Leoff 1 Network

03/06/2025

SSB5085 -- This bill is now in the House Appropriations Committee. We do not yet have a hearing date.

Members should be encouraged to call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-600 and ask that the bill be opposed.

If you write or call or better yet do both, please keep your comments respectful as legislators react negatively to harsh or profane comments.

03/08/2023

LEOFF COLA

The April 2023 DRS COLA for LEOFF 1 is 8.81%. That should show up in your check issued the end of April.

Remember, if you are a recipient of a city escalator check under 41.20 or 41.18, your city check adjusts to meet your guaranteed rate.

See website at www.leoff1.net

DRS announced the LEOFF 2 COLA in July will be 3%.

LEOFF COLA By Admin on March 8, 2023 in Miscellaneous The April 2023 DRS COLA for LEOFF 1 is 8.84%. That should show up in your check issued the end of April. Remember, if you are a recipient of a city escalator check under 41.20 or 41.18, your city check adjusts to meet your guaranteed rate. DRS an...

01/24/2023

Benefit Enhancements

An error was made in DRS’s system that caused LEOFF 1 duty disability members and their survivors to have taxes withheld on lump-sum payments for any amount over $20,000. DRS is working to quickly resolve this issue and expect all accounts to be corrected and refunded no later than January 31. As of January 24 those withheld funds are beginning to show in direct deposit accounts.

New benefit enhancements will increase LEOFF Plans 1 and 2 retirement benefits. Receiving these benefit enhancements will not stop your lifetime monthly pension benefit.

01/13/2023

Today many of you have received a deposit from DRS that represents the special benefit payout. If you are duty related disability retired, you will note that the payment is short in the approximate amount of $2,740. This amount may vary from person to person.

As of 10:30 AM, January 13, 2023, we are advised by DRS that they are at fault for the error and will send or deposit the missing amount by January 31, 2023. Further they will advise the IRS of the error and make the necessary corrections there.

Additionally, DRS will directly contact each affected person via email, snail mail or telephone to verify this information. In all, DRS say about 2,300 individuals were impacted.

I will keep you informed of any further news.

03/24/2022

Benefit Improvement Bill to be signed by the Governor on March 24th. https://leoff1.net/2022/03/24/ssb-5791-to-be-signed-march-24th/

SSB 5791 to be Signed March 24th By Admin on March 24, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous GOOD NEWS! SINCE SSB 5791 PASSED THE LEGISLATURE, WAS SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE ON MARCH 8TH, WAS DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR ON MARCH 9TH, AND IS TO BE SIGNED BY THE...

03/04/2022

SSB 5791 passes the House. It now goes to the Governor. See https://leoff1.net/2022/03/04/ssb-5791-passes-the-house/

SSB 5791 Passes the House By Admin on March 4, 2022 in 2022 Legislature Last night the House passed 5791. That means it is through the House and the Senate so the next step is for the Governor’s signature. Since the bill passed both the Senate and House with no nay votes we do not anticipate any p...

02/25/2022

SSB5791 is now in House Rules. https://leoff1.net/2022/02/25/ssb-5791-the-next-step/

SSB 5791 | The Next Step By Admin on February 25, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON FEBRUARY 24TH TO GIVE SSB 5791 A “DO PASS” RECOMMENDATIONTHIS MEANS THAT THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR ANOTHER VOTE. PLE...

02/18/2022

SSB5791 now in the House. Act now to help it pass.
https://leoff1.net/2022/02/18/ssb-5791-nears-the-goal-post/

SSB 5791 nears the goal post. By Admin on February 18, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous It took a good amount of effort by a lot of people, but we have managed to get this bill through the Senate.  It represents a significant benefit enhancement for all LEOFF 1 members — basically a lump s...

02/15/2022

SSB 5791 passes in Senate.
https://leoff1.net/2022/02/15/ssb-5791-passes-in-the-senate/

SSB 5791 Passes in the Senate By Admin on February 15, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous Today we got SB 5791 passed in the Senate. This is great news but the battle continues as we must get the bill passed in the House and signed by the Governor. There remains a lot to do. Everyone is urged t...

02/08/2022

SB 5791 passed the Ways and Means and now is in Senate Rules. Time to contact the legislators again. Time is short.
https://leoff1.net/2022/02/08/senate-bill-5791-update/

Senate Bill 5791 | Update By Admin on February 8, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized SB 5791 was passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee 24 – 0 a unanimous vote.  The Committee by a vote 22–2 forwarded the bill to the Rules committee with a recommendation of do pas...

01/30/2022

Lobby for SB 5791
https://leoff1.net/2022/01/30/support-sb-5791/

Support SB 5791 By Admin on January 30, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous What to do? There are two pension bills being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee SB 5652 for LEOFF 2 and SB 5791 for LEOFF 1.  Both bills address the same subject, an enhanced benefit, a payment to member...

01/29/2022

WSCFF and RFFOW plus Current Legislation

https://leoff1.net/2022/01/29/wscff-letter-and-pension-bills/

A hearing on SB 5791 is set for Monday, January 31, 2022 at 4 pm.

WSCFF Letter and Pension Bills By Admin on January 29, 2022 in 2022 Legislature, Miscellaneous The Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF) has sent out a letter to approximately 6,800 LEOFF 1 members.  It is a recruitment letter along with a DRS payroll deduction form for a $6.00 per month...