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LEOFF 1 COALITION NEWS RELEASE November
19, 2004 CONTACT: Bob Monize, President LEOFF
1 Coalition Contributes $10,000.00 SEATTLE – The LEOFF 1 Coalition Board voted to step up to the plate by supporting the Snohomish County Disability Board against the Snohomish County Fire Dist No. 1. A legal defense fund contribution of $10,000.00 was voted on, and approved by the LEOFF 1 Coalition Board of Directors. The donated funds will be used to pay Attorney, J. E. “Joe” Fischnaller. Fischnaller will represent the Sno-CountyDisability Board. Fischnaller will argue against the appeal by the Snohomish County Fire District #1. If the Fire District prevails in the appeal, “Every city and county Disability Board will lose,” said LEOFF 1 Coalition President, Bob Monize. “Those Boards could well be reduced to authorizing agency payment only to those items specifically enumerated in RCW 41.26, while Boards will not be allowed to determine medical necessity for any other benefits,” said Monize. Monize continued. “All LEOFF 1 Retirement System Members can then say goodbye to reimbursement for hearing aids, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, orthotic and prosthetic devices, wellness physicals, long term care for catastrophic diseases, etc.” ‘If
we lose that authority, LEOFF 1 members better start looking
at placing their entire assets into the hands of remote family
members or into trust funds so a bank can control them because
many of those LEOFF 1 members will have to apply for Medicaid.,”
said Monize. |
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Urging Lawmakers to follow their own laws The LEOFF I Coalition will take whatever steps necessary to prevent any attempt to terminate or restate RCW 41.26, the LEOFF I Law. Our official position is that the LEOFF I pension funds are assets held in trust for pensions and pension benefits. The enabling legislation was passed into law with the intent and goal of using the pension fund and any surplus to fund, to the extent possible, benefit increases for Plan I members Furthermore, employer contributions to the LEOFF I pension fund are considered deferred compensation and are part of the pension trust. Therefore, employers should not share in the pension surplus. We urge you to repeat this message to your elected legislators, the Governor, and your brothers and sisters in LEOFF I.
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The LEOFF I Coalition and its web designer assume no responsibility for the correctness of the information supplied herein or for opinions expressed. Material subject to editing. No portion of this site may be reproduced without written permission from the LEOFF I Coalition president, Bob Monize.