Retirement & Health Benefits for February 4, 2022

“The rate of change of momentum of a body over time is directly proportional to the force applied,and occurs in the same direction as the applied force.” ~ Sir Isaac Newton.

February 3rd was the deadline for policy bills to pass out of committees. February 7th is the deadline for fiscal bills. The most critical upcoming deadline is Feb. 15th when bills need to be out of their house of origin. It’s important that bills
of import continue moving through the process.

As an annual reminder, no bill is ever ‘dead’ until Sine Die, and any bill deemed ‘necessary to implement the budget’ (NTIB) remains alive until the bitter end.

Below is a brief report on selected bills that are still ‘alive’ noting the caveat above. Because of the speed as legislators race to meet cut-off dates and the deadline of this report, the status of some bills may change. Just an FYI. (For
Your Information). A reminder that many bills sitting in Rules’ Committees never make it to the floor for action.

Retirement Related Proposals

SHB 1699 | Permitting individuals retired from the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system,
and the school employees’ retirement system additional opportunities to work for a school district for up to 1,040 hours per school year while in receipt of pension benefits until July 1, 2025.

Comment: This bill is on the floor calendar awaiting action.

HB 1721/SB 5676 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: This bill would provide a 3% increase not to exceed $110/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees.

Comment: See SB 5676 below.

SB 5676/HB 1721 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: See HB 1721 above. SB 5676 was moved
directly to the Senate Calendar and passed the chamber 47/0/2. It has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee awaiting scheduling.

HB 1752 | Adding a Roth option to deferred compensation plans.

Comment: Passed the House 96/0 and has been sent to Senate Ways and Means for scheduling.

Other Areas of Potential Fiscal Impact to Districts

HB 1486 | Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work.

Comment: This bill expands eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits to those who voluntarily quit their jobs. Under current law, there are a limited number of circumstances when an employee can receive UI benefits after voluntarily leaving
their job. Under the bill, a person would be eligible for UI benefits if they leave a job due to a family member’s death or need to care for a child or adult.

The Rules Committee was relieved of further consideration and this bill was moved to the floor calendar awaiting action.

HB 1613 | Concerning shared reporting responsibilities for both the paid family and medical leave and the long-term services and supports
trust programs to clarify that information collected from employer reports shall remain private.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules, but is likely ‘dead’.

SHB 1617: Aligning state and school holidays. The legislature intends to clarify that Juneteenth, like all other state legal holidays,
is a school holiday on which school may not be taught.

Comment: This bill passed the House 88/8/2 and was sent to the Senate.

SHB 1644 | Expands allowable uses of school districts’ transportation vehicle funds to include purchase, installation, and repair
of vehicle charging stations and other zero-emission fueling stations, and feasibility studies to transition to electric or zero-emission vehicles for pupil transportation.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules.

SHB 1732 | This bill delays the start date for the premium assessments under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (LTSS
Trust Program) from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. Delays the date benefits become available under the LTSS Trust Program from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. Allows individuals born before January 1, 1968, who do not meet the LTSS Trust Program’s
vesting requirements, to receive partial benefits based on the number of years of premium payments. Requires employers to refund employees any LTSS Trust premiums collected before July 1, 2023.

Comment: This bill has been signed by the Governor effective January 27th, 2022.

ESHB 1733 | Establishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations. This bill
establishes exemptions from the payment of premiums under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program for certain veterans, spouses and registered domestic partners of military service members, nonimmigrant temporary workers, and employees who
work in Washington and maintain a primary residence outside of Washington.

Comment: This bill has passed both Houses and was signed by the Governor. Effective June 9, 2022.

SHB 1759 | Requiring school districts and other public education entities to make information from the department of health about substance
use trends, overdose symptoms and response, and the secure storage of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and firearms and ammunition, available through their websites and other communication resources.

Comment: This bill has been moved to Rules and is likely ‘dead’.

HB 1763 | Concerning injured workers’ rights during independent medical examinations. This bill allows an injured worker to make
an audio and video recording of an independent medical examination (IME), and to have one person of the worker’s choosing present during the examination.

Comment: Passed out of committee on Feb. 2nd.

SHB 1795 | Makes void and unenforceable provisions in agreements between an employer and employee that prohibit the disclosure of conduct
that is illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, a wage and hour violation, or sexual assault, or that is against a clear mandate of public policy, occurring in the workplace.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules.

SHB 1803 | Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, beginning with the 2022–23 school year, to annually
distribute legislatively appropriated funds to each school district in an amount equaling $3,000 for each member of the school district board of directors (Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose). Increases the
maximum daily compensation that school directors may receive from $50 to $100, and the annual compensation limit from $4,800 to $7,800. Allows school directors to receive reimbursement for childcare costs associated with attending meetings. Directs
the Department of Commerce to complete an examination of actual and potential school director compensation with a report.

Comment: This bill is in House Appropriations awaiting scheduling.

2SHB 1810 | Requires original manufacturers of digital electronic products sold on or after January 1, 2023, to make certain documentation,
parts, and tools available to owners and independent repair providers on fair and r