Watch out for frauds and scammers

Scammers are nothing new, and stories about new scams come to light more and more often. How do you spot these scams? Report them? Avoid them? Whether it's email, social media, phone calls, or physical mail, do you know how to handle these scammers?

Having a resource for information like this is helpful. KOMO news has you covered with their Fraud Watch Network. This resource contains videos about how to spot scams, how to report them (if possible), and how to avoid them whenever possible.

Click here for more information.

Spouses: You can save money on prescription drug prices

Not everyone has health insurance and those who do don't always have perscription coverage. If you're in this position, the Washington Prescription Drug Program can help. The program is free and everyone in Washington is eligible.

Click here for more information.

Become a member TODAY!

The LEOFF 1 Coalition is now a membership organization. Sign up and become a member today!

Print out the LEOFF 1 Coalition membership form, fill it out, and mail it to the LEOFF 1 Coalition office:
407 West Bay Drive NW
Olympia, WA 98502

Click here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION

Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form. PDF VERSION

Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form. MICROSOFT WORD VERSION

HB 2051 Testimonies

The LEOFF 1 Coalition and WSRDSPOA lobbied to amend HB 2051 to clarify that no out of state, non-LEOFF retired law enforcement officers and firefighters may serve on local LEOFF 1 Disability Boards. The amendment also expands the eligibility to serve on the disability boards to surviving spouses of LEOFF 1 members.

Brief Description: Concerning firefighters and law enforcement officers pension and disability boards.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
This amendment would stop retired firefighters or law enforcement officers from another state, non-LEOFF from serving on local LEOFF 1 Disability Boards.

Persons Testifying to allow out of state, non-LEOFF law enforcement officers and firefighters to serve on local LEOFF 1 Disbaility Boards: PRO: Ken Crowder, Washington State Retired Police Officers Association; Curtis Vandver, Washington LEOFF Education Association; Dick Warbrouck, citizen; Dan Bronoske, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.

OTHER: William Dickinson, LEOFF 1 Coalition

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.

Click here to read the entire Senate Bill Report for HB 2051.

The LEOFF 1 Coalition lobbied to exclude out of state (non-LEOFF) Retired Firefighters or Law Enforcement Officers from serving on Disability Boards

Summary of HB 2051 as passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor

Under HB 2051, eligibility of who can serve on a firefighters' or law enforcement officers' pension or disability board is expanded to include:

• Active or retired firefighters or law enforcement officers that retired from one of Washington's systems but not under the jurisdiction of that board residing in the district; and
• The surviving spouse of a firefighter or law enforcement officer that was covered by the board.

Attention all LEOFF 1 Members!

All LEOFF 1 members and beneficiaries: DO NOT fill out the LEOFF 1 survey from Richard Warbrouck (Retired Fire Fighters of Washington)! Their organization represents both retired LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 members, which is a conflict of interest. Numerous retired Seattle firefighters chose to be members of the LEOFF 1 Coalition instead of the RFFOW.

Jerry Taylor represents the Retired Seattle Police Officers. His organization represents both LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 members, as well. Again, this is a conflict of interest. Many retired Seattle police officers chose to become members of the LEOFF 1 Coalition.

Recently, these organizations lobbied to allow out of state, non-LEOFF retired law enforcement officers and firefighters serve on local LEOFF 1 disability boards. You don't want out of state, non-LEOFF law enforcement officers and firefighters serving on your local disability board, deciding to pay (or not pay) for your healthcare.

Again, please do not fill out the survey from Richard Warbrouck. If you have any questions or concerns, call Joyce Willms, Executive Director, at the LEOFF 1 Coalition office: 360-570-1035.

COLAs for LEOFF Plan 1

Effective April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021

Below is a table for the LEOFF Plan 1 COLA as of April 1, 2020. To see all COLA percentages, click here.

Announcement!

The LEOFF 1 Coalition is now a membership organization. Membership dues are $5.00 per month ($60.00 per year).

Click here to fill out the form. Please call Joyce Willms, Executive Director, at the LEOFF 1 Coalition office (360-570-1035) if you have any questions or concerns.

URGENT
LEOFF 1 Coalition and WSRDSPOA Members

LEOFF 1 Survivor Benefits
Originally posted on the WSRDSPOA blog by Don McCabe

This is 2020 and it has happened again. Another LEOFF 1 couple with the spouse not signed up as a surviving beneficiary.

This LEOFF 1 member had been married, but divorced. After he divorced, he retired in 1977. He married his current wife in 1980. At that time, he told her that he didn’t think he could have her as a surviving beneficiary. So he did nothing.

Read the whole post here.

LEOFF 1 Coalition Newsletter

Coronavirus Information

Your health is important. COVID-19 (the current spreading Coronavirus) is spreading throughout the US.

Click here for more information about COVID-19.

How to Contact Your Legislators

Don't Be Fooled!

The Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF) still want your LEOFF 1 pension funds. The Council of Firefighters have been working to start a LEOFF 1 Retiree Association. But why?
The Council of Firefighters will be able to lobby representing BOTH LEOFF 1 retirees and LEOFF 2 retirees and will push for Legislators to consolidate LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2.

Click here to read the WSCFF Resolution 19-02.

Internal Revenue Code Exclusive Benefit Rules

WAC 415-02-756
No assets of the retirement system may be used for or diverted to a purpose other than the exclusive benefit of the members and their beneficiaries at any time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities with respect to members and their beneficiaries.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5). WSR 10-24-099, § 415-02-756, filed 12/1/10, effective 1/1/11.]

Regulations of Executive Branch Agencies

Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
Regulations of executive branch agencies are issued by authority of statutes. Like legislation and the Constitution, regulations are a source of primary law in Washington State. The WAC codifies the regulations and arranges them by subject or agency.

LEOFF 1 Surplus Fund Can Only...

Benefit YOU and Your Beneficiary

WAC 415-02-756
The Washington State attorney opinions declare the LEOFF 1 Fund cannot be used for any purpose other than paying participants benefits.

Click here to read the news release from Attorney Hagens Berman.

RCW 41.54.080

Benefits under chapter - Contractual rights not established RCW 41.54.080

NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE AFTER RETIREMENT

The benefits provided under RCW 41.54.080 are not provided to employees as a matter of contractual right and the legislature retains the right to alter or abolish these benefits at any time prior to a member's retirement.

Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Retirement System RCW 41.26.030

Many members have been calling on what medical services they can receive. Please section 19 of this RCW, and please note subsection I:

(19) "Medical services" for plan 1 members, shall include the following as minimum services to be provided. Reasonable charges for these services shall be paid in accordance with RCW 41.26.150.

• (a) Hospital expenses: These are the charges made by a hospital, in its own behalf, for
• (i) Board and room not to exceed semiprivate room rate unless private room is required by the attending physician due to the condition of the patient.
• (ii) Necessary hospital services, other than board and room, furnished by the hospital.
• (b) Other medical expenses: The following charges are considered "other medical expenses," provided that they have not been considered as "hospital expenses".
• (i) The fees of the following:
• (A) A physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.71 RCW;
• (B) An osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.57 RCW;
• (C) A chiropractor licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.25 RCW.
• (ii) The charges of a registered graduate nurse other than a nurse who ordinarily resides in the member's home, or is a member of the family of either the member or the member's spouse.
• (iii) The charges for the following medical services and supplies:
• (A) Drugs and medicines upon a physician's prescription;
• (B) Diagnostic X-ray and laboratory examinations;
• (C) X-ray, radium, and radioactive isotopes therapy;
• (D) Anesthesia and oxygen;
• (E) Rental of iron lung and other durable medical and surgical equipment;
• (F) Artificial limbs and eyes, and casts, splints, and trusses;
• (G) Professional ambulance service when used to transport the member to or from a hospital when injured by an accident or stricken by a disease;
• (H) Dental charges incurred by a member who sustains an accidental injury to his or her teeth and who commences treatment by a legally licensed dentist within ninety days after the accident;
• (I) Nursing home confinement or hospital extended care facility;
• (J) Physical therapy by a registered physical therapist;
• (K) Blood transfusions, including the cost of blood and blood plasma not replaced by voluntary donors;
• (L) An optometrist licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.53 RCW.
Click here to read the complete RCW.






Click here to read the LEOFF1 Disability Boards Best Practices.

LEOFF Plan 1 Disability Benefits

Medicare Coverage Outside the United States is Limited! Click here to find out more

LEOFF Plan 1 disability benefits.

Pension and Investments

NOTICE

• Join LEOFF 1
• Update Your Information

Keep Track with What's Happening at the Capital!

Washington State Wire - Click Here!

The Olympian: Politics/Government - Click Here!

The Seattle Times: Olympia Politics - Click Here!

The News Tribune: Politics & Government - Click Here!

The Columbian: Politics - Click Here!

The Spokesman: Washington Politics - Click Here!