April 19th 2024

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Miscellaneous Archives

June 2020 Financial Report Breakdown


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2019 Annual Financial Report Breakdown


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BEWARE!

Conflict of Interest:

These organizations represent LEOFF 1 AND LEOFF 2:

  • Retired Firefighters of Washington (RFFOW)
  • Retired Seattle Police Officers' Association (RSPOA)
  • Council of Firefighters Retiree Association
  • leoff1.net (Jerry Taylor)
  • all-leoff.com (Seattle based)
This is obviously a conflict of interest. Who will they protect when mergers and/or consolidations are attempted? Will they protect LEOFF 1 members or LEOFF 2 members?


The LEOFF 1 Coalition has no conflict of interest since we ONLY represent LEOFF 1 members and their beneficiaries. The Coalition lobbies to protect your pension and healthcare benefits.

If you have questions about any LEOFF 1 organizations, call Joyce Willms at 877-553-6631.

To join the LEOFF 1 Coalition, print out the LEOFF 1 Coalition membership form above, fill it out, and mail it to the LEOFF 1 Coalition office.

Click here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION

Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form. PDF VERSION

LEOFF 1 Coalition office:
407 West Bay Drive NW
Olympia, WA 98502

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.


In regard to the first bullet I interpret this to mean firefighters and law enforcement officers from a Washington system for the following reason 1. Each section that is amended includes a list of the systems that are included. For example, sec. 2 (2) of the bill amending the municipal firefighters' pension board says, "(2) If no eligible regularly employed or retired firefighters are 27 willing or able to be elected to the board under subsection (1) of 28 this section, then the following individuals may be elected to the 29 board under subsection (1) of this section: 30 (a) Any active or retired firefighters who reside within the 31 jurisdiction served by the board. This includes active and retired 32 firefighters under this chapter and chapters 41.18, 41.26, and 52.26 33 RCW; 34 (b) The widow or widower of a firefighter subject to the 35 jurisdiction of the board."

These RCWs are references to the other Washington state systems. Perhaps someone would argue however that this list is illustrative and not inclusive, so I looked at the definitions in each chapter.

2. If you look at the definition of firefighter and law enforcement officer in each of the relevant chapters there is a reference to a Washington state system or to being employed in a Washington state jurisdiction. So someone that retired in Portland would not meet the definition of firefighter or law enforcement officers.

The potential ambiguity in the drafting only applies to the sections related to the pre-LEOFF boards. The LEOFF1 boards language in sec. 7 always included the clearer structure.

If there is an effort to appoint someone from another state to one of these boards the jurisdiction will have the opportunity to challenge this.

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.

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.

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.

Suggestive talking points when meeting with your local legislative candidates

Click here to download form.

Safety Alert!

Check your fire extinguishers! Extinguisher maker Kidde has recalled millions of models of their push button and pull handle fire extinguishers, dating back to the 1970s. Reportedly, the reason is that they have been found to not work properly. Click here to visit the Kidde website and find out what to look for in your fire extinguisher.

The Democrats Control the Legislature

The big question is, now that we have new leadership, what will it mean for LEOFF 1?

2017 election results put the Democrats in control of both the Senate and House. There are 49 Senators, with 25 Democrats and 23 Republicans. The House of Representatives has 98 members with 50 Democrats and 48 Republicans.

Assembly Day


Senate Legislative Assembly Days are scheduled for November 13 - November 15 House Legislative Assembly Days are scheduled for November 15 - November 17
Fisnaller

Joe Fischnaller passed away and will be missed

The Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Coalition mourns the loss of a long-time friend and determined Leoff1 advocate. ...read more

Tacoma Police Office Gutierrez Killed To Save His Partner and The Shooter's Wife

Police Officer Gutierrez Our thoughts and prayers go out the the family of Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Police Officer Gutierrez was killed after responding to a domestic violence call on Wednesday November 30, 2016.
Click here for details.
A letter from Dave Peery - Click here.

LEOFF1/TRS Survey

The office of the State Actuary is collecting comments on the LEOFF1/TRS/Merger study. For the survey click here. For more information on the update click here. Please express your concerns. For questions call the LEOFF1 office ask for Joyce (360) 570-1035 or 1-877-553-6631.

View Board Meeting Agenda

First Class City Disability Boards

Good Things the Coalition has Accomplished

In Appreciation of Mike Matson - 2011