OLYMPIA — The state Legislature has approved one of two bills pertaining to death benefits for certain state workers.
Lawmakers approved House Bill 2519, which expands benefits for families of public safety workers killed while on duty.
The measure passed the House 92-2 Tuesday. The Senate approved the bill last week. It now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire.
It removes a 10-year service requirement for law enforcement officers and firefighters to qualify for the benefits, and expands the lump sum given to families to $214,000.
It also requires the state’s universities to provide free tuition for families. They would also receive at least 10 percent of the officer’s salary yearly.
Another measure, House Bill 1547, would expand benefits for survivors of state, school district, higher education, or other Washington State Retirement Systems-covered employees who die as a result of injuries sustained in the course of employment.
That bill passed the House last month but has not been considered by the Senate.
Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, added an amendment added to that bill to make it retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009. Van De Wege represents the 24th District, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties.
The amendment was not part of the bill that passed. It would have allowed the family of Neal Richards, a state Department of Transportation worker who died while clearing storm debris last November, benefit from the increase.
Richards, a Transportation lead maintenance technician who lived in Sequim, was clearing post-storm debris on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles on Nov. 18 when he was killed by a falling tree branch. He was 42.
He had a wife and two boys, who were 10 and 12 when their father died.
The House and Senate differed on a provision in HB 2519 that would end the benefits if an officer’s spouse remarries.
House lawmakers say they will revisit the issue during next year’s legislative session.
