Washington Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers

The board meeting included an update on the database replacement project, which is facing delays and is now scheduled for implementation in March 2024. A private letter ruling regarding a status change to a Length of Service Award Plan is under IRS review. The board received a performance update from the Washington State Investment Board, noting returns are down but expected to stabilize with rising oil prices. The 2022 Annual Valuation was presented, highlighting a decline in volunteers and lower fire insurance premium tax transfers. The board discussed contacting vested members over 65 to pay out benefits and set the 2024 EMSD and Reserve Officer Relief and Pension fees. Partial Permanent Disability Awards were presented and approved. The board also reviewed the Accountability Audit Management Letter and set 2024 board meeting dates.

The Board meeting included updates on the database project, IRS verification of the VFFRO plan status, and the Allan Basso LODD benefit appeal. Discussions covered investment strategies and fund performance by the Washington State Investment Board, as well as insights from the Office of the State Actuary on valuation and relief experience studies. The board also set 2025 meeting dates and discussed long-term legislation efforts and recruitment strategies.

The Board received an update on the database project, which is experiencing implementation delays. A private letter ruling regarding a status change to a Length of Service Award Plan is under review with the IRS. The Board reviewed a PTSD claim and is seeking additional medical records for re-review. The Washington Firefighters Association discussed presumptive disease benefits for volunteer firefighters, including a proposed study on data sources. The Board also discussed a budget item for small agency IT services and reviewed the Secretary's leave and pay records. The Board reviewed and approved administrative expenditure vouchers and retirement pensions and lump-sum settlements.

The Board received an update on the database project, which is being implemented in three phases, with the first phase scheduled to go live in May 2024. The Board also discussed the IRS private letter ruling, which had a favorable outcome, and the benefit increase and removal of the cap of twenty-five payments went into effect on February 1, 2024. The Board reviewed two budget items, a ninety-one thousand proviso for small agency finance services and a fifty thousand proviso to complete a study on presumptive disease data. The Board was presented with a Permanent Partial Disability Award for Donald Taylor and reviewed the Secretary's leave and pay records. The Board reviewed and approved the administrative expenditure vouchers and various travel vouchers. The Board approved the retirement pensions and lump-sum settlements. The next meeting date is July 22, 2024.

The Board convened to discuss several key items, including presentations from the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) and the Office of the State Actuary (OSA). Updates were provided on the database replacement project, including the final data migration and live payroll initiation. The Board also reviewed a tabled appeal for long-term disability benefits and discussed current legislative items, such as HB1156, which allows volunteer firefighters to participate in the state's deferred compensation plans. Additionally, the 2025 Supplemental and 2025-27 biennial budgets were reviewed, and the Board approved administrative expenditure vouchers and retirement pensions.