Committee backs changes to Peace Officers benefit fund; premium increase and cellphone-fee proposal to be restored in amendment

The Senate Retirement Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 285, a proposal to increase benefits for members of the Peace Officers Benefit Fund, after discussion about funding sources and a missing premium-change provision in the committee substitute.

Senator Robertson introduced the proposal and told the committee that “we are having a hard time to retain hard time retaining law enforcement officers, particularly in municipal police departments and county sheriff's offices. And we have an increasing number of officers working beyond what would be typical public safety retirement age.” The bill as discussed would raise the monthly member premium and add $1 from the wireless 9-1-1 fee to the benefit fund, increasing the fund’s payout capacity for fully vested members from about $700 a month toward the $1,300 figure mentioned by sponsors.

During questions, committee members clarified that the plan is an opt-in, defined-benefit plan. The sponsor said the change would affect officers already retired as well as active members: “It would impact those that are already retired,” the sponsor said in response to a question about retroactivity. The committee also heard that the current board already has statutory authority to raise membership fees up to $70 a month and that the board currently has set fees at $35 in recent practice.

Members noted a drafting issue: Senator McLaren and others pointed out the premium increase (from $30 to $40 per month as discussed by sponsors) had been omitted from the committee substitute as filed. The sponsor acknowledged the omission and said the intent is to amend the substitute to restore the $30-to-$40 increase. The sponsor and other senators also discussed the policy tradeoffs of adding a dollar to a wireless 9-1-1 surcharge, with one senator calling the measure “a tax policy decision” and other members arguing there is a reasonable nexus between wireless 9-1-1 usage and public-safety funding.

A motion to report the bill out of committee was made and seconded; the committee recorded a voice vote and the motion carried. The sponsor stated she would work with members and staff to clarify the substitute language before the bill advances further.