The bill amends the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system by introducing significant changes to the special death benefit and the definition of a firefighter. A key provision states that there is no statute of limitations for applying for the special death benefit, which provides a $214,000 payment to the member's estate or designated beneficiaries in cases of death due to work-related injuries or occupational diseases. The Department of Labor and Industries is assigned the responsibility of determining eligibility for beneficiaries previously denied this benefit due to the statute of limitations, allowing them to retroactively reelect their pension benefits. Additionally, the definition of "firefighter" is expanded to include personnel in full-time, fully compensated positions requiring firefighter experience, thereby broadening the scope of employees recognized under the retirement system.

The bill also includes various technical amendments to clarify existing definitions and provisions, such as "medical services," "member," and "final average salary." It specifies minimum medical services for plan 1 members and outlines criteria for service credit for both plan 1 and plan 2 members, ensuring that employment periods and certain leave types are accounted for in retirement calculations. Furthermore, it addresses how basic salary is defined, ensuring that reductions in work hours or pay due to furloughs do not negatively impact service credit. The bill establishes provisions for correcting errors in retirement system records, detailing processes for addressing underpayments and overpayments, and clarifies employer liability for overpayments due to erroneous reporting. Overall, the bill aims to enhance clarity, fairness, and operational efficiency within the retirement system for law enforcement officers and firefighters in Washington.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.26.048, 41.26.030, 41.26.162, 41.50.130, 41.26.470
Substitute Bill: 41.26.048, 41.26.030, 41.26.162, 41.50.130, 41.26.470
Bill as Passed Legislature: 41.26.048, 41.26.030, 41.26.162, 41.50.130, 41.26.470, 41.26.717
Session Law: 41.26.048, 41.26.030, 41.26.162, 41.50.130, 41.26.470, 41.26.717