Bill
SB 6198
LEOFF Plan 2 board may hire an executive director, set staff, approve a budget, and contract for services, with civil-service exemptions and notices to OFM and fiscal committees.
SB 6198 (Substitute S-4457.2): Summary
Overview and purpose
- This bill, as amended by substitute S-4457.2, focuses on the governance and staff operations of the law enforcement officers’ and firefighters’ plan 2 retirement board (LEOFF Plan 2 board).
- The substitute bill narrows its amendments to the board’s internal personnel, budgeting, and contracting authorities, and clarifies exempt status for board staff.
Key provisions (as amended in S-4457.2)
- Executive director: The LEOFF Plan 2 retirement board must hire an executive director and fix the director’s salary, with periodic review by the board. The board must notify the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the chairs of the House and Senate fiscal committees of changes.
- Staffing: The board may employ other staff as necessary. All board staff would be exempt from civil service under RCW 41.06.
- Compensation: The board sets compensation levels for all staff, with periodic review, and must notify OFM and fiscal committee chairs of proposed changes.
- Budget: The board must adopt an annual budget in line with the framework from the 2003 law governing the plan’s board operations (as referenced in the bill).
- Funding and expenses: Board expenses are paid from the board’s expense fund (RCW 41.26.732).
- Contracts: The board may contract for all or part of the services needed to operate, including contracting with other state or nonstate entities and with actuaries, auditors, and other consultants as necessary.
Who is affected
- Primarily, employees of the LEOFF Plan 2 retirement board and, indirectly, participants in the LEOFF Plan 2 through the governance and administrative practices of the board.
- The bill also affects oversight entities (OFM and legislative fiscal committees) through required notices of compensation changes.
Procedural timeline and status
- Introduced: January 12, 2024.
- First reading: January 12, 2024; referred to State Government & Elections, then Ways & Means (through amendments).
- Substitute introduced: February 13, 2024.
- Subsequent action: Passed third reading in the Senate Ways & Means process in February 2024; sent back to Senate Rules; as of March 7, 2024, status indicates the bill was returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- Final status: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Fiscal and governance implications
- Provides formal authority for staffing, compensation, and contracts at the board level, with transparency requirements to OFM and legislative fiscal committees.
- Clarifies that board staff are civil-service exempt, aligning with the board’s autonomous staffing model.
- Establishes an explicit annual budgeting process and funding mechanism through the expense fund.
Notes
- The substitute bill (S-4457.2) focuses solely on 41.26.717 (LEOFF Plan 2 board) rather than broader exemptions or amendments to other RCWs included in the original version (41.06.070, 41.26.717).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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