned according to hours reported. Currently, shared leave is reportable for state, K-12, and higher education employees including those LEOFF 11 members who are employed by the state. As of this writing HB 2492 is also in the Senate Rules Committee. HB 1679: Medical Reimbursement for Total Disability in LEOFF Plan 2 and WSPRSHB.
This bill would reimburse totally disabled members for the cost of post-retirement medical insurance. The reimbursement would be paid from the pension trust fund. HB 1679 is now being considered in the Senate Rules Committee.
SB 6078: LEOFF Duty Death Benefit -- This billl would allow a surviving spouse of a LEOFF 1 firefighter killed in the line of duty, with more than twenty-five years of service, the option to select a disability or a service pension benefit. This bill failed to survive the February cut-off.
It is always to our advantage if members would contact the Legislative Hot-Line 1-800- 562-6000 and leave a message for their legislator in support of these bills.
The April 2010 Cost of Living increase for LEOFF 1 is projected to be .44%. The LEOFF 11 COLA will also be .44% effective July 1, 2010. The Prior Act COLA is projected to be .39% effective July 1, 2010 however there is a minimum of two-percent that will be awarded.
I want to acknowledge that Caroline Brakken has resigned as Secretary- Treasurer of the RFFOW effective February 2010. Susan Lang, former Executive Secretary of the Seattle Fire Fighter Family Medical insurance program, is now serving as interim Secretary-Treasurer. Monica Blum is serving as our interim Newsletter editor and is solely responsible for this March 2010 Newsletter. We were very fortunate to have these two well qualified women step in to fill the vacancy created by Caroline’s resignation.
MEETING CHANGE NOTICE: The day and the location for meetings of the Retired Firefighters of Washington has been changed to the second Wednesday of each month, except for June, July and August. Beginning this month, Wednesday March 10th and each month thereafter, the meetings will be held at the Ballard Elks, 6411 Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107 beginning at 11:00 am.
I want to acknowledge that Caroline Brakken has resigned as Secretary- Treasurer of the RFFOW effective February 2010. Susan Lang, former Executive Secretary of the Seattle Fire Fighter Family Medical insurance program, is now serving as interim Secretary-Treasurer. Monica Blum is serving as our interim Newsletter editor and is solely responsible for this March 2010 Newsletter. We were very fortunate to have these two well qualified women step in to fill the vacancy created by Caroline’s resignation. We do want to thank Caroline for her time and effort on behalf of the RFFOW. Susan was the Executive Secretary of Seattle Family Medical for twenty-two years and was recently dismissed when Local 27 made the decision to enter into a contract with an outside medical insurance broker and hire an outside plan administrator. Monica previously served as Communications Director for Seattle Firefighters Union Local 27 and as editor of The Third Rail Newsletter. Monica received IAFF awards while serving as editor of the Newsletter. She left Local 27 after reorganization and decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Having the assistance of these two ladies is Local 27’s loss and our gain.
We have developed a current job description for each of these positions and have some well qualified candidates interested in one or both positions. As we interview for the two positions, we will decide if we want to separate the responsibilities or have one person fill both positions as in the past.
The Ballard Elks will be our new meeting location beginning March 10th and will provide us with a nice evenly heated meeting room on the second floor. There is an elevator and plenty of convenient parking. Hopefully the Ballard Elks will be our hone for several years. HB 2529 is the LEOFF 11 board bill that is moving on a fast pace through the legislative process. As of this date the bill has passed the House and the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is now in the Senate Rules Committee. In a very short time the bill should advance to the Senate floor for a vote and on to the Governor where it is assured of her signature. Representative Tami Green, the prime sponsor of the bill, the LEOFF 11 board along with the WSCFF, WACOPS, WSP Association, COMPAS and the survivors of deceased officers are to be congratulated for their efforts in getting this bill passed. HB 2529:
- Provides additional benefits to survivors of police officers, firefighters and state patrol officers killed in the line of duty.
- Provides survivors of all members with the same choice currently provided to survivors of members with 10 or more years of service (ongoing pension or withdrawal of 150% of account balance).
- Establishes a minimum monthly survivor pension amount equal to 10% of the member’s final average salary.
- Eliminates the actuarial reduction currently applied to the ongoing survivor pension payment. Additional benefits for the survivors of all members of LEOFF or the WSPRS killed in the line of duty. Increases the $150,000 lump-sum death benefit to $214,000 (reflecting inflation since 1995, when the benefit was first established) and provides an annual inflationary adjustment to this amount for the future. This section also applies to LEOFF 1.
- Eliminates the requirement that the surviving spouses’ worker’s compensation benefits be stopped upon remarriage. Surviving spouses who have already had their benefits suspended due to remarriage will begin receiving the benefits again.
Finally, for eligible children and surviving spouses of all law enforcement officers, firefighters or Washington State patrol officers killed or totally disabled in the line of duty, the bill requires state universities and community colleges to waive all fees for tuition, services, and activities. This also applies to LEOFF 1. HB 2492-SB 6453: Shared Leave for All LEOFF Plan 2 Members
This bill allows shared leave to be treated as reportable compensation for all members of LEOFF Plan 2. Earnings can be used in the calculation of a member’s benefit, and service credit will be earned according to hours reported. Currently, shared leave is reportable for state, K-12, and higher education employees including those LEOFF 11 members who are employed by the state. As of this writing HB 2492 is also in the Senate Rules Committee. HB 1679: Medical Reimbursement for Total Disability in LEOFF Plan 2 and WSPRSHB.
This bill would reimburse totally disabled members for the cost of post-retirement medical insurance. The reimbursement would be paid from the pension trust fund. HB 1679 is now being considered in the Senate Rules Committee.
SB 6078: LEOFF Duty Death Benefit -- This billl would allow a surviving spouse of a LEOFF 1 firefighter killed in the line of duty, with more than twenty-five years of service, the option to select a disability or a service pension benefit. This bill failed to survive the February cut-off.
It is always to our advantage if members would contact the Legislative Hot-Line 1-800- 562-6000 and leave a message for their legislator in support of these bills.
The April 2010 Cost of Living increase for LEOFF 1 is projected to be .44%. The LEOFF 11 COLA will also be .44% effective July 1, 2010. The Prior Act COLA is projected to be .39% effective July 1, 2010 however there is a minimum of two-percent that will be awarded.