You’re Invited To Our General Meeting.
When: Wednesday, March 13th
Where: ESD 101
Schedule:
9:45 -Socializing and Refreshments
10:00 -Meeting called to order
10:10 -Volunteer opportunities K-3 with Reading Buddies
10:20 -Libraries – Not Just For Books Anymore
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81799305583?pwd=UjE7ag3RxmxHImHFwqMYqbmxLgJOsO.1
Dial by your location: +1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 817 9930 5583
Passcode: 727163
Corinne Wilson from the Spokane County Libraries will speak to the wonderful opportunities and services that libraries offer to people of all ages, that you may not know about. I would encourage everyone to attend in person because she will send you home with a booklet detailing everything she talks about. In addition, she will be able to tell you about events being offered at your local library.
ZOOM – Meeting ID –
WSSRA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: 25 Spokane Area REA
Time: Mar 13, 2024 10:00 AM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81799305583? pwd=UjE7ag3RxmxHImHFwqMYqbmxLgJOsO.1
Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 817 9930 5583
Passcode: 727163
The next Board Meeting is April 10th.
Our Scholarship Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd, at CenterPlace.
Further information will be included in our next newsletter.
Each year the Washington State School Retirees’ Association requests an issuance of a proclamation in acknowledgment of School Retirees’ Appreciation Week from the Governor of the State of Washington. Governor Jay Inslee has issued a proclamation for the week of March 18-24, 2024, as School Retiree’s Appreciation Week. Please share with your friends.
Submitted by Brad Beal, President SAREA
Bits & Pieces
The 2024 Washington State Legislative session is half complete. When you receive this newsletter, legislators will be close to or at the finish line. There’s never a guarantee, but legislators have provided enough information for us to make an educated guess about the outcome of 2024 Legislative Session.
Legislators seem set on providing a Plan 1 COLA this year. The House passed Substitute House Bill 1985 to provide a 3% benefit increase to Plan 1 retirees. The increase would be capped at $110 per month. House and Senate members have indicated they plan to make room for this proposal in the budget.
Health benefits are trickier. We’ve learned the state is likely to lose some future federal funding used for subsidizing retiree health plans. The Senate indicated they intend to make up the difference somehow. We’re watching the House and Senate budget proposals closely for any changes in retiree medical benefits.
The DRS sponsored Month of Death bill is not moving. HB 2013 would have paid a surviving spouse or a retiree’s estate the full month’s pension benefit during a retiree’s month of death. The House Appropriations Committee favored a cheaper proposal to pay the retiree’s PEBB insurance premium during the month of death. The new bill, HB 2481, passed out of all the necessary House committees and was waiting for a vote by the full House of Representatives. It is unknown if the Senate will be interested in the paired back bill.
House Bill 2471 to increase the pension income for Plan 2/3 employees working past thirty years of service has died in the House Appropriations Committee. Passage was tall order for a first-time bill. We were pleased to get it sponsored and get analysis started. The bill sponsors are working with WSSRA to get all the needed financial information on the proposal so it could move farther in the process if it submitted again.
Submitted by Peter Diedrick, WSSRA
The 2024 Washington State Legislative session is half complete. When you receive this newsletter, legislators will be close to or at the finish line. There’s never a guarantee, but legislators have provided enough information for us to make an educated guess about the outcome of 2024 Legislative Session.
Legislators seem set on providing a Plan 1 COLA this year. The House passed Substitute House Bill 1985 to provide a 3% benefit increase to Plan 1 retirees. The increase would be capped at $110 per month. House and Senate members have indicated they plan to make room for this proposal in the budget.
Health benefits are trickier. We’ve learned the state is likely to lose some future federal funding used for subsidizing retiree health plans. The Senate indicated they intend to make up the difference somehow. We’re watching the House and Senate budget proposals closely for any changes in retiree medical benefits.
The DRS sponsored Month of Death bill is not moving. HB 2013 would have paid a surviving spouse or a retiree’s estate the full month’s pension benefit during a retiree’s month of death. The House Appropriations Committee favored a cheaper proposal to pay the retiree’s PEBB insurance premium during the month of death. The new bill, HB 2481, passed out of all the necessary House committees and was waiting for a vote by the full House of Representatives. It is unknown if the Senate will be interested in the paired back bill.
House Bill 2471 to increase the pension income for Plan 2/3 employees working past thirty years of service has died in the House Appropriations Committee. Passage was tall order for a first-time bill. We were pleased to get it sponsored and get analysis started. The bill sponsors are working with WSSRA to get all the needed financial information on the proposal so it could move farther in the process if it submitted again.
Submitted by Peter Diedrick, WSSRA
Change a Child’s Life
Just by reading once a week.
For ONLY 8 Weeks
Sign up with kristen@idealrockets.com
Each year the Washington State School Retirees’ Association requests an issuance of a proclamation in acknowledgment of School Retirees’ Appreciation Week from the Governor of the State of Washington. Governor Jay Inslee issues a proclamation for the week of March 18-24, 2024, as School Retiree’s Appreciation Week. Please share with your friends.
Submitted by Brad Beal, President SAREA