03/19/2002 08:05 AM House STA

HB 480-STATE EMPLOYEE DEATH/SURVIVOR BENEFITS                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2286                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COGHILL announced  that  the next  order  of business  was                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO.  480, "An Act providing that the  death of a state                                                               
employee  killed because  of their  job status  off the  job site                                                               
shall  be  considered  an  occupational  death  for  purposes  of                                                               
survivor's pension benefits."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL  reminded the committee  that, after the  March 14,                                                               
2001, hearing the sponsor  considered [the committee's suggestion                                                               
to  include   TRS  in  a   benefit  package].    He   noted  that                                                               
Representative  Dyson   brought  a  committee   substitute  (CS),                                                               
Version F.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON stated his belief  that the inclusion of TRS                                                               
in Version F improves the bill.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL recommended to the  committee that it adopt Version                                                               
F.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 2373                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS  moved to  adopt the proposed  CS, Version                                                               
22-LS1547\F, Craver,  3/18/02, as a  work draft.  There  being no                                                               
objection, Version F was adopted.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON  recounted that  the original bill  had been                                                               
drafted  to close  a  loophole.   He  indicated that,  presently,                                                               
employees covered under a suite  of benefits would not be covered                                                               
if they were killed or injured while  on the job, but off the job                                                               
site.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL  stated his  understanding that  the CS  before the                                                               
committee  includes TRS  (Teachers' Retirement  System) and  PERS                                                               
(Public Employees'  Retirement System), but does  not provide for                                                               
the judicial branch.   He mentioned Title 14 and  Title 39 of the                                                               
statutes.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 2467                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HAYES  moved  to  report CSHB  480,  Version  22-                                                               
LS1547\F,  Craver,  3/18/02,  out of  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations  and the  accompanying zero  fiscal note.   There                                                               
being  no  objection, CSHB  480(STA)  moved  out of  House  State                                                               
Affairs Standing Committee.