RCW 41.08.185 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 185
RCW 41.08.185: Duty of commission to organize and function—Penalty for violation.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of each commission appointed subject to the provisions of this chapter, to immediately organize and see to it that the provisions thereof are carried into effect, and to this end to make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the purpose of this chapter, for the purpose of carrying the provisions thereof into effect; and the failure upon the part of said commission, or any individual member thereof to do so, shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and shall be punishable as such.
RCW 41.05.065 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 065
RCW 41.05.065: Public employees' benefits board—Duties—Eligibility—Definitions—Penalties.
Status: in_force

(1) The public employees' benefits board shall study all matters connected with the provision of health care coverage, life insurance, liability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and disability income insurance or any of, or a combination of, the enumerated types of insurance for employees and their dependents on the best basis possible with relation both to the welfare of the employees and to the state. However, liability insurance shall not be made available to dependents. (2) The public employees' benefits board shall develop employee benefit plans that include comprehensive health care benefits for employees. In developing these plans, the public employees' benefits board shall consider the following elements: (a) Methods of maximizing cost containment while ensuring access to quality health care; (b) Development of provider arrangements that encourage cost containment and ensure access to quality care, including but not limited to prepaid delivery systems and prospective payment methods; (c)(i) Wellness initiatives that focus on proven strategies, such as smoking cessation, injury and accident prevention, reduction of alcohol misuse, appropriate weight reduction, exercise, automobile and motorcycle safety, blood cholesterol reduction, and nutrition education. (ii)(A) As of January 1, 2028, the public employees' benefits board shall no longer offer the smart health program, which includes the wellness incentive and the smart health online portal. (B) Employees who have met the eligibility requirements to receive a wellness incentive by December 31, 2027, will still receive the wellness incentive in plan year 2028. (C) Employees are not eligible to earn a wellness incentive as of January 1, 2028; (d) Utilization review procedures including, but not limited to a cost-efficient method for prior authorization of services, hospital inpatient length of stay review, requirements for use of outpatient surgeries and second opinions for surgeries, review of invoices or claims submitted by service providers, and performance audit of providers; (e) Effective coordination of benefits; and (f) Minimum standards for insuring entities. (3) To maintain the comprehensive nature of employee health care benefits, benefits provided to employees shall be substantially equivalent to the state employees' health benefit plan in effect on January 1, 1993. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit changes or increases in employee point-of-service payments or employee premium payments for benefits or the administration of a high deductible health plan in conjunction with a health savings account. The public employees' benefits board may establish employee eligibility criteria which are not substantially equivalent to employee eligibility criteria in effect on January 1, 1993. (4) Except if bargained for under chapter 41.80 RCW, the public employees' benefits board shall design benefits and determine the terms and conditions of employee and retired or disabled school employee participation and coverage, including establishment of eligibility criteria subject to the requirements of this chapter. Employer groups obtaining benefits through contractual agreement with the authority for employees defined in RCW 41.05.011 (6)(a) (i) through (vi) may contractually agree with the authority to benefits eligibility criteria which differs from that determined by the public employees' benefits board. The eligibility criteria established by the public employees' benefits board shall be no more restrictive than the following: (a) Except as provided in (b) through (e) of this subsection, an employee is eligible for benefits from the date of employment if the employing agency anticipates he or she will work an average of at least eighty hours per month and for at least eight hours in each month for more than six consecutive months. An employee determined ineligible for benefits at the beginning of his or her employment shall become eligible in the following circumstances: (i) An employee who works an average of at least eighty hours per month and for at least eight hours in each month and whose anticipated duration of employment is revised from less than or equal to six consecutive months to more than six consecutive months becomes eligible when the revision is made. (ii) An employee who works an average of at least eighty hours per month over a period of six consecutive months and for at least eight hours in each of those six consecutive months becomes eligible at the first of the month following the six-month averaging period. (b) A seasonal employee is eligible for benefits from the date of employment if the employing agency anticipates that he or she will work an average of at least eighty hours per month and for at least eight hours in each month of the season. A seasonal employee determined ineligible at the beginning of his or her employment who works an average of at least eighty hours per month over a period of six consecutive months and at least eight hours in each of those six consecutive months becomes eligible at the first of the month following the six-month averaging period. A benefits-eligible seasonal employee who works a season of less than nine months shall not be eligible for the employer contribution during the off season, but may continue enrollment in benefits during the off season by self-paying for the benefits. A benefits-eligible seasonal employee who works a season of nine months or more is eligible for the employer contribution through the off season following each season worked. (c) Faculty are eligible as follows: (i) Faculty who the employing agency anticipates will work half–time or more for the entire instructional year or equivalent nine-month period are eligible for benefits from the date of employment. Eligibility shall continue until the beginning of the first full month of the next instructional year, unless the employment relationship is terminated, in which case eligibility shall cease the first month following the notice of termination or the effective date of the termination, whichever is later. (ii) Faculty who the employing agency anticipates will not work for the entire instructional year or equivalent nine-month period are eligible for benefits at the beginning of the second consecutive quarter or semester of employment in which he or she is anticipated to work, or has actually worked, half-time or more. Such an employee shall continue to receive uninterrupted employer contributions for benefits if the employee works at least half-time in a quarter or semester. Faculty who the employing agency anticipates will not work for the entire instructional year or equivalent nine-month period, but who actually work half-time or more throughout the entire instructional year, are eligible for summer or off-quarter or off-semester coverage. Faculty who have met the criteria of this subsection (4)(c)(ii), who work at least two quarters or two semesters of the academic year with an average academic year workload of half-time or more for three quarters or two semesters of the academic year, and who have worked an average of half-time or more in each of the two preceding academic years shall continue to receive uninterrupted employer contributions for benefits if he or she works at least half-time in a quarter or semester or works two quarters or two semesters of the academic year with an average academic workload each academic year of half-time or more for three quarters or two semesters. Eligibility under this section ceases immediately if this criteria is not met. (iii) Faculty may establish or maintain eligibility for benefits by working for more than one institution of higher education. When faculty work for more than one institution of higher education, those institutions shall prorate the employer contribution costs, or if eligibility is reached through one institution, that institution will pay the full employer contribution. Faculty working for more than one institution must alert his or her employers to his or her potential eligibility in order to establish eligibility. (iv) The employing agency must provide written notice to faculty who are potentially eligible for benefits under this subsection (4)(c) of their potential eligibility. (v) To be eligible for maintenance of benefits through averaging under (c)(ii) of this subsection, faculty must provide written notification to his or her employing agency or agencies of his or her potential eligibility. (vi) For the purposes of this subsection (4)(c): (A) "Academic year" means summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters or summer, fall, and spring semesters; (B) "Half-time" means one-half of the full-time academic workload as determined by each institution; except that for community and technical college faculty, half-time academic workload is calculated according to RCW 28B.50.489 . (d) A legislator is eligible for benefits on the date his or her term begins. All other elected and full-time appointed officials of the legislative and executive branches of state government are eligible for benefits on the date his or her term begins or they take the oath of office, whichever occurs first. (e) A justice of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals and the superior courts become eligible for benefits on the date he or she takes the oath of office. (f) Except as provided in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, eligibility ceases for any employee the first of the month following termination of the employment relationship. (g) In determining eligibility under this section, the employing agency may disregard training hours, standby hours, or temporary changes in work hours as determined by the authority under this section. (h) Insurance coverage for all eligible employees begins on the first day of the month following the date when eligibility for benefits is established. If the date eligibility is established is the first working day of a month, insurance coverage begins on that date. (i) Eligibility for an employee whose work circumstances are described by more than one of the eligibility categories in (a) through (e) of this subsection shall be determined solely by the criteria of the category that most closely describes the employee's work circumstances. (j) Except for an employee eligible for benefits under (b) or (c)(ii) of this subsection, an employee who has established eligibility for benefits under this section shall remain eligible for benefits each month in which he or she is in pay status for eight or more hours, if (i) he or she remains in a benefits-eligible position and (ii) leave from the benefits-eligible position is approved by the employing agency. A benefits-eligible seasonal employee is eligible for the employer contribution in any month of his or her season in which he or she is in pay status eight or more hours during that month. Eligibility ends if these conditions are not met, the employment relationship is terminated, or the employee voluntarily transfers to a noneligible position. (k) For the purposes of this subsection, the public employees' benefits board shall define "benefits-eligible position." (5) The public employees' benefits board may authorize premium contributions for an employee and the employee's dependents in a manner that encourages the use of cost-efficient managed health care systems. (6)(a) For any open enrollment period following August 24, 2011, the public employees' benefits board shall offer a health savings account option for employees that conforms to section 223, Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the internal revenue code of 1986. The public employees' benefits board shall comply with all applicable federal standards related to the establishment of health savings accounts. (b) By November 30, 2015, and each year thereafter, the authority shall submit a report to the relevant legislative policy and fiscal committees that includes the following: (i) Public employees' benefits board health plan cost and service utilization trends for the previous three years, in total and for each health plan offered to employees; (ii) For each health plan offered to employees, the number and percentage of employees and dependents enrolled in the plan, and the age and gender demographics of enrollees in each plan; (iii) Any impact of enrollment in alternatives to the most comprehensive plan, including the high deductible health plan with a health savings account, upon the cost of health benefits for those employees who have chosen to remain enrolled in the most comprehensive plan. (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any open enrollment period following August 24, 2011, the public employees' benefits board shall offer a high deductible health plan in conjunction with a health savings account developed under subsection (6) of this section. (8) Employees shall choose participation in one of the health care benefit plans developed by the public employees' benefits board and may be permitted to waive coverage under terms and conditions established by the public employees' benefits board. (9) In addition to the benefits offering authority under this chapter, the public employees' benefits board may study, establish evaluation criteria, and, subject to the availability of funding, offer the following employee-paid, voluntary benefits: (a) Emergency transportation; (b) Identity protection; (c) Legal aid; (d) Long-term care insurance; (e) Noncommercial personal automobile insurance; (f) Personal homeowner's or renter's insurance; (g) Pet insurance; (h) Specified disease or illness-triggered fixed payment insurance, hospital confinement fixed payment insurance, or other fixed payment insurance offered as an independent, noncoordinated benefit regulated by the office of the insurance commissioner; and (i) Travel insurance. (10) The public employees' benefits board may establish penalties to be imposed by the authority when the eligibility determinations of an employing agency fail to comply with the criteria under this chapter.
RCW 41.20.065 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 065
RCW 41.20.065: Pension on retirement for nonduty disability.
Status: in_force

Whenever any person, while serving as a police officer in any such city becomes physically disabled by reason of any bodily injury not incurred in the line of duty, or becomes incapacitated for service, such incapacity not having been caused or brought on by dissipation or abuse, of which the board shall be judge, the board may, upon his or her written request filed with the secretary, or without such written request, if it deems it to be for the benefit of the public, retire such person from the department, and order and direct that he or she be paid from the fund during his or her lifetime, a pension equal to fifty percent of the amount of salary at any time hereafter attached to the position which he or she held in the department at the date of his or her retirement, but not to exceed an amount equivalent to fifty percent of the salary of captain, except as to a position higher than that of captain held for at least three calendar years prior to the date of retirement, in which case as to such position the provisions of RCW 41.20.050 shall apply, and all existing pensions shall be increased to not less than three hundred dollars per month as of April 25, 1973: PROVIDED, That where, at the time of retirement hereafter for disability under this section, such person has served honorably for a period of more than twenty-five years as a member, in any capacity, of the regularly constituted police department of a city subject to the provisions of this chapter, the foregoing percentage factors to be applied in computing the pension payable under this section shall be increased by two percent of his or her salary per year for each full year of such additional service, to a maximum of five additional years. Whenever such disability ceases, the pension shall cease, and such person shall be restored to active service at the same rank he or she held at the time of his or her retirement, and at the current salary attached to said rank at the time of his or her return to active service. Disability benefits provided for by this chapter shall not be paid when the police officer is disabled while he or she is engaged for compensation in outside work not of a police or special police nature.
RCW 41.24.430 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 430
RCW 41.24.430: Reserve officers—Eligibility for benefit.
Status: in_force

A reserve officer shall not receive a retirement benefit under this chapter unless he or she completes at least three years of service after July 23, 1995.Nothing in this chapter is intended to create a state-mandated liberty interest of any nature for offenders or inmates confined in department of corrections facilities or subject to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
RCW 41.45.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 010
RCW 41.45.010: Intent—Goals.
Status: in_force

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It is the intent of the legislature to provide a dependable and systematic process for funding the benefits provided to members and retirees of the public employees' retirement system, chapter 41.40 RCW; the teachers' retirement system, chapter 41.32 RCW; the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement systems, chapter 41.26 RCW; the school employees' retirement system, chapter 41.35 RCW; the public safety employees' retirement system, chapter 41.37 RCW; and the Washington state patrol retirement system, chapter 43.43 RCW. The funding process established by this chapter is intended to achieve the following goals: (1) To fully fund the public employees' retirement system plans 2 and 3, the teachers' retirement system plans 2 and 3, the school employees' retirement system plans 2 and 3, the public safety employees' retirement system plan 2, and the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 as provided by law; (2) To fully amortize the total costs of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 1, not later than June 30, 2024; (3) To fully amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1 within a rolling ten-year period, using methods and assumptions that balance needs for increased benefit security, decreased contribution rate volatility, and affordability of pension contribution rates, while suspending those rates during the 2025-2027 and 2027-2029 fiscal biennia; (4) To amortize the costs of benefit improvements in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1 over a fixed 15-year period; (5) To establish long-term employer contribution rates which will remain a relatively predictable proportion of the future state budgets; and (6) To fund, to the extent feasible, all benefits for plan 2 and 3 members over the working lives of those members so that the cost of those benefits are paid by the taxpayers who receive the benefit of those members' service.
RCW 41.06.490 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 490
RCW 41.06.490: State employee return-to-work program.
Status: in_force

In addition to the rules adopted under RCW 41.06.150 , the director shall adopt rules establishing a state employee return-to-work program. The program shall, at a minimum: (1) Direct each agency to adopt a return-to-work policy. The program shall allow each agency program to take into consideration the special nature of employment in the agency; (2) Provide for eligibility in the return-to-work program, for a minimum of two years from the date the temporary disability commenced, for any permanent employee who is receiving compensation under RCW 51.32.090 and who is, by reason of his or her temporary disability, unable to return to his or her previous work, but who is physically capable of carrying out work of a lighter or modified nature; (3) Require each agency to name an agency representative responsible for coordinating the return-to-work program of the agency; (4) Provide that applicants receiving appointments for classified service receive an explanation of the return-to-work policy; (5) Require training of supervisors on implementation of the return-to-work policy, including but not limited to assessment of the appropriateness of the return-to-work job for the employee; and (6) Coordinate participation of applicable employee assistance programs, as appropriate.
RCW 41.24.330 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 330
RCW 41.24.330: Emergency medical service districts—Board of trustees—Creation.
Status: in_force

An emergency medical service district board of trustees is created to administer this chapter in every county maintaining a regularly organized emergency medical service district. The emergency medical service district board shall consist of two of the members of the county legislative authority or their designees, the county auditor or the auditor's designee, the head of the emergency medical service district, and one emergency worker from the emergency medical service district to be elected by the emergency workers of the emergency medical service district for a term of one year and annually thereafter. The emergency medical service district shall make provisions for the collection and payment of the fees provided under this chapter and shall continue to make such provisions for all emergency workers who come under this chapter as long as they shall continue to be members of the fire department.
RCW 41.05A.120 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05A / Section 120
RCW 41.05A.120: Order to withhold and deliver.
Status: in_force

(1) After service of a notice of debt for an overpayment as provided for in RCW 41.05A.110 or 41.05A.170 , stating the debt accrued, the director may issue to any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state an order to withhold and deliver property of any kind including, but not restricted to, earnings which are due, owing, or belonging to the debtor, when the director has reason to believe that there is in the possession of such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state property which is due, owing, or belonging to the debtor. The order to withhold and deliver must state the amount of the debt, and must state in summary the terms of this section, RCW 6.27.150 and 6.27.160 , chapters 6.13 and 6.15 RCW, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1673, and other state or federal exemption laws applicable generally to debtors. The order to withhold and deliver must be served in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action or by certified mail, with return receipt service. Any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state upon whom service has been made shall answer the order to withhold and deliver within twenty days, exclusive of the day of service, under oath and in writing, and shall make true answers to the matters inquired of therein. The director may require further and additional answers to be completed by the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state. If any such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state possesses any property which may be subject to the claim of the authority, such property must be withheld immediately upon receipt of the order to withhold and deliver and must, after the twenty-day period, upon demand, be delivered forthwith to the director. The director shall hold the property in trust for application on the indebtedness involved or for return, without interest, in accordance with final determination of liability or nonliability. In the alternative, there may be furnished to the director a good and sufficient bond, satisfactory to the director, conditioned upon final determination of liability. Where money is due and owing under any contract of employment, express or implied, or is held by any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state subject to withdrawal by the debtor, such money must be delivered by remittance payable to the order of the director. Delivery to the director, subject to the exemptions under RCW 6.27.150 and 6.27.160 , chapters 6.13 and 6.15 RCW, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1673, and other state or federal law applicable generally to debtors, of the money or other property held or claimed satisfies the requirement of the order to withhold and deliver. Delivery to the director serves as full acquittance, and the state warrants and represents that it shall defend and hold harmless for such actions persons delivering money or property to the director pursuant to this chapter. The state also warrants and represents that it shall defend and hold harmless for such actions persons withholding money or property pursuant to this chapter. (2) The director shall also, on or before the date of service of the order to withhold and deliver, mail or cause to be mailed by certified mail a copy of the order to withhold and deliver to the debtor at the debtor's last known post office address or, in the alternative, a copy of the order to withhold and deliver must be served on the debtor in the same manner as a summons in a civil action on or before the date of service of the order or within two days thereafter. The copy of the order must be mailed or served together with a concise explanation of the right to petition for a hearing on any issue related to the collection. This requirement is not jurisdictional, but, if the copy is not mailed or served as provided in this section, or if any irregularity appears with respect to the mailing or service, the superior court, on its discretion on motion of the debtor promptly made and supported by affidavit showing that the debtor has suffered substantial injury due to the failure to mail the copy, may set aside the order to withhold and deliver and award to the debtor an amount equal to the damages resulting from the director's failure to serve on or mail to the debtor the copy.
RCW 41.40.068 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 068
RCW 41.40.068: Hearing prior to appeal—Required—Notice.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by any decision of the department affecting his or her legal rights, duties, or privileges must before he or she appeals to the courts, file with the director by mail or personally within sixty days from the day the decision was communicated to the person, a notice for a hearing before the director's designee. The notice of hearing shall set forth in full detail the grounds upon which the person considers the decision unjust or unlawful and shall include every issue to be considered by the department, and it must contain a detailed statement of facts upon which the person relies in support of the appeal. These persons shall be deemed to have waived all objections or irregularities concerning the matter on which the appeal is taken, other than those specifically set forth in the notice of hearing or appearing in the records of the retirement system.
RCW 41.04.035 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 035
RCW 41.04.035: Salary and wage deductions for contributions to charitable agencies—"United Fund" defined—Includes Washington state combined fund drive.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of RCW 41.04.035 and 41.04.036 "United Fund" means the organization conducting the single, annual, consolidated effort to secure funds for distribution to agencies engaged in charitable and public health, welfare and service purposes, which is commonly known as the United Fund or the Washington state combined fund drive.
RCW 41.05.028 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 028
RCW 41.05.028: Health plan reimbursement rates.
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this section: (a) "Contractor" means a health carrier that provides medical insurance offered to public employees and their covered dependents under this chapter, or a third-party administrator contracted by the authority to provide medical coverage to public employees under this chapter. (b) "The total amount medicare would have reimbursed for the same or similar services" means the amount of reimbursement for a claim that would be paid as if the centers for medicare and medicaid services reimbursed the claim, including applicable postclaim settlements. (2)(a) Claims submitted for reimbursement under this section must include all the current year centers for medicare and medicaid services required modifiers so that all rebates, incentives, or adjustments that would have applied if reimbursed by medicare apply. (b) The authority shall adopt rules to determine the equivalent amount of reimbursement for services with a low volume of medicare experience or for which there is no applicable centers for medicare and medicaid services reimbursement for a service. (3) Beginning January 1, 2027, each contractor, for its health plans that provide medical coverage offered to public employees and their covered dependents, must meet the following requirements: (a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, reimbursement to any in-network hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW located in Washington for inpatient and outpatient hospital services shall be the lesser of billed charges, the contractor's contracted rate for the hospital, or 200 percent of the total amount medicare would have reimbursed for the same or similar services; (b) Reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient hospital services to any in-network hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW primarily engaged in the care and treatment of children located in: (i) King county, shall be the lesser of billed charges, the contractor's contracted rate for the hospital, or 150 percent of the hospital-specific medicaid inpatient ratio of cost to charges as determined by the authority; and (ii) Pierce county, shall be the lesser of billed charges, the contractor's contracted rate for the hospital, or 190 percent of the hospital-specific medicaid inpatient ratio of cost to charges as determined by the authority; (c) Reimbursement for services provided by rural hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as critical access hospitals may not be less than 101 percent of allowable costs as defined by the United States centers for medicare and medicaid services for purposes of medicare cost reporting; (d) Reimbursement for in-network primary care services, as defined by the authority, may not be less than 150 percent of the total amount medicare would have reimbursed for the same or similar services; (e) Reimbursement for in-network nonfacility-based behavioral health services, as defined by the authority, may not be less than 150 percent of the total amount medicare would have reimbursed for the same or similar services; (f) Except as provided in (g) of this subsection, reimbursement to any out-of-network hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW located in Washington for inpatient and outpatient hospital services shall be the lesser of billed charges or 185 percent of the total amount medicare would have reimbursed for the same or similar services; (g) Reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient hospital services provided by a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW and located in Washington to any out-of-network hospital primarily engaged in the care and treatment of children located in: (i) King county, shall be the lesser of billed charges or 135 percent of the hospital-specific medicaid inpatient ratio of cost to charges as determined by the authority; and (ii) Pierce county, shall be the lesser of billed charges or 175 percent of the hospital-specific medicaid inpatient ratio of cost to charges as determined by the authority; and (h) A provider who is reimbursed in accordance with (f) or (g) of this subsection may not charge to or collect from the patient or a person who is financially responsible for the patient an amount in addition to the reimbursement paid under (f) or (g) of this subsection other than cost-sharing amounts authorized by the terms of the health plan. (4) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section, this section does not apply to: (a) Rural hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as sole community hospitals or critical access hospitals except for hospitals that are owned or operated by a health system that owns or operates more than two acute care hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW; (b) Hospitals located on an island operating within a public hospital district in Skagit county; or (c) Hospitals that are not currently designated as a critical access hospital, do not meet current federal eligibility requirements for designation as a critical access hospital, have combined medicaid and medicare inpatient days greater than 60 percent of all hospital inpatient days, and are located on the land of a federally recognized Indian tribe. (5) Nothing in this section prohibits a contractor from reimbursing a hospital through a nonfee-for-service payment methodology, so long as the payments incentivize higher quality or improved health outcomes and the contractor continues to comply with the reimbursement requirements in this section. (6) Premiums must take into account changes in reimbursement for hospital, primary care, and behavioral health services anticipated to result from the application of this section. (7) At the request of the authority for monitoring, enforcement, or program and quality improvement activities, a contractor must provide cost and quality of care information and data to the authority and may not enter into an agreement with a provider or third party that would restrict the contractor from providing this information or data. (8)(a) By December 31, 2030, the authority, in consultation with the office of the insurance commissioner, shall provide a report to the governor's office and relevant committees of the legislature analyzing the initial impacts of this section on network access, enrollee premiums and cost sharing, and state expenditures for medical coverage offered to public employees under this chapter. The report may include recommendations for legislative changes to the policy established in this section. (b) By December 31, 2034, the authority, in consultation with the office of the insurance commissioner, shall provide a second report to the governor's office and relevant committees of the legislature providing an updated analysis on the impacts of this section on network access, enrollee premiums and cost sharing, and state expenditures for medical coverage offered to public employees under this chapter. The report may include recommendations for legislative changes to the policy established in this section. (9) For the purposes of this section, reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient services does not include charges for professional services. (10) The authority may adopt rules to implement this section, including rules for levying fines and taking other contract actions it deems necessary to enforce compliance with this section.
RCW 41.04.205 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 205
RCW 41.04.205: Participation of county, municipal, and other political subdivision employees in state employees' insurance or self-insurance and health care program—Transfer procedure.
Status: in_force

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(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 41.04.180 , the employees, with their dependents, of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall be eligible to participate in any insurance or self-insurance program for employees administered under chapter 41.05 RCW if the legislative authority of any such county, municipality, or other political subdivisions of this state determines, subject to collective bargaining under applicable statutes, a transfer to an insurance or self-insurance program administered under chapter 41.05 RCW should be made. In the event of a special district employee transfer pursuant to this section, members of the governing authority shall be eligible to be included in such transfer if such members are authorized by law as of June 25, 1976 to participate in the insurance program being transferred from and subject to payment by such members of all costs of insurance for members. (2) When the legislative authority of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision determines to so transfer, the state health care authority shall: (a) Establish the conditions for participation; and (b) Have the sole right to reject the application, except a group application from a county or other political subdivision of the state with fewer than five thousand employees must be approved. Approval of the application by the state health care authority shall effect a transfer of the employees involved to the insurance, self-insurance, or health care program applied for. (3) Any application of this section to members of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system under chapter 41.26 RCW is subject to chapter 41.56 RCW. (4) Until December 31, 2019, school districts may voluntarily transfer to the public employees' benefits board, except that all eligible employees in a bargaining unit of a school district may transfer only as a unit and all nonrepresented employees in a district may transfer only as a unit.
RCW 41.04.220 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 220
RCW 41.04.220: Department of enterprise services to procure health benefit programs—Other governmental entities may use services.
Status: in_force

Any governmental entity other than state agencies , may use the services of the department of enterprise services upon the approval of the director , in procuring health benefit programs as provided by RCW 41.04.180 , 28A.400.350 and 28B.10.660 : PROVIDED, That the department of enterprise services may charge for the administrative cost incurred in the procuring of such services.
RCW 41.32.035 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 035
RCW 41.32.035: Employer contribution rates—Computation and payment.
Status: in_force

The amount paid by each employer shall be computed by applying the rates established under chapter 41.45 RCW to the total earnable compensation of the employer's members as shown on the current payrolls of the employer. The employer's contribution shall be paid at the end of each month in the amount due for that month, except as provided in RCW 41.32.013 .
RCW 41.04.230 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 230
RCW 41.04.230: Payroll deductions authorized.
Status: in_force

Any official of the state authorized to disburse funds in payment of salaries and wages of public officers or employees is authorized, upon written request of the officer or employee, to deduct from the salaries or wages of the officers or employees, the amount or amounts of subscription payments, premiums, contributions, or continuation thereof, for payment of the following: (1) Credit union deductions: PROVIDED, That twenty-five or more employees of a single state agency or a total of one hundred or more state employees of several agencies have authorized such a deduction for payment to the same credit union. An agency may, in its own discretion, establish a minimum participation requirement of fewer than twenty-five employees. (2) Parking fee deductions: PROVIDED, That payment is made for parking facilities furnished by the agency or by the department of enterprise services. Deductions shall be pretax, to the extent possible, for qualified parking and transit benefits as allowed under the federal internal revenue code. (3) U.S. savings bond deductions: PROVIDED, That a person within the particular agency shall be appointed to act as trustee. The trustee will receive all contributions; purchase and deliver all bond certificates; and keep such records and furnish such bond or security as will render full accountability for all bond contributions. (4) Board, lodging or uniform deductions when such board, lodging and uniforms are furnished by the state, or deductions for academic tuitions or fees or scholarship contributions payable to the employing institution. (5) Dues and other fees deductions: PROVIDED, That the deduction is for payment of membership dues to any professional organization formed primarily for public employees or college and university professors: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That twenty-five or more employees of a single state agency, or a total of one hundred or more state employees of several agencies have authorized such a deduction for payment to the same professional organization. (6) Labor, employee, or retiree organization dues, and voluntary employee contributions to any funds, committees, or subsidiary organizations maintained by labor, employee, or retiree organizations, may be deducted in the event that a payroll deduction is not provided under a collective bargaining agreement under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW: PROVIDED, That each labor, employee, or retiree organization chooses only one fund for voluntary employee contributions: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That twenty-five or more officers or employees of a single agency, or a total of one hundred or more officers or employees of several agencies have authorized such a deduction for payment to the same labor, employee, or retiree organization: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That labor, employee, or retiree organizations with five hundred or more members in state government may have payroll deduction for employee benefit programs. (7) Insurance contributions to the authority for payment of premiums under contracts authorized by the state health care authority. However, enrollment or assignment by the state health care authority to participate in a health care benefit plan, as required by RCW 41.05.065 (8), shall authorize a payroll deduction of premium contributions without a written consent under the terms and conditions established by the public employees' benefits board. (8) Deductions to a bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association if (a) the bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association is authorized to do business in this state; and (b) twenty-five or more employees of a single agency, or fewer, if a lesser number is established by such agency, or a total of one hundred or more state employees of several agencies have authorized a deduction for payment to the same bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association. Deductions from salaries and wages of public officers and employees other than those enumerated in this section or by other law, may be authorized by the director of financial management for purposes clearly related to state employment or goals and objectives of the agency and for plans authorized by the state health care authority. (9) Contributions to the Washington state combined fund drive. The authority to make deductions from the salaries and wages of public officers and employees as provided for in this section shall be in addition to such other authority as may be provided by law: PROVIDED, That the state or any department, division, or separate agency of the state shall not be liable to any insurance carrier or contractor for the failure to make or transmit any such deduction.
RCW 41.32.795 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 795
RCW 41.32.795: Application for and effective date of retirement allowances.
Status: in_force

Any member or beneficiary eligible to receive a retirement allowance under the provisions of RCW 41.32.765 , 41.32.790 , or 41.32.805 shall be eligible to commence receiving a retirement allowance after having filed written application with the department. (1) Retirement allowances paid to members under the provisions of RCW 41.32.765 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such member's separation from employment. (2) Retirement allowances paid to vested members no longer in service, but qualifying for such an allowance pursuant to RCW 41.32.765 , shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such qualification. (3) Disability allowances paid to disabled members under the provisions of RCW 41.32.790 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such member's separation from employment for disability. (4) Retirement allowances paid as death benefits under the provisions of RCW 41.32.805 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the member's death.
RCW 41.24.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 010
RCW 41.24.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Administrative fund" means the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' administrative fund created under RCW 41.24.030 . (2) "Appropriate legislation" means an ordinance when an ordinance is the means of legislating by any municipality, and resolution in all other cases. (3) "Board of trustees" or "local board" means: (a) For matters affecting firefighters, a firefighter board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.060 ; (b) for matters affecting an emergency worker, an emergency medical service district board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.330 ; or (c) for matters affecting reserve officers, a reserve officer board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.460 . (4) "Emergency worker" means any emergency medical service personnel, regulated by chapters 18.71 and 18.73 RCW, who is a member of an emergency medical service district but shall not include emergency medical service personnel who are eligible for participation in the Washington public employees' retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity. (5) "Fire department" means any regularly organized fire department or emergency medical service district consisting wholly of volunteer firefighters, or any part-paid and part-volunteer fire department duly organized and maintained by any municipality: PROVIDED, That any such municipality wherein a part-paid fire department is maintained may by appropriate legislation permit the full-paid members of its department to come under the provisions of chapter 41.16 RCW. (6) "Firefighter" includes any firefighter or emergency worker who is a member of any fire department of any municipality but shall not include firefighters who are eligible for participation in the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system or the Washington public employees' retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity. (7) "Municipal corporation" or "municipality" includes any county, city, town or combination thereof, fire protection district, local law enforcement agency, or any emergency medical service district or other special district, authorized by law to protect life or property within its boundaries through a fire department, emergency workers, or reserve officers. (8) "Participant" means: (a) For the volunteer firefighters' plan: (i) For purposes of relief, any firefighter or emergency worker; and (ii) For purposes of retirement pension, any firefighter or emergency worker who is or may become eligible to receive a benefit of any type under the retirement provisions of this chapter, or whose beneficiary may be eligible to receive any such benefit; and (b) For the reserve officers' plan: (i) For purposes of relief, any reserve officer who is or may become eligible for relief under this chapter; and (ii) For purposes of retirement pension, any reserve officer who is or may become eligible to receive a benefit of any type under the retirement provisions of this chapter, or whose beneficiary may be eligible to receive any such benefitAll bills, claims and demands for military purposes shall be certified or verified and audited in the manner prescribed by regulations promulgated by the governor and shall be paid by the state treasurer from funds available for that purpose. In all cases where the organized militia, or any part of the organized militia, is called into active state service to perform duties under RCW 38.08.040 , except for anticipated planning, training, exercises, and other administrative duties that are not of an emergent nature, warrants for allowed pay and expenses for such services or compensation for injuries or death shall be drawn upon the general fund of the state treasury and paid out of any moneys in said fund not otherwise appropriated. All such warrants shall be the obligation of the state and shall bear interest at the legal rate from the date of their presentation for payment. Claims and expenses for organized militia in active state service under RCW 38.08.040 that are not paid under this section may be paid under RCW 38.40.220 .benefit; and (b) For the reserve officers' plan: (i) For purposes of relief, any reserve officer who is or may become eligible for relief under this chapter; and (ii) For purposes of retirement pension, any reserve officer who is or may become eligible to receive a benefit of any type under the retirement provisions of this chapter, or whose beneficiary may be eligible to receive any such benefit. (9) "Performance of duty" or "performance of service" shall be construed to mean and include any work in and about company quarters, any fire station, any law enforcement office or precinct, or any other place under the direction or general orders of the chief or other officer having authority to order such member to perform such work; performing other officially assigned duties that are secondary to his or her duties as a firefighter, emergency worker, or reserve officer such as maintenance, public education, inspections, investigations, court testimony, and fund-raising for the benefit of the department; being on call or on standby under the orders of the chief or designated officer of the department, except at the individual's home or place of business; responding to, working at, or returning from an alarm of fire, emergency call, or law enforcement duties; drill or training; or any work performed of an emergency nature in accordance with the rules and regulations of the fire department or local law enforcement agency. (10) "Principal fund" means either the volunteer firefighters' relief and pension principal fund created under RCW 41.24.030 or the reserve officers' relief and pension principal fund created in RCW 41.24.030 (2). (11) "Relief" means all medical, death, and disability benefits available under this chapter that are made necessary from death, sickness, injury, or disability arising in the performance of duty, including benefits provided under RCW 41.24.110 , 41.24.150 , 41.24.160 , 41.24.175 , 41.24.220 , and 41.24.230 , but does not include retirement pensions provided under this chapter. (12) "Reserve officer" means the same as defined by the Washington state criminal justice training commission under chapter 43.101 RCW, but shall not include enforcement officers who are eligible for participation in the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system or the Washington public employees' retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity. (13) "Retired participant" means any participant who is at least sixty-five years of age and has been retired by the board of trustees under RCW 41.24.170 and has been in receipt of a monthly pension for no less than three months. (14) "Retirement pension" means retirement payments for the performance of service, as provided under RCW 41.24.170 , 41.24.172 , 41.24.175 , 41.24.180 , and 41.24.185 . (15) "State board" means the state board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers.
RCW 41.59.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 170
RCW 41.59.170: Effective date of certain agreements—Increased benefits during agreement authorized, when.
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and an exclusive bargaining representative is concluded after the termination date of the previous collective bargaining agreement between the employer and an employee organization representing the same employees, the effective date of such collective bargaining agreement may be the day after the termination date of the previous collective bargaining agreement and all benefits included in the new collective bargaining agreement, including wage or salary increases, may accrue beginning with such effective date as established by this subsection, and may also accrue beginning with the effective date of any individual employee contracts affected thereby. (2) Any collective bargaining agreement may provide for the increase of any wages, salaries and other benefits during the term of such agreement or the term of any individual employee contracts concerned, in the event that the employer receives by increased appropriation or from other sources, additional moneys for such purposes.
RCW 41.37.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 080
RCW 41.37.080: Employer's contribution—Computation—Billing.
Status: in_force

(1) The director shall report to each employer the contribution rates required for the ensuing biennium or fiscal year, whichever is applicable. (2) Beginning July 1, 2006, the amount to be collected as the employer's contribution shall be computed by applying the applicable rates established in chapter 41.45 RCW to the total compensation earnable of employer's members as shown on the current payrolls of the employer. Each employer shall compute at the end of each month the amount due for that month and the same shall be paid as are its other obligations. (3) In the event of failure, for any reason, of an employer other than a political subdivision of the state to have remitted amounts due for membership service of any of the employer's members rendered during a prior biennium, the director shall bill that employer for the employer's contribution together with the charges the director deems appropriate in accordance with RCW 41.50.120 . This billing shall be paid by the employer as, and the same shall be, a proper charge against any moneys available or appropriated to the employer for payment of current biennial payrolls.
RCW 41.45.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 050
RCW 41.45.050: Contributions to be based on rates established in this chapter—Allocation formula for contributions.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL ) ***

(1) Employers of members of the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, the public safety employees' retirement system, the Washington state patrol retirement system, and the higher education retirement plans shall make contributions to those systems and plans based on the rates established in RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.070 . (2) The state shall make contributions to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 based on the rates established in RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.070 . The state treasurer shall transfer the required contributions each month on the basis of salary data provided by the department. (3) The department shall bill employers, and the state shall make contributions to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2, using the combined rates established in RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.070 regardless of the level of appropriation provided in the biennial budget. Any member of an affected retirement system may, by mandamus or other appropriate proceeding, require the transfer and payment of funds as directed in this section. (4) The contributions received for the public employees' retirement system shall be allocated between the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund and the public employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund as follows: The contributions necessary to fully fund the public employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 employer contribution shall first be deposited in the public employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund. All remaining public employees' retirement system employer contributions shall be deposited in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund. (5) The contributions received for the teachers' retirement system shall be allocated between the plan 1 fund and the combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund as follows: The contributions necessary to fully fund the combined plan 2 and plan 3 employer contribution shall first be deposited in the combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund. All remaining teachers' retirement system employer contributions shall be deposited in the plan 1 fund. (6) The contributions received for the school employees' retirement system shall be allocated between the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund and the school employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund as follows: The contributions necessary to fully fund the combined plan 2 and plan 3 employer contribution shall first be deposited in the combined plan 2 and plan 3 fund. All remaining school employees' retirement system employer contributions shall be deposited in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund. (7) The contributions received for the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 shall be deposited in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 fund. (8) The contributions received for the public safety employees' retirement system shall be allocated between the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund and the public safety employees' retirement system plan 2 fund as follows: The contributions necessary to fully fund the plan 2 employer contribution shall first be deposited in the plan 2 fund. All remaining public safety employees' retirement system employer contributions shall be deposited in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 fund. (9) The contributions received for the higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund shall be deposited in the higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund and amounts received from each institution accounted for separately and shall only be used to make benefit payments to the beneficiaries of that institution's plan.
RCW 41.37.902 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 902
RCW 41.37.902: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 41.32.817 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 817
RCW 41.32.817: Transfer to plan 3—Irrevocable option.
Status: in_force

(1) Every plan 2 member employed by an employer in an eligible position may make an irrevocable option to transfer to plan 3. (2) Any plan 2 member who is a substitute teacher may make an irrevocable option to transfer to plan 3 at the time the member purchases substitute service credit pursuant to RCW 41.32.013 , pursuant to time lines and procedures established by the department. (3) Any plan 2 member, other than a substitute teacher, who wishes to transfer to plan 3 after December 31, 1997, may transfer during the month of January in any following year, provided that the member earns service credit for that month. (4) All service credit in plan 2 shall be transferred to the defined benefit portion of plan 3. (5) The accumulated contributions in plan 2 less fifty percent of any contributions made pursuant to RCW 41.50.165 (2) shall be transferred to the member's account in the defined contribution portion established in chapter 41.34 RCW, pursuant to procedures developed by the department and subject to RCW 41.34.090 . Contributions made pursuant to RCW 41.50.165 (2) that are not transferred to the member's account shall be transferred to the fund created in RCW 41.50.075 (2), except that interest earned on all such contributions shall be transferred to the member's account. (6) The legislature reserves the right to discontinue the right to transfer under this section. (7) Anyone previously retired from plan 2 is prohibited from transferring to plan 3.
RCW 41.18.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 080
RCW 41.18.080: Payment upon disablement not in line of duty.
Status: in_force

Any firefighter who has completed his or her probationary period and has been permanently appointed, and sustains a disability not in the performance of his or her duty which renders him or her unable to continue his or her service, may request to be retired by filing a written request with his or her retirement board within sixty days from the date of his or her disability. The board may, upon such request being filed, consult such medical advice as it deems fit and proper. If the board finds the firefighter capable of performing his or her duties, it may refuse to recommend retirement and order the firefighter back to duty. If no request for retirement has been received after the expiration of sixty days from the date of his or her disability, the board may recommend retirement of the firefighter. The board shall give the firefighter a thirty-day written notice of its recommendation, and he or she shall be retired upon expiration of said notice. Upon retirement he or she shall receive a pension equal to fifty percent of his or her basic salary. For a period of ninety days following such disability the firefighter shall receive an allowance from the fund equal to his or her basic salary. He or she shall during said ninety days be provided with such medical, hospital, and nursing care as the board deems proper. No funds shall be expended for such disability if the board determines that the firefighter was gainfully employed or engaged for compensation in other than fire department duty when the disability occurred, or if such disability was the result of dissipation or abuse. Whenever any firefighter shall die as a result of a disability sustained not in the line of duty, his widow or her widower shall receive a monthly pension equal to one-third of his or her basic salary; if such widow or widower has dependent upon her or him for support a child or children of such deceased firefighter, he or she shall receive an additional pension as follows: One child, one-eighth of the deceased's basic salary; two children, one-seventh; three or more children, one-sixth. If there be no widow or widower, monthly payments equal to one-third of the deceased firefighter's basic salary shall be made to his or her child or children. The widow or widower may elect at any time in writing to receive a cash settlement, and if the board after hearing finds it financially beneficial to the pension fund, he or she may receive the sum of five thousand dollars cash in lieu of all future monthly pension payments, and other benefits, including benefits to any child and/or children.
RCW 41.40.787 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 787
RCW 41.40.787: Right to waive benefit—Irrevocable choice.
Status: in_force

Any member receiving or having received a distribution under chapter 41.34 RCW may make an irrevocable choice to waive all rights to a benefit under RCW 41.40.790 by notifying the department in writing of their intention.
RCW 41.60.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 60 / Section 020
RCW 41.60.020: Employee suggestion program—Rules for administration of chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) The board shall formulate, establish, and maintain a statewide employee suggestion program and adopt rules to allow for agency unique suggestion programs. Employee suggestion programs are developed to encourage and reward meritorious suggestions by state employees that will promote efficiency and economy in the performance of any function of state government: PROVIDED, That the program shall include provisions for the processing of suggestions having multiagency impact and post-implementation auditing of suggestions for fiscal accountability. (2) The board shall adopt rules necessary or appropriate for the proper administration and for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter. These rules shall include the adoption of a payment award schedule that establishes the criteria for determining the amounts of any financial or other awards under this chapter. (3) The board shall prepare a topical list of all the productivity awards granted and disseminate this information to the legislature and all state government agencies that may be able to adapt them to their procedures.
RCW 41.26.805 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 805
RCW 41.26.805: Local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account—Creation—Use—Administration—Investments.
Status: in_force

(1) The local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account (benefits account) is created within the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 fund. (2) The funds in the benefits account shall not be included by the actuary retained by the board in the calculation of the market value of assets of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 fund until the board directs the actuary retained by the board in writing to do so for purposes of financing benefits enacted by the legislature. The board shall, in consultation with the state investment board and within ninety days of the transfer of funds into the benefits account, provide the actuary retained by the board, in writing, the market value of the amount directed from the benefits account for inclusion in the calculation of the market value of assets of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 fund. The market value of the amount directed from the benefits account shall be an amount determined by the state actuary to sufficiently offset the unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities of benefit improvements financed from this account. The market value of the amount directed from the benefits account shall be determined as of the date of the direction from the board to include this amount for purposes of financing benefits enacted by the legislature. (3) The law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board shall administer the fund in an actuarially sound manner. (4) The state investment board has the full power to invest, reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in the benefits account. The state investment board is authorized to adopt investment policies for the money in the benefits account. All investment and operating costs associated with the investment of money within the benefits account shall be paid pursuant to RCW 43.33A.160 and 43.84.160 . With the exception of these expenses, the earnings from the investment of the money shall be retained by the benefits account. (5) All investments made by the state investment board shall be made with the exercise of that degree of judgment and care pursuant to RCW 43.33A.140 and the investment policy established by the state investment board. (6) When appropriate for investment purposes, the state investment board may commingle money in the fund with other funds. (7) The authority to establish all policies relating to the benefits account, other than the investment policies set forth in this section, resides with the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board. Other than investments by and expenses of the state investment board, disbursements from this fund may be made only on the authorization of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board for purposes of funding the member, employer, and state cost of financing benefits enacted by the legislature. (8) The state investment board shall routinely consult with and communicate with the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board on the investment policy, earnings of the trust, and related needs of the benefits account. (9) Funds in the benefits account cannot be used to finance future benefit improvements if the state actuary determines that the actuarial present value of fully projected benefits for current and future members for all benefits being financed from this account exceeds the actuarial present value of the revenue provided under RCW 41.26.802 and the accrued earnings of the benefits account. When making the determination under this subsection, the state actuary shall select assumptions and methods to reduce the risk that the actual revenue received is less than the assumed revenue.
RCW 41.44.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 900
RCW 41.44.900: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 41.45.0631 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 0631
RCW 41.45.0631: Washington state patrol retirement system—Contribution rates—Allocation of costs.
Status: in_force

(1) The allocation of costs between the employer and members of the Washington state patrol retirement system shall be made only after the application of any minimum total contribution rate that may be in effect for the system under subsection (4) of this section. For benefit improvements effective on or after July 1, 2007, costs shall be shared equally by members and the employer, and any cap on member contributions shall be adjusted accordingly. The member contribution rate shall be based on the adjusted total contribution rate described in subsection (2) of this section. Beginning July 1, 2007, the required member contribution rate for members of the Washington state patrol retirement system shall be the lesser of the following: (a) One-half of the adjusted total contribution rate for the system; or (b) seven percent, plus fifty percent of the contribution rate increase caused by any benefit improvements effective on or after July 1, 2007. (2) The employer shall continue to pay for all costs attributable to distributions under RCW 43.43.270 (2) for survivors of members who became disabled under RCW 43.43.040 (2) prior to July 1, 2006, until such costs are fully paid. In order to avoid charging members for these costs, the total required contribution rate shall be adjusted to exclude these costs. The result of the adjustment shall be the adjusted total contribution rate that is to be used to calculate the required member contribution rate. (3) The employer rate shall be the contribution rate required to cover all total system costs that are not covered by the member contribution rate. (4) Beginning July 1, 2009, a minimum total contribution rate is established for the Washington state patrol retirement system. The total Washington state patrol retirement system contribution rate may exceed, but may not drop below, the established minimum total contribution rate. From July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, the minimum total contribution rate shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund fifty percent of the Washington state patrol retirement system's normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. Beginning July 1, 2011, the minimum total contribution rate shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund seventy percent of the Washington state patrol retirement system's normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. This minimum rate, when applicable, shall be collected in addition to any contribution rate required to amortize any unfunded costs attributable to distributions under RCW 43.43.270 (2) for survivors of members who became disabled under RCW 43.43.040 (2) prior to July 1, 2006. (5) Upon completion of each biennial actuarial valuation, the state actuary shall review the appropriateness of this minimum total contribution rate and recommend to the council any adjustments as may be needed. Any changes adopted by the council shall be subject to revision by the legislature. (6) The legislature recognizes the short-term volatility of projected employer contribution rates for the Washington state patrol retirement system and intends to phase-in the increase in contribution rates from the 2017-2019 biennium to the 2019-2021 biennium over three successive biennia. The phase-in shall be calculated by the state actuary and shall not result in an expected funding shortfall when measured over the entire phase-in period. Consistent with this intent, the legislature revises the basic employer contribution rate for the Washington state patrol retirement system from 22.13 percent to 17.5 percent during the 2019-2021 biennium. By June 30, 2020, the state actuary shall calculate and report to the council the expected change to the basic employer contribution rates for the 2021-2023 and 2023-2025 biennia that continue this phase-in.
RCW 41.05A.140 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05A / Section 140
RCW 41.05A.140: Employer required to honor assignment of earnings.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department employing a person owing a debt for overpayment of assistance received shall honor, according to its terms, a duly executed assignment of earnings presented to the employer by the director as a plan to satisfy or retire an overpayment debt. This requirement to honor the assignment of earnings is applicable whether the earnings are to be paid presently or in the future and continues in force and effect until released in writing by the director. Payment of moneys pursuant to an assignment of earnings presented to the employer by the director serves as full acquittance under any contract of employment, and the state warrants and represents it shall defend and hold harmless such action taken pursuant to the assignment of earnings. The director is released from liability for improper receipt of moneys under assignment of earnings upon return of any moneys so received.
RCW 41.04.278 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 278
RCW 41.04.278: Select committee on pension policy—Subcommittees.
Status: in_force

(1) The select committee on pension policy may form three function-specific subcommittees, as set forth under subsection (2) of this section, from the members under RCW 41.04.276 (1) (a) through (e), as follows: (a) A public safety subcommittee with one member from each group under RCW 41.04.276 (1) (a) through (e); (b) An education subcommittee with one member from each group under RCW 41.04.276 (1) (a) through (e); and (c) A state and local government subcommittee, with one retiree member under RCW 41.04.276 (1)(d) and two members from each group under RCW 41.04.276 (1) (a) through (c) and (e). The retiree members may serve on more than one subcommittee to ensure representation on each subcommittee. (2)(a) The public safety subcommittee shall focus on pension issues affecting public safety employees who are members of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters', public safety employees', and Washington state patrol retirement systems. (b) The education subcommittee shall focus on pension issues affecting educational employees who are members of the public employees', teachers', and school employees' retirement systems. (c) The state and local government subcommittee shall focus on pension issues affecting state and local government employees who are members of the public employees' retirement system.
RCW 41.06.410 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 410
RCW 41.06.410: Agency training and career development plans—Budget.
Status: in_force

Each agency subject to the provisions of this chapter shall: (1) Prepare an employee training and career development plan which shall at least meet minimum standards established by the department of enterprise services; (2) Provide for training and career development for its employees in accordance with the agency plan; (3) Budget for training and career development in accordance with procedures of the office of financial management.
RCW 41.08.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 040
RCW 41.08.040: Organization of commission—Secretary—Powers and duties of commission.
Status: in_force

Immediately after appointment the commission shall organize by electing one of its members chair and hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of their duties. They shall appoint a secretary and chief examiner, who shall keep the records of the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. The secretary and chief examiner shall be appointed as a result of competitive examination which examination may be either original and open to all properly qualified citizens of the city, town or municipality, or promotional and limited to persons already in the service of the fire department or of the fire department and other departments of said city, town or municipality, as the commission may decide. The secretary and chief examiner may be subject to suspension, reduction or discharge in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as are provided in the case of members of the fire department. It shall be the duty of the civil service commission: (1) To make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held, and appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions and discharges shall be made, and may also provide for any other matters connected with the general subject of personnel administration, and which may be considered desirable to further carry out the general purposes of this chapter, or which may be found to be in the interest of good personnel administration. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereof shall be printed, mimeographed or multigraphed for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time. (2) All tests shall be practical, and shall consist only of subjects which will fairly determine the capacity of persons examined to perform duties of the position to which appointment is to be made, and may include tests of physical fitness and/or of manual skill. (3) The rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall provide for a credit in accordance with RCW 41.04.010 in favor of all applicants for appointment under civil service, who, in time of war, or in any expedition of the armed forces of the United States, have served in and been discharged from the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, and marine corps and the American Red Cross, with a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 . These credits apply to entrance examinations only. (4) The commission shall make investigations concerning and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder; inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions and employments affected by this chapter, and ascertain whether this chapter and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed. Such investigations may be made by the commission or by any commissioner designated by the commission for that purpose. Not only must these investigations be made by the commission as aforesaid, but the commission must make like investigation on petition of a citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation the commission or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production by them of books, papers, documents and accounts appertaining to the investigation and also to cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court; and the oaths administered hereunder and the subpoenas issued hereunder shall have the same force and effect as the oaths administered by a superior court judge in his or her judicial capacity; and the failure upon the part of any person so subpoenaed to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and punishable as such. (5) All hearings and investigations before the commission, or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall be governed by this chapter and by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the commission, and in the conduct thereof neither the commission, nor designated commissioner shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission or designated commissioner, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved or confirmed by the commission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no order, decision, rule or regulation made by any designated commissioner conducting any hearing or investigation alone shall be of any force or effect whatsoever unless and until concurred in by at least one of the other two members. (6) To hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the administrative work of the personnel department; appeals upon the allocation of positions; the rejection of an examination, and such other matters as may be referred to the commission. (7) Establish and maintain in card or other suitable form a roster of officers and employees. (8) Provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position and as a result thereof establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions, and to provide that persons laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like causes, head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed. (9) When a vacant position is to be filled, to certify to the appointing authority, on written request, the name of the person highest on the eligible list for the class. If there are no such lists, to authorize provisional or temporary appointment list of such class. Such temporary or provisional appointment shall not continue for a period longer than four months; nor shall any person receive more than one provisional appointment or serve more than four months as a provisional appointee in any one fiscal year. (10) Keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.
RCW 41.80.001 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 001
RCW 41.80.001: Application of chapter.
Status: in_force

Collective bargaining negotiations under this chapter shall commence no later than July 1, 2004. A collective bargaining agreement entered into under this chapter shall not be effective prior to July 1, 2005. However, any collective bargaining agreement entered into before July 1, 2004, covering employees affected by this section and RCW 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 , that expires after July 1, 2004, shall, unless a superseding agreement complying with this section and RCW 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 is negotiated by the parties, remain in full force during its duration, but the agreement may not be renewed or extended beyond July 1, 2005, or until superseded by a collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section and RCW 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 , whichever is later. The duration of any collective bargaining agreement under this chapter shall not exceed one fiscal biennium.
RCW 41.76.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 030
RCW 41.76.030: Settlement of unresolved matters—Role of commission—Mediation—Other procedures authorized.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission shall conduct mediation activities upon the request of either party as a means of assisting in the settlement of unresolved matters considered under this chapter. (2) If any matter being jointly considered by the exclusive bargaining representative and the board of regents or trustees is not settled by the means provided in this chapter, either party may request the assistance and advice of the commission. Nothing in this section prohibits an employer and an employee organization from agreeing to substitute, at their own expense, some other impasse procedure or other means of resolving matters considered under this chapter.
RCW 41.06.086 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 086
RCW 41.06.086: Washington state school directors' association—Certain personnel exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

In addition to the exemptions set forth in RCW 41.06.070 , the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to officers and employees of the Washington state school directors' association.
RCW 41.04.720 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 720
RCW 41.04.720: Employee assistance program—Director of enterprise services—Duties.
Status: in_force

The director of enterprise services shall: (1) Administer the state employee assistance program to assist employees who have personal problems that adversely affect their job performance or have the potential of doing so; (2) Develop policies, procedures, and activities for the program; (3) Encourage and promote the voluntary use of the employee assistance program by increasing employee awareness and disseminating educational materials; (4) Provide technical assistance and training to agencies on how to use the employee assistance program; (5) Assist and encourage supervisors to identify and refer employees with problems that impair their performance by incorporating proper use of the program in management training, management performance criteria, ongoing communication with agencies, and other appropriate means; (6) Offer substance abuse prevention and awareness activities to be provided through the employee assistance program and the state employee wellness program; (7) Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the program, including the collection, analysis, and publication of relevant statistical information; and (8) Consult with state agencies, institutions of higher education, and employee organizations in carrying out the purposes of RCW 41.04.700 through 41.04.730 .
RCW 41.24.800 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 800
RCW 41.24.800: Payment of tax liability—2023 c 73.
Status: in_force

(1) Any tax liability accruing to members or beneficiaries of a plan that results directly from chapter 73, Laws of 2023 will be paid by the appropriate principal funds. (2) The state board may by rule establish a process that ensures tax penalties are paid by the principal fund for the appropriate plan. This process should be designed in coordination with tax counsel to ensure that any claims are valid, and that members and beneficiaries are impacted as little as reasonably possible.
RCW 41.50.620 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 620
RCW 41.50.620: Mandatory assignment of retirement benefits—Order—Service.
Status: in_force

(1) Service of the mandatory benefits assignment order on the department is invalid unless it is served with four answer forms in conformance with RCW 41.50.610 , together with stamped envelopes addressed to, respectively, the clerk of the court where the order was issued, the obligee's attorney or the obligee, and the obligor at the last mailing address known to the obligee. The obligee shall also include an extra copy of the mandatory benefits assignment order for the department to mail to the obligor. Service on the department shall be in person or by any form of mail requiring a return receipt. (2) On or before the date of service of the mandatory benefits assignment order on the department, the obligee shall mail or cause to be mailed by certified or registered mail a copy of the mandatory benefits assignment order to the obligor at the obligor's last mailing address known to the obligee; or, in the alternative, a copy of the mandatory benefits assignment order shall be served on the obligor in the same manner as a summons in a civil action on, before, or within two days after the date of service of the order on the department. This requirement is not jurisdictional, but if the copy is not mailed or served as this subsection requires, or if any irregularity appears with respect to the mailing or service, the superior court, in its discretion, may quash the mandatory benefits assignment order, upon motion of the obligor promptly made and supported by an affidavit showing that the obligor has been prejudiced due to the failure to mail or serve the copy.
RCW 41.20.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 040
RCW 41.20.040: Additional powers of board.
Status: in_force

The board shall, in addition to other powers herein granted, have power: (1) To compel witnesses to attend and testify before it upon all matters connected with the administration of this chapter, in the same manner as provided by law for the taking of testimony in courts of record in this state, and its president or any member of the board may administer oaths to such witnesses. (2) To provide for the payment from the fund of all necessary expenses and printing. No compensation or emolument shall be paid to any member of the board for any duty required or performed under this chapter. Each board may make all needful rules and regulations for its guidance in the administration of and in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.44.060 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 060
RCW 41.44.060: Persons excluded.
Status: in_force

Police officers in first-class cities and all city firefighters shall be excluded from the provisions of this chapter, except those employees of the fire department who are not eligible to the benefits of any firefighters' pension system established by or pursuant to state law, and who shall be included in the miscellaneous personnel.
RCW 41.45.0621 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 0621
RCW 41.45.0621: Plan 1 unfunded accrued actuarial liabilities—Contributions in addition to RCW 41.45.062—Intent.
Status: in_force

(1) It is the intent of the legislature to provide for the systematic funding of the plan 1 unfunded accrued actuarial liabilities in a manner that promotes contribution rate adequacy and stability for the affected systems. The rates established in this section shall be collected in addition to the rates established pursuant to RCW 41.45.062 . (2) Beginning September 1, 2006, a 1.29 percent contribution is established as part of the basic state and employer contribution rate for the teachers' retirement system, to be used for the sole purpose of amortizing the unfunded accrued actuarial liability in the teachers' retirement system plan 1. (3) Beginning September 1, 2006, a 0.87 percent contribution is established as part of the basic state and employer contribution rate for the school employees' retirement system, to be used for the sole purpose of amortizing the unfunded accrued actuarial liability in the public employees' retirement system plan 1. (4) Beginning January 1, 2007, a 1.77 percent contribution is established as part of the basic state and employer contribution rate for the public employees' retirement system and the public safety employees' retirement system, to be used for the sole purpose of amortizing the unfunded accrued actuarial liability in the public employees' retirement system plan 1. (5) The contribution rates in this section shall be collected through June 30, 2007, for the public employees' retirement system and the public safety employees' retirement system and August 31, 2007, for the teachers' retirement system and the school employees' retirement system. (6) Upon completion of the 2005 actuarial valuation, the pension funding council and the state actuary shall review the contribution rates for the plan 1 unfunded actuarial accrued liability for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009 and by September 30, 2006, the pension funding council shall adopt contribution rates to complete the three-year phase-in schedule, adjusted for any material changes in benefits or actuarial assumptions, methods, and experience. The expected present value of projected contributions during the three-year phase-in period shall be the same as the expected present value of projected contributions that would have been collected without the phase-in, as determined by the state actuary and adjusted for any material changes in benefits or actuarial assumptions, methods, or experience.
RCW 41.04.899 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 899
RCW 41.04.899: Lawful permanent resident—Defined.
Status: in_force

"Lawful permanent resident" has the same meaning afforded a person "lawfully admitted for permanent residence" in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(20), as of June 7, 2018.
RCW 41.06.083 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 083
RCW 41.06.083: Law revision commission—Personnel exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to any position in or employee of the Washington law revision commission.
RCW 41.05.812 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 812
RCW 41.05.812: Prenatal substance exposure—Expanded treatment and services.
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall expand specific treatment and services to children and youth with prenatal substance exposure who would benefit from evidence-based services impacting their behavioral and physical health. (2) The authority shall contract for the services authorized in this section with behavioral health entities in a manner that allows leveraging of federal medicaid funds to pay for a portion of the costs. (3) The authority shall consult with the department of children, youth, and families in the implementation of the program and services authorized under this section.
RCW 41.40.062 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 062
RCW 41.40.062: Optional entry of system by political subdivisions or associations of political subdivisions—Procedure—School districts declared employers and eligible employees members of system—Exception.
Status: in_force

(1) The members and appointive and elective officials of any political subdivision or association of political subdivisions of the state may become members of the retirement system by the approval of the local legislative authority. (2) On and after September 1, 1965, every school district of the state of Washington shall be an employer under this chapter. Every member of each school district who is eligible for membership under RCW 41.40.023 shall be a member of the retirement system and participate on the same basis as a person who first becomes a member through the admission of any employer into the retirement system on and after April 1, 1949, except that after August 31, 2000, school districts will no longer be employers for the public employees' retirement system plan 2 or plan 3.
RCW 41.26.730 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 730
RCW 41.26.730: Joint committee on pension policy—Pension funding council.
Status: in_force

The joint committee on pension policy established in *RCW 44.44.050 , and the pension funding council created in RCW 41.45.100 , shall have no applicability or authority over matters relating to this plan.
RCW 41.32.4931 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 4931
RCW 41.32.4931: Additional special pension for former members not receiving social security.
Status: in_force

(1) The benefits provided under subsection (2) of this section shall be available only to former members who have reached age sixty-five or are disabled for further public school service and are not receiving federal old age, survivors or disability benefit payments (social security) and are not able to qualify for such benefits. (2) Effective July 1, 1987, former members who receive the minimum retirement allowance provided by RCW 41.32.485 (1) and who meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section shall receive an additional special pension of ten dollars per month per year of service credit.
RCW 41.05.036 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 036
RCW 41.05.036: Health information—Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 41.05.039 through 41.05.046 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Director" means the director of the state health care authority under this chapter. (2) "Exchange" means the methods or medium by which health care information may be electronically and securely exchanged among authorized providers, payors, and patients within Washington state. (3) "Health care provider" or "provider" has the same meaning as in RCW 48.43.005 . (4) "Health data provider" means an organization that is a primary source for health-related data for Washington residents, including but not limited to: (a) The children's health immunizations linkages and development profile immunization registry provided by the department of health pursuant to chapter 43.70 RCW; (b) Commercial laboratories providing medical laboratory testing results; (c) Prescription drugs clearinghouses, such as the national patient health information network; and (d) Diagnostic imaging centers. (5) "Lead organization" means a private sector organization or organizations designated by the director to lead development of processes, guidelines, and standards under chapter 300, Laws of 2009. (6) "Payor" means public purchasers, as defined in this section, carriers licensed under chapters 48.20 , 48.21, 48.44, 48.46, and 48.62 RCW, and the Washington state health insurance pool established in chapter 48.41 RCW. (7) "Public purchaser" means the department of social and health services, the department of labor and industries, and the health care authority. (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.
RCW 41.05.013 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 013
RCW 41.05.013: State purchased health care programs—Uniform policies.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall coordinate state agency efforts to develop and implement uniform policies across state purchased health care programs that will ensure prudent, cost-effective health services purchasing, maximize efficiencies in administration of state purchased health care programs, improve the quality of care provided through state purchased health care programs, and reduce administrative burdens on health care providers participating in state purchased health care programs. The policies adopted should be based, to the extent possible, upon the best available scientific and medical evidence and shall endeavor to address: (a) Methods of formal assessment, such as a health technology assessment under RCW 70.14.080 through 70.14.130 . Consideration of the best available scientific evidence does not preclude consideration of experimental or investigational treatment or services under a clinical investigation approved by an institutional review board; (b) Monitoring of health outcomes, adverse events, quality, and cost-effectiveness of health services; (c) Development of a common definition of medical necessity; and (d) Exploration of common strategies for disease management and demand management programs, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and similar common chronic diseases. Strategies to be explored include individual asthma management plans. (2) The director may invite health care provider organizations, carriers, other health care purchasers, and consumers to participate in efforts undertaken under this section. (3) For the purposes of this section "best available scientific and medical evidence" means the best available clinical evidence derived from systematic research.
RCW 41.14.140 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 140
RCW 41.14.140: Power to fill positions—Consent of county commissioners—Salaries and compensation.
Status: in_force

All offices, places, positions, and employments coming within the purview of this chapter, shall be filled by the appointing power with the consent of the board of county commissioners, and nothing herein contained shall infringe upon such authority that an appointing power may have to fix the salaries and compensation of all employees employed hereunder.
RCW 41.80.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 050
RCW 41.80.050: Rights of employees.
Status: in_force

Except as may be specifically limited by this chapter, employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist employee organizations, and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining free from interference, restraint, or coercion. Employees shall also have the right to refrain from any or all such activities.
RCW 41.05.037 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 037
RCW 41.05.037: Nurse hotline, when funded.
Status: in_force

To the extent that funding is provided specifically for this purpose, the director shall provide all persons enrolled in health plans under this chapter and chapters 70.47 and 74.09 RCW with access to a twenty-four hour, seven day a week nurse hotline.
RCW 41.28.180 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 28 / Section 180
RCW 41.28.180: Payments on death of unretired members.
Status: in_force

Upon the death of any person who has not been retired, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, there shall be paid to his or her estate, or to such persons having an insurable interest in his or her life as he or she shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the board, his or her accumulated contributions less any payments therefrom already made to him or her, if any.
RCW 41.26.705 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 705
RCW 41.26.705: Intent—2003 c 2.
Status: in_force

It is the intent of chapter 2, Laws of 2003 to: (1) Establish a board of trustees responsible for the adoption of actuarial standards to be applied to the plan; (2) Provide for additional benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers subject to the cost limitations provided for in chapter 2, Laws of 2003; (3) Exercise fiduciary responsibility in the oversight of those pension management functions assigned to the board; (4) Provide effective monitoring of the plan by providing an annual report to the legislature, to the members and beneficiaries of the plan, and to the public; (5) Establish contribution rates for employees, employers, and the state of Washington that will guaranty viability of the plan, subject to the limitations provided for in chapter 2, Laws of 2003; (6) Provide for an annual budget and to pay costs from the trust, as part of the normal cost of the plan; and (7) Enable the board of trustees to retain professional and technical advisors as necessary for the fulfillment of their statutory responsibilities.
RCW 41.26.470 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 470
RCW 41.26.470: Earned disability allowance—Cancellation of allowance—Reentry—Receipt of service credit while disabled—Conditions—Disposition upon death of recipient—Disabled in the line of duty—Total disability—Reimbursement for certain payments—Disabled while providing emergency management services.
Status: in_force

(1) A member of the retirement system who becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer as determined by the director shall be eligible to receive an allowance under the provisions of RCW 41.26.410 through 41.26.550 . Such member shall receive a monthly disability allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.26.420 and shall have such allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at disability and the attainment of age fifty-three, except under subsection (7) of this section. (2) Any member who receives an allowance under the provisions of this section shall be subject to such comprehensive medical examinations as required by the department. If such medical examinations reveal that such a member has recovered from the incapacitating disability and the member is no longer entitled to benefits under Title 51 RCW, the retirement allowance shall be canceled and the member shall be restored to duty in the same civil service rank, if any, held by the member at the time of retirement or, if unable to perform the duties of the rank, then, at the member's request, in such other like or lesser rank as may be or become open and available, the duties of which the member is then able to perform. In no event shall a member previously drawing a disability allowance be returned or be restored to duty at a salary or rate of pay less than the current salary attached to the rank or position held by the member at the date of the retirement for disability. If the department determines that the member is able to return to service, the member is entitled to notice and a hearing. Both the notice and the hearing shall comply with the requirements of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. (3) Those members subject to this chapter who became disabled in the line of duty on or after July 23, 1989, and who receive benefits under RCW 41.04.500 through 41.04.530 or similar benefits under RCW 41.04.535 shall receive or continue to receive service credit subject to the following: (a) No member may receive more than one month's service credit in a calendar month. (b) No service credit under this section may be allowed after a member separates or is separated without leave of absence. (c) Employer contributions shall be paid by the employer at the rate in effect for the period of the service credited. (d) Employee contributions shall be collected by the employer and paid to the department at the rate in effect for the period of service credited. (e) State contributions shall be as provided in RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.067 . (f) Contributions shall be based on the regular compensation which the member would have received had the disability not occurred. (g) The service and compensation credit under this section shall be granted for a period not to exceed six consecutive months. (h) Should the legislature revoke the service credit authorized under this section or repeal this section, no affected employee is entitled to receive the credit as a matter of contractual right. (4)(a) If the recipient of a monthly retirement allowance under this section dies before the total of the retirement allowance paid to the recipient equals the amount of the accumulated contributions at the date of retirement, then the balance shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the recipient has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the director, or, if there is no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the recipient's death, then to the surviving spouse or domestic partner, or, if there is neither such designated person or persons still living at the time of his or her death nor a surviving spouse or domestic partner, then to his or her legal representative. (b) If a recipient of a monthly retirement allowance under this section died before April 27, 1989, and before the total of the retirement allowance paid to the recipient equaled the amount of his or her accumulated contributions at the date of retirement, then the department shall pay the balance of the accumulated contributions to the member's surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, then in equal shares to the member's children. If there is no surviving spouse or children, the department shall retain the contributions. (5) Should the disability retirement allowance of any disability beneficiary be canceled for any cause other than reentrance into service or retirement for service, he or she shall be paid the excess, if any, of the accumulated contributions at the time of retirement over all payments made on his or her behalf under this chapter. (6) A member who becomes disabled in the line of duty, and who ceases to be an employee of an employer except by service or disability retirement, may request a refund of one hundred fifty percent of the member's accumulated contributions. Any accumulated contributions attributable to restorations made under RCW 41.50.165 (2) shall be refunded at one hundred percent. A person in receipt of this benefit is a retiree. (7) A member who becomes disabled in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive a minimum retirement allowance equal to ten percent of such member's final average salary. The member shall additionally receive a retirement allowance equal to two percent of such member's average final salary for each year of service beyond five. (8) A member who became disabled in the line of duty before January 1, 2001, and is receiving an allowance under RCW 41.26.430 or subsection (1) of this section shall be entitled to receive a minimum retirement allowance equal to ten percent of such member's final average salary. The member shall additionally receive a retirement allowance equal to two percent of such member's average final salary for each year of service beyond five, and shall have the allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at disability and the attainment of age fifty-three. An additional benefit shall not result in a total monthly benefit greater than that provided in subsection (1) of this section. (9) A member who is totally disabled in the line of duty is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to seventy percent of the member's final average salary. The allowance provided under this subsection shall be offset by: (a) Temporary disability wage-replacement benefits or permanent total disability benefits provided to the member under Title 51 RCW; and (b) Federal social security disability benefits, if any; so that such an allowance does not result in the member receiving combined benefits that exceed one hundred percent of the member's final average salary. However, the offsets shall not in any case reduce the allowance provided under this subsection below the member's accrued retirement allowance. A member is considered totally disabled if he or she is unable to perform any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental condition that may be expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last at least twelve months. Substantial gainful activity is defined as average earnings in excess of eight hundred sixty dollars a month in 2006 adjusted annually as determined by the director based on federal social security disability standards. The department may require a person in receipt of an allowance under this subsection to provide any financial records that are necessary to determine continued eligibility for such an allowance. A person in receipt of an allowance under this subsection whose earnings exceed the threshold for substantial gainful activity shall have their benefit converted to a line-of-duty disability retirement allowance as provided in subsection (7) of this section. Any person in receipt of an allowance under the provisions of this section is subject to comprehensive medical examinations as may be required by the department under subsection (2) of this section in order to determine continued eligibility for such an allowance. (10)(a) In addition to the retirement allowance provided in subsection (9) of this section, the retirement allowance of a member who is totally disabled in the line of duty shall include reimbursement for any payments made by the member after June 10, 2010, for premiums on employer-provided medical insurance, insurance authorized by the consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1985 (COBRA), medicare part A (hospital insurance), and medicare part B (medical insurance). A member who is entitled to medicare must enroll and maintain enrollment in both medicare part A and medicare part B in order to remain eligible for the reimbursement provided in this subsection. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal the benefits provided in this subsection in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to receive any distribution not granted prior to that time. (b) The retirement allowance of a member who is not eligible for reimbursement provided in (a) of this subsection shall include reimbursement for any payments made after June 30, 2013, for premiums on other medical insurance. However, in no instance shall the reimbursement exceed the amount reimbursed for premiums authorized by the consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1985 (COBRA). (11) A member who has left the employ of an employer due to service in the national guard, military reserves, federal emergency management agency, or national disaster medical system of the United States department of health and human services and who becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer as determined by the director while performing service in response to a disaster, major emergency, special event, federal exercise, or official training on or after March 22, 2014, shall be eligible to receive an allowance under the provisions of RCW 41.26.410 through 41.26.550 . Such member shall receive a monthly disability allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.26.420 except such allowance is not subject to an actuarial reduction for early retirement as provided in RCW 41.26.430 . The member's retirement allowance is computed under RCW 41.26.420 , except that the member shall be entitled to a minimum retirement allowance equal to ten percent of such member's final average salary. The member shall additionally receive a retirement allowance equal to two percent of such member's average final salary for each year of service beyond five. (12) A member who is in receipt of a nonduty disability benefit under subsection (1) of this section, for a disabling condition that was not considered an occupational disease by the department of labor and industries at the time the member retired but is now considered an occupational disease in accordance with the definition of posttraumatic stress disorder in RCW 51.08.165 , may file a new application with the department for a determination of their eligibility for an in the line of duty disability retirement benefit under subsections (7) and (9) of this section with the current occupational disease eligibility applied to their application. If the department finds that the member is eligible for an in the line of duty disability retirement the benefit must be paid retroactive to the disabling condition being made eligible as an occupational disease under RCW 51.08.165 .
RCW 41.72.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 72 / Section 040
RCW 41.72.040: Law enforcement medal of honor may be awarded posthumously.
Status: in_force

The state law enforcement medal of honor may be awarded posthumously to be presented to the representative of the deceased as may be deemed appropriate by the governor or the designees specified in RCW 41.72.030 .
RCW 41.37.280 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 280
RCW 41.37.280: Refund of contributions.
Status: in_force

A member who ceases to be an employee of an employer except by service or disability retirement may request a refund of the member's accumulated contributions. The refund shall be made within ninety days following the receipt of the request and notification of termination through the contribution reporting system by the employer; except that in the case of death, an initial payment shall be made within thirty days of receipt of request for such payment and notification of termination through the contribution reporting system by the employer. A member who files a request for refund and subsequently enters into employment with another employer prior to the refund being made shall not be eligible for a refund. The refund of accumulated contributions shall terminate all rights to benefits under RCW 41.37.190 through 41.37.290 .
RCW 41.40.1984 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 1984
RCW 41.40.1984: Minimum retirement allowance—Annual adjustment—Persons who become beneficiaries after June 30, 1995.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, no one who becomes a beneficiary after June 30, 1995, shall receive a monthly retirement allowance of less than twenty-four dollars and twenty-two cents times the number of years of service creditable to the person whose service is the basis of such retirement allowance. (2) Where the retirement allowance payable was adjusted at the time benefit payments to the beneficiary commenced, the minimum allowance provided in this section shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with that adjustment. (3) Beginning July 1, 1996, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section shall be adjusted annually by the annual increase. (4) Those receiving a benefit under RCW 41.40.220 (1) or under RCW 41.44.170 (3) and (5) shall not be eligible for the benefit provided by this section. (5) For persons who served as elected officials and whose accumulated employee contributions and credited interest was less than seven hundred fifty dollars at the time of retirement, the minimum benefit under subsection (1) of this section shall be ten dollars per month per each year of creditable service. (6) Beginning July 1, 2011, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with either (a) at least twenty years of service and who has been retired at least twenty-five years, or (b) at least twenty-five years of service and who has been retired at least twenty years, shall be one thousand five hundred dollars per month. On July 1, 2011, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.
RCW 41.08.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 050
RCW 41.08.050: Persons included—Competitive examinations—Transfers, discharges, and reinstatements.
Status: in_force

The classified civil service and provisions of this chapter shall include all full paid employees of the fire department of each city, town or municipality coming within its purview, except that individuals appointed as fire chief after July 1, 1987, may be excluded by the legislative body of the city, town, or municipality. All appointments to and promotions in said department shall be made solely on merit, efficiency and fitness, which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and impartial investigation. No person shall be reinstated in, or transferred, suspended or discharged from any such place, position or employment contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.04.005 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 005
RCW 41.04.005: "Veteran" defined for certain purposes—Service during period of war or opposed action on foreign soil.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, "veteran" includes every person, who at the time he or she seeks the benefits of this section and has received a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 and who meets at least one of the following criteria: (a) The person has served between World War I and World War II or during any period of war, as defined in subsection (2) of this section, as either: (i) A member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States; (ii) A member of the women's air forces service pilots; (iii) A U.S. documented merchant mariner with service aboard an oceangoing vessel operated by the war shipping administration, the office of defense transportation, or their agents, from December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; or (iv) A civil service crewmember with service aboard a U.S. army transport service or U.S. naval transportation service vessel in oceangoing service from December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; or (b) The person has received the armed forces expeditionary medal, or marine corps and navy expeditionary medal, for opposed action on foreign soil, for service: (i) In any branch of the armed forces of the United States; or (ii) As a member of the women's air forces service pilots. (2) A "period of war" includes: (a) World War I; (b) World War II; (c) The Korean conflict; (d) The Vietnam era, which means: (i) The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; (ii) The period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975; (e) The Persian Gulf War, which was the period beginning August 2, 1990, and ending on February 28, 1991, or ending on November 30, 1995, if the participant was awarded a campaign badge or medal for such period; (f) The period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the congress and ending on the date prescribed by presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the congress; and (g) Any armed conflicts, if the participant was awarded the respective campaign or expeditionary badge or medal, or if the service was such that a campaign or expeditionary badge or medal would have been awarded, except that the member already received a campaign or expeditionary badge or medal for a prior deployment during that same conflict.
RCW 41.40.111 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 111
RCW 41.40.111: Retirement system employer—Unit of government.
Status: in_force

(1) When a unit of government has become a retirement system employer, all of its employees must be included in the plan membership, if otherwise eligible under this chapter, unless the employee is exempted from membership or qualifies for optional membership pursuant to RCW 41.40.023 or other provision of this chapter. (2) A unit of government which has become a retirement system employer may not withdraw from the retirement system.
RCW 41.24.210 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 210
RCW 41.24.210: Report of accident—Time limitation for filing report and claim.
Status: in_force

A participant shall not receive relief for disability, sickness, or injuries received in the performance of his or her duties, unless there is filed with the board of trustees a report of accident, which report shall be subscribed to by the claimant, the head of the department, and the authorized attending physician, if there is one. A claim for benefits arising from disability, sickness, or injuries incurred in consequence or as a result of the performance of duties shall not be allowed by the state board unless there has been filed with it a report of accident within ninety days after its occurrence and a claim based thereon within one year after the occurrence of the accident on which such claim is based. The state board may require such other or further evidence as it deems advisable before ordering any relief.
RCW 41.26.270 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 270
RCW 41.26.270: Declaration of policy respecting benefits for injury or death—Civil actions abolished.
Status: in_force

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The legislature of the state of Washington hereby declares that the relationship between members of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system and their governmental employers is similar to that of workers to their employers and that the sure and certain relief granted by this chapter is desirable, and as beneficial to such law enforcement officers and firefighters as workers' compensation coverage is to persons covered by Title 51 RCW. The legislature further declares that removal of law enforcement officers and firefighters from workers' compensation coverage under Title 51 RCW necessitates the (1) continuance of sure and certain relief for personal injuries incurred in the course of employment or occupational disease, which the legislature finds to be accomplished by the provisions of this chapter and (2) protection for the governmental employer from actions at law; and to this end the legislature further declares that the benefits and remedies conferred by this chapter upon law enforcement officers and firefighters covered hereunder, shall be to the exclusion of any other remedy, proceeding, or compensation for personal injuries or sickness, caused by the governmental employer except as otherwise provided by this chapter; and to that end all civil actions and civil causes of actions by such law enforcement officers and firefighters against their governmental employers for personal injuries or sickness are hereby abolished, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
RCW 41.04.440 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 440
RCW 41.04.440: Members' retirement contributions—Pick up by employer—Purpose—Benefits not contractual right.
Status: in_force

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(1) The sole purpose of RCW 41.04.445 and 41.04.450 is to allow the members of the retirement systems created in chapters 2.10 , 2.12, 41.26, 41.32, 41.35, 41.37, 41.40, 41.34, and 43.43 RCW to enjoy the tax deferral benefits allowed under 26 U.S.C. 414(h). Chapter 227, Laws of 1984 does not alter in any manner the provisions of RCW 41.45.060 , 41.45.061 , and 41.45.067 which require that the member contribution rates shall be set so as to provide fifty percent of the cost of the respective retirement plans. (2) Should the legislature revoke any benefit allowed under 26 U.S.C. 414(h), no affected employee shall be entitled thereafter to receive such benefit as a matter of contractual right.
RCW 38.24.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 070
RCW 38.24.070: Washington national guard member referral incentive program.
Status: in_force

(1) There is created the Washington national guard member referral incentive program. The purpose of the program is to incentivize and maximize peer-to-peer recruiting that results in a completed accession to the Washington national guard by providing a referral bonus to Washington national guard members who make a successful referral. Administration of this program requires that: (a) A Washington national guard member may provide the identity and contact information of a person who the member believes would be an appropriate recruitment prospect using a form provided by the Washington national guard, which includes the person's name, contact information, and any other information required by the state military department. (b) The state military department shall keep a record of all forms submitted under (a) of this subsection. Upon the completed accession of a referred person and to the extent sufficient funds are available, the state military department shall distribute a referral bonus to the member who provided the successful referral. (2) Members of the Washington national guard serving in command or senior enlisted advisor positions, as well as those assigned recruiting as a primary or additional duty, are ineligible for the Washington national guard member referral incentive program. (3) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Completed accession" means the referred person signs the referred person's name to an enlistment contract for entry or reentry after prior service into the Washington national guard; (b) "Referral bonus" means a monetary payment set each calendar year by the adjutant general not to exceed $500.00; (c) "Successful referral" means providing the identity and contact information in subsection (1)(a) of this section of any person not already a member of the Washington national guard that results in a completed accession to the Washington national guard.For the purpose of carrying out this chapter, the board shall have the power and authority to designate facilities for the detention and treatment of persons found to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease and to designate any such facility in any hospital or other public or private institution, other than a jail or correctional facility, having, or which may be provided with, such necessary detention, segregation, isolation, clinic and hospital facilities as may be required and prescribed by the board, and to enter into arrangements for the conduct of such facilities with the public officials or persons, associations, or corporations in charge of or maintaining and operating such institutions.The mayor or chair of the board or commission of any municipality with a fire department, or his or her designee, shall be chair of the firefighter board of trustees, and the clerk or comptroller or secretary of any such municipality, board, or commission, or his or her designee, shall be the secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees. The secretary shall keep a public record of all proceedings and of all receipts and disbursements made by the board of trustees, shall make an annual report of its expenses and disbursements with a full list of the beneficiaries of the principal fund in the municipality, and shall make all required reports to the state board. The state board shall provide all necessary forms to firefighter boards of trustees.
RCW 41.12.910 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 910
RCW 41.12.910: Repeal.
Status: repealed

All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.28.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 28 / Section 020
RCW 41.28.020: Retirement system created—Adoption by cities.
Status: in_force

A retirement system is hereby created and established in each city of the first class in each county with a population of one hundred twenty-five thousand or more to be known as the "employees' retirement system". This chapter shall become effective as to any such city when by ordinance of the city duly enacted its terms are expressly accepted and made applicable thereto. This section shall not be construed as preventing performance before July 1, 1939, of any preliminary work which any city council, city commission or board of administration shall deem necessary.
RCW 41.26.125 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 125
RCW 41.26.125: Retirement for disability not incurred in the line of duty.
Status: in_force

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Any member, regardless of age or years of service, may be retired by the disability board, subject to approval by the director as provided in this section, for any disability not incurred in the line of duty which has been continuous since discontinuance of service and which renders the member unable to continue service. No disability retirement allowance may be paid until the expiration of a period of six months after the discontinuance of service during which period the member, if found to be physically or mentally unfit for duty by the disability board following receipt of the member's application for disability retirement, shall be granted a disability leave by the disability board and shall receive an allowance equal to the member's full monthly salary and shall continue to receive all other benefits provided to active employees from the member's employer for the period. However, if, at any time during the initial six-month period, the disability board finds the beneficiary is no longer disabled, the disability leave allowance shall be canceled and the member shall be restored to duty in the same rank or position, if any, held by the member at the time the member became disabled. Applications for disability retirement shall be processed in accordance with the following procedures: (1) Any member who believes he or she is, or is believed to be, physically or mentally disabled shall be examined by such medical authority as the disability board shall employ, upon application of the member, or a person acting in the member's behalf, stating that the member is disabled, either physically or mentally: PROVIDED, That no such application shall be considered unless the member or someone acting in the member's behalf, in case of the incapacity of a member, has filed the application within a period of one year from and after the discontinuance of service of the member. (2) If the examination shows, to the satisfaction of the disability board, that the member is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was not incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability had been continuous from the discontinuance of service, the disability board shall enter its written decision and order, accompanied by appropriate findings of fact and by conclusions evidencing compliance with this chapter, granting the member a disability retirement allowance. Otherwise, if the member is not found by the disability board to be so disabled, the application shall be denied pursuant to a similar written decision and order, subject to appeal to the director in accordance with RCW 41.26.200 : PROVIDED, That in any order granting a nonduty disability retirement allowance, the disability board shall make a finding that the disability was not incurred in the line of duty. (3) Every order of a disability board granting a nonduty disability retirement allowance shall forthwith be reviewed by the director except the finding that the disability was not incurred in the line of duty. The director may affirm the decision of the disability board or remand the case for further proceedings, or the director may reverse the decision of the disability board if the director finds the disability board's findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are: (a) In violation of constitutional provisions; or (b) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the disability board; or (c) Made upon unlawful procedure; or (d) Affected by other error of law; or (e) Clearly erroneous in view of the entire record as submitted and the public policy contained in this chapter; or (f) Arbitrary or capricious. (4) Every member who can establish to the disability board that the member is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was not incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability will be in existence for a period of at least six months, may waive the six-month period of disability leave and be immediately granted a nonduty disability retirement allowance, subject to the approval of the director as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
RCW 41.05.410 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 410
RCW 41.05.410: Qualified health plans—Contract for—Requirements—Cost and quality data.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority, in consultation with the health benefit exchange, must contract with one or more health carriers to offer qualified health plans on the Washington health benefit exchange for plan years beginning in 2021. A health carrier contracting with the authority under this section must offer at least one bronze, one silver, and one gold qualified health plan in a single county or in multiple counties. The goal of the procurement conducted under this section is to have a choice of qualified health plans under this section offered in every county in the state. The authority may not execute a contract with an apparently successful bidder under this section until after the insurance commissioner has given final approval of the health carrier's rates and forms pertaining to the health plan to be offered under this section and certification of the health plan under RCW 43.71.065 . (2) A qualified health plan offered under this section must meet the following criteria: (a) The qualified health plan must be a standardized health plan established under RCW 43.71.095 ; (b) The qualified health plan must meet all requirements for qualified health plan certification under RCW 43.71.065 including, but not limited to, requirements relating to rate review and network adequacy; (c) The qualified health plan must incorporate recommendations of the Robert Bree collaborative and the health technology assessment program; (d) The qualified health plan may use an integrated delivery system or a managed care model that includes care coordination or care management to enrollees as appropriate; (e) The qualified health plan must meet additional participation requirements to reduce barriers to maintaining and improving health and align to state agency value-based purchasing. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, standards for population health management; high-value, proven care; health equity; primary care; care coordination and chronic disease management; wellness and prevention; prevention of wasteful and harmful care; and patient engagement; (f) To reduce administrative burden and increase transparency, the qualified health plan's utilization review processes must: (i) Be focused on care that has high variation, high cost, or low evidence of clinical effectiveness; and (ii) Meet national accreditation standards; (g) The total amount the qualified health plan reimburses providers and facilities for all covered benefits in the statewide aggregate, excluding pharmacy benefits, may not exceed one hundred sixty percent of the total amount medicare would have reimbursed providers and facilities for the same or similar services in the statewide aggregate; (h) For services provided by rural hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as critical access hospitals or sole community hospitals, the rates may not be less than one hundred one percent of allowable costs as defined by the United States centers for medicare and medicaid services for purposes of medicare cost reporting; (i) Reimbursement for primary care services, as defined by the authority, provided by a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, or pediatric medicine, may not be less than one hundred thirty-five percent of the amount that would have been reimbursed under the medicare program for the same or similar services; and (j) The qualified health plan must comply with any requirements established by the authority to address amounts expended on pharmacy benefits including, but not limited to, increasing generic utilization and use of evidence-based formularies. (3)(a) At the request of the authority for monitoring, enforcement, or program and quality improvement activities, a qualified health plan offered under this section must provide cost and quality of care information and data to the authority, and may not enter into an agreement with a provider or third party that would restrict the qualified health plan from providing this information or data. (b) Pursuant to RCW 42.56.650 , any cost or quality information or data submitted to the authority is exempt from public disclosure. (4) Nothing in this section prohibits a health carrier offering qualified health plans under this section from offering other health plans in the individual market.
RCW 41.24.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 050
RCW 41.24.050: Emergency medical technicians or first aid vehicle operators—Restriction on retirement system membership.
Status: in_force

No person serving as an emergency medical technician or first aid vehicle operator under chapter 18.73 RCW shall be permitted to join the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system solely on the basis of such service. In no case shall the membership of any fire department coming under the provisions of this chapter be limited to less than fifteen firefighters.Diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease in every instance must be confirmed by laboratory tests or examinations in a laboratory approved or conducted in accordance with procedures and such other requirements as may be established by the board. Laboratories testing for HIV shall report anonymous HIV prevalence results to the department, for health statistics purposes, in a manner established by the board.(1) Commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the organized militia of Washington, while in active state service or inactive duty, are entitled to and shall receive the same amount of pay and allowances from the state of Washington as provided by federal laws and regulations for commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the armed forces of the United States only if federal pay and allowances are not authorized. For periods of such active state service, commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the organized militia of Washington shall receive either such pay and allowances, or for wildland fire response an amount equal to the rates established by the national wildfire coordinating group administratively determined pay plans for emergency workers, or an amount equal to the state minimum wage, whichever is greater. (2) Wildland fire response pay shall have an established minimum entry rate and additional scaled pay that recognizes the longevity and responsibility scope of more senior noncommissioned officers, warrant officers, and company grade commissioned officers. The pay plan is commensurate with the pay structure of other state agencies providing resources to wildland fire response. The director of the state military department shall establish the pay structure subject to approval of the office of financial management. (3) The value of articles issued to any member and not returned in good order on demand, and legal fines or forfeitures, may be deducted from the member's pay. (4) If federal pay and allowances are not authorized, all members detailed to serve on any board or commission ordered by the governor, or on any court-martial ordered by proper authority, may, at the discretion of the adjutant general, be paid a sum equal to one day's active state service for each day actually employed on the board or court or engaged in the business thereof, or in traveling to and from the same; and in addition thereto travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended when such duty is at a place other than the city or town of his or her residence. (5) Necessary transportation, quartermasters' stores, and subsistence for troops when ordered on active state service may be contracted for and paid for as are other military bills.
RCW 41.40.320 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 320
RCW 41.40.320: Disability beneficiary—Restoration to service.
Status: in_force

A disability beneficiary who has been or shall be reinstated to active service shall from the date of restoration again become a member of the retirement system; and shall contribute to the retirement system in the same manner as prior to the disability retirement. Any prior service and membership service, on the basis of which retirement allowances were computed at the time of retirement, shall be restored to full force and effect, and, except in the case of retirement for nonduty disability as provided in RCW 41.40.230 , he or she shall be given membership service for the period of time out of service due to the disability.
RCW 41.40.188 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 188
RCW 41.40.188: Retirement allowance—Options—Retirement allowance adjustment—Court-approved property settlement.
Status: in_force

(1) Upon retirement for service as prescribed in RCW 41.40.180 or retirement for disability under RCW 41.40.210 or 41.40.230 , a member shall elect to have the retirement allowance paid pursuant to one of the following options calculated so as to be actuarially equivalent to each other. (a) Standard allowance. A member electing this option shall receive a retirement allowance payable throughout such member's life. However, if the retiree dies before the total of the retirement allowance paid to such retiree equals the amount of such retiree's accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, then the balance shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the retiree shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or if there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the retiree's death, then to the surviving spouse; or if there be neither such designated person or persons still living at the time of death nor a surviving spouse, then to the retiree's legal representative. (b) The department shall adopt rules that allow a member to select a retirement option that pays the member a reduced retirement allowance and upon death, such portion of the member's reduced retirement allowance as the department by rule designates shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to a person nominated by the member by written designation duly executed and filed with the department at the time of retirement. The options adopted by the department shall include, but are not limited to, a joint and one hundred percent survivor option and a joint and fifty percent survivor option. (c) A member may elect to include the benefit provided under RCW 41.40.640 along with the retirement options available under this section. This retirement allowance option shall be calculated so as to be actuarially equivalent to the options offered under this subsection. (2)(a) A member, if married, must provide the written consent of his or her spouse to the option selected under this section, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. If a member is married and both the member and the member's spouse do not give written consent to an option under this section, the department shall pay a joint and fifty percent survivor benefit calculated to be actuarially equivalent to the benefit options available under subsection (1) of this section unless spousal consent is not required as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. (b) Written consent from a spouse or domestic partner is not required if a member who is married or a domestic partner selects a joint and survivor option under subsection (1)(b) of this section and names the member's spouse or domestic partner as the survivor beneficiary. (c) If a copy of a dissolution order designating a survivor beneficiary under RCW 41.50.790 has been filed with the department at least thirty days prior to a member's retirement: (i) The department shall honor the designation as if made by the member under subsection (1) of this section; and (ii) The spousal consent provisions of (a) of this subsection do not apply. (3)(a) Any member who retired before January 1, 1996, and who elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance under subsection (1)(b) or (2) of this section is entitled to receive a retirement allowance adjusted in accordance with (b) of this subsection, if they meet the following conditions: (i) The retiree's designated beneficiary predeceases or has predeceased the retiree; and (ii) The retiree provides to the department proper proof of the designated beneficiary's death. (b) The retirement allowance payable to the retiree, as of July 1, 1998, or the date of the designated beneficiary's death, whichever comes last, shall be increased by the percentage derived in (c) of this subsection. (c) The percentage increase shall be derived by the following: (i) One hundred percent multiplied by the result of (c)(ii) of this subsection converted to a percent; (ii) Subtract one from the reciprocal of the appropriate joint and survivor option factor; (iii) The joint and survivor option factor shall be from the table in effect as of July 1, 1998. (d) The adjustment under (b) of this subsection shall accrue from the beginning of the month following the date of the designated beneficiary's death or from July 1, 1998, whichever comes last. (4) No later than July 1, 2001, the department shall adopt rules that allow a member additional actuarially equivalent survivor benefit options, and shall include, but are not limited to: (a)(i) A retired member who retired without designating a survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to designate their spouse from a postretirement marriage as a survivor during a one-year period beginning one year after the date of the postretirement marriage provided the retirement allowance payable to the retiree is not subject to periodic payments pursuant to a property division obligation as provided for in RCW 41.50.670 . (ii) A member who entered into a postretirement marriage prior to the effective date of the rules adopted pursuant to this subsection and satisfies the conditions of (a)(i) of this subsection shall have one year to designate their spouse as a survivor beneficiary following the adoption of the rules. (b) A retired member who elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance under this section and designated a nonspouse as survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to remove the survivor designation and have their future benefit adjusted. (c) The department may make an additional charge, if necessary, to ensure that the benefits provided under this subsection remain actuarially equivalent. (5) No later than July 1, 2003, the department shall adopt rules to permit: (a) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made before retirement to provide that benefits payable to a member who meets the length of service requirements of RCW 41.40.180 (1) and the member's divorcing spouse be divided into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse. The member shall have available the benefit options of subsection (1) of this section upon retirement, and if remarried at the time of retirement remains subject to the spousal consent requirements of subsection (2) of this section. Any reductions of the member's benefit subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. The nonmember ex spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefit upon reaching the age provided in RCW 41.40.180 (1) and after filing a written application with the department. (b) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made after retirement may only divide the benefit into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse if the nonmember ex spouse was selected as a survivor beneficiary at retirement. The retired member may later choose the survivor benefit options available in subsection (4) of this section. Any actuarial reductions subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. Both the retired member and the nonmember divorced spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefits upon filing a copy of the dissolution order with the department in accordance with RCW 41.50.670 . (c) The separate single life benefits of the member and the nonmember ex spouse are not (i) subject to the minimum benefit provisions of RCW 41.40.1984 , or (ii) the minimum benefit annual increase amount eligibility provisions of RCW 41.40.197 (2)(b). (d) The department may make an additional charge or adjustment if necessary to ensure that the separate benefits provided under this subsection are actuarially equivalent to the benefits payable prior to the decree of dissolution.
RCW 41.18.140 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 140
RCW 41.18.140: Funeral expenses.
Status: in_force

The board shall pay from the firefighters' pension fund upon the death of any active or retired firefighter the sum of $1,000, to assist in defraying the funeral expenses of such firefighter.
RCW 41.44.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 020
RCW 41.44.020: Purpose of chapter.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for an actuarially sound system for the payment of annuities and other benefits to officers and employees and to beneficiaries of officers and employees of cities and towns thereby enabling such employees to provide for themselves and their dependents in case of old age, disability and death, and effecting economy and efficiency in the public service by furnishing an orderly means whereby such employees who have become aged or otherwise incapacitated may, without hardship or prejudice, be retired from active service.
RCW 41.44.090 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 090
RCW 41.44.090: Contributions by cities—Withdrawal from system.
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be paid into the retirement fund by contributions of each city the amounts necessary to pay the following: (a) Contributions equal to those deposited by employees; (b) Prior service credits at such rate as may be selected; (c) That part of a retirement allowance necessary to raise it to a specified minimum; (d) An equitable share of the administrative costs, all of which costs are to be paid by the cities; (e) An equitable share of the cost of the death-in-the-line-of-duty benefit, all of which costs are to be paid by the cities. Any city having in its employ ten or more employees who are members of the system may elect to contribute, in lieu of its contributions set forth in item (a) above, an amount estimated actuarially necessary to match at retirement the accumulated normal contributions of those of its members who will ultimately retire for service or disability; provided that such election shall be made by resolution or ordinance of the legislative body of such city and, in order to become effective for the remainder of the year 1953, shall be made on or before July 1, 1953, and thereafter any election so made shall be made prior to January 1, 1954, to become then effective or prior to January 1st of any succeeding year to become effective on January 1st of such succeeding year. Any city may, with the approval of the board, further elect to contribute in lieu of its contributions set forth in items (b) and (c) above, an amount estimated actuarially, necessary to amortize over a period of not to exceed thirty years, all liabilities on account of the participation of such a city, which are not covered by the contributions of its employees, its funds on hand and its contributions provided for in item (a) above or the contributions elected to be made in lieu thereof in cases where such city shall have elected to make said contribution in lieu of the contributions required in said item (a); provided that such election shall be made by resolution or ordinance of the legislative body of such city and, in order to become effective for the remainder of the year 1953, shall be made on or before July 1, 1953, and thereafter any election so made shall be made prior to January 1, 1954, to become then effective or prior to January 1st of any succeeding year to become effective on January 1st of such succeeding year. In the event that any city shall be making either of the lieu contributions as hereinabove set forth, the resulting contributions shall be adjusted to conform with facts and conditions disclosed by each succeeding actuarial valuation. (2) Payment of the obligation set forth in subsection (1) of this section may be made in advance or may be paid currently as contributions are received from employees and pensions are paid to retired members: PROVIDED, That the share of administrative expense and expense of the death-in-the-line-of-duty benefits shall be paid as soon as funds are available to make such payment and the board shall have the right to require any city that has withdrawn from the system, to annually, at the beginning of each calendar year, deposit and pay in cash an amount estimated by the board to be sufficient to meet the obligation of such city for the ensuing year to those of its members receiving a retirement allowance. From time to time each city may apply reserves in payment of the obligations set forth above as contemplated in RCW 41.44.200 . (3) The board shall furnish each city with an estimate of the amount necessary to pay the obligations of the city in the ensuing fiscal year and the city shall provide therefor in its budget. The board shall cause to be kept an account with each city, crediting the account with such advances and payments as are made by the city and debiting the account with such charges as properly accrue against the city. The board shall furnish each city with a monthly statement of the amount of matching contributions, prior service charges and charges for minimum retirement allowances properly accruing by reason of payment of retirement allowances and deposit of contributions of members. (4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the retirement system shall not be liable for the payment of any retirement allowances or other benefits on account of the employees or retired members of any city under this chapter, for which reserves or guarantees have not been properly set up by such city or its employees to pay such retirement allowances or other benefits: PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed to prevent the establishment of a reserve account for annuities and pensions in which shall be placed at the time of retirement of any member the balances of the retiring member's contribution and the city's matching funds for such member and from which account all annuities and current service pensions shall be paid. (5) Any city may, by majority vote of its electors, withdraw from participation in the retirement system two years after giving written notice to the board of such action by the electorate. It is hereby specifically provided, however, that the city's obligation to those members receiving or eligible to a retirement allowance prior to such termination of participation shall continue in full force and effect as provided in this chapter. Members not receiving or being eligible to a retirement allowance at time of such termination shall be paid their accumulated contributions on demand. Should it develop that any such city is entitled to a refund such refund shall be made within one year following demand of city entitled thereto.
RCW 41.56.407 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 407
RCW 41.56.407: Application of chapter to certain postdoctoral and clinical university employees.
Status: in_force

In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to postdoctoral and clinical employees as excluded in chapter 41.76 RCW at the University of Washington and at Washington State University.
RCW 41.37.230 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 230
RCW 41.37.230: Disability allowance—Actuarial reduction—Total disability in the line of duty—Disposition upon death of recipient.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A member of the retirement system with at least ten years of service in the public safety employees' retirement system who becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment as an employee by an employer, as determined by the department, shall be eligible to receive an allowance under RCW 41.37.190 through 41.37.290 . The member shall receive a monthly disability allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.37.190 and shall have this allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at disability and the attainment of age sixty, except under subsection (3) of this section. (b) A member of the retirement system with less than ten years of service who becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer, as determined by the department, shall be eligible to receive an allowance under RCW 41.37.190 through 41.37.290 . The member shall receive a monthly disability allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.37.190 and shall have this allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at disability and the attainment of age sixty-five. (2) Any member who receives an allowance under this section shall be subject to comprehensive medical examinations as required by the department. If these medical examinations reveal that a member has recovered from the incapacitating disability and the member is offered reemployment by an employer at a comparable compensation, the member shall cease to be eligible for the allowance. (3)(a) A member who is totally disabled in the line of duty is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to 70 percent of the member's final average salary. The allowance provided under this section shall be offset by: (i) Temporary disability wage-replacement benefits or permanent total disability benefits provided to the member under Title 51 RCW; and (ii) Federal social security disability benefits, if any; so that such an allowance does not result in the member receiving combined benefits that exceed 100 percent of the member's final average salary. However, the offsets shall not in any case reduce the allowance provided under this subsection below the member's accrued retirement allowance. (b) A member is considered totally disabled if he or she is unable to perform any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental condition that may be expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. Substantial gainful activity is defined as average earnings in excess of $860 a month in 2006 adjusted annually as determined by the director based on federal social security disability standards. The department may require a person in receipt of an allowance under this subsection to provide any financial records that are necessary to determine continued eligibility for such an allowance. A person in receipt of an allowance under this subsection whose earnings exceed the threshold for substantial gainful activity shall have their benefit converted to a disability retirement allowance as provided in subsection (1) of this section. (c) Any person in receipt of an allowance under the provisions of this section is subject to comprehensive medical examinations as may be required by the department under subsection (2) of this section in order to determine continued eligibility for such an allowance. (4) If the recipient of a monthly allowance under this section dies before the total of the allowance payments equal the amount of the accumulated contributions at the date of retirement, then the balance shall be paid to the member's estate, or the person or persons, trust, or organization the recipient has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the director. If there is no designated person or persons still living at the time of the recipient's death, then to the surviving spouse, or, if there is no designated person or persons still living at the time of his or her death nor a surviving spouse, then to his or her legal representative.
RCW 41.12.220 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 220
RCW 41.12.220: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following mentioned terms shall have the following described meanings: The term "commission" means the civil service commission herein created, and the term "commissioner" means any one of the three commissioners of that commission. The term "appointing power" includes every person or group of persons who, acting singly or in conjunction, as a mayor, city manager, council, common council, commission, or otherwise, is or are, invested by law with power and authority to select, appoint, or employ any person to hold any office, place, position or employment subject to civil service. The term "appointment" includes all means of selection, appointing or employing any person to hold any office, place, position or employment subject to civil service. The term "city" includes all cities, towns and municipalities having a full paid police department. The term "full paid police department" means that the officers and police officers employed in such are paid regularly by the city and devote their whole time to police duty: PROVIDED, "full paid police department" whenever used in this chapter shall also mean "full paid police officers."
RCW 41.40.193 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 193
RCW 41.40.193: Dates upon which retirement allowances accrue.
Status: in_force

Retirement allowances paid to members eligible to retire under the provisions of RCW 41.40.180 , 41.40.200 , 41.40.210 , 41.40.220 , 41.40.230 , and 41.40.250 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the calendar month during which the member is separated from service. Retirement allowance paid to members eligible to retire under any other provisions of *this 1972 amendatory act shall accrue from the first day of a calendar month but in no event earlier than the first day of the calendar month immediately following the calendar month during which the member is separated from service.
RCW 41.04.007 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 007
RCW 41.04.007: "Veteran" defined for certain purposes—Service in certain capacities.
Status: in_force

"Veteran" includes every person who, at the time he or she seeks the benefits of RCW 46.18.212 , 46.18.235 , 72.36.030 , 41.04.010 , 73.04.090 , or 43.180.250 , has received a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 , and who has served in at least one of the following capacities: (1) As a member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard and armed forces reserves, and has fulfilled his or her initial military service obligation; (2) As a member of the women's air forces service pilots; (3) As a member of the armed forces reserves, national guard, or coast guard, and has been called into federal service by a presidential select reserve call up for at least one hundred eighty cumulative days; (4) As a civil service crewmember with service aboard a U.S. army transport service or U.S. naval transportation service vessel in oceangoing service from December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; (5) As a member of the Philippine armed forces/scouts during the period of armed conflict from December 7, 1941, through August 15, 1945; or (6) A United States documented merchant mariner with service aboard an oceangoing vessel operated by the department of defense, or its agents, from both June 25, 1950, through July 27, 1953, in Korean territorial waters and from August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975, in Vietnam territorial waters, and who received a military commendation.
RCW 41.28.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 28 / Section 190
RCW 41.28.190: Payments to be made monthly.
Status: in_force

A pension annuity or a retirement allowance granted under the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be payable in monthly installments, and each installment shall cover for the current calendar month.
RCW 41.26.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 030
RCW 41.26.030: Definitions.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL ) ***

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: (1) "Accumulated contributions" means the employee's contributions made by a member, including any amount paid under RCW 41.50.165 (2), plus accrued interest credited thereon. (2) "Actuarial reserve" means a method of financing a pension or retirement plan wherein reserves are accumulated as the liabilities for benefit payments are incurred in order that sufficient funds will be available on the date of retirement of each member to pay the member's future benefits during the period of retirement. (3) "Actuarial valuation" means a mathematical determination of the financial condition of a retirement plan. It includes the computation of the present monetary value of benefits payable to present members, and the present monetary value of future employer and employee contributions, giving effect to mortality among active and retired members and also to the rates of disability, retirement, withdrawal from service, salary and interest earned on investments. (4)(a) "Basic salary" for plan 1 members, means the basic monthly rate of salary or wages, including longevity pay but not including overtime earnings or special salary or wages, upon which pension or retirement benefits will be computed and upon which employer contributions and salary deductions will be based. (b) "Basic salary" for plan 2 members, means salaries or wages earned by a member during a payroll period for personal services, including overtime payments, and shall include wages and salaries deferred under provisions established pursuant to sections 403(b), 414(h), and 457 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, but shall exclude lump sum payments for deferred annual sick leave, unused accumulated vacation, unused accumulated annual leave, or any form of severance pay. In any year in which a member serves in the legislature the member shall have the option of having such member's basic salary be the greater of: (i) The basic salary the member would have received had such member not served in the legislature; or (ii) Such member's actual basic salary received for nonlegislative public employment and legislative service combined. Any additional contributions to the retirement system required because basic salary under (b)(i) of this subsection is greater than basic salary under (b)(ii) of this subsection shall be paid by the member for both member and employer contributions. (5)(a) "Beneficiary" for plan 1 members, means any person in receipt of a retirement allowance, disability allowance, death benefit, or any other benefit described herein. (b) "Beneficiary" for plan 2 members, means any person in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer by another person. (6)(a) "Child" or "children" means an unmarried person who is under the age of eighteen or mentally or physically disabled as determined by the department, except a person who is disabled and in the full time care of a state institution, who is: (i) A natural born child; (ii) A stepchild where that relationship was in existence prior to the date benefits are payable under this chapter; (iii) A posthumous child; (iv) A child legally adopted or made a legal ward of a member prior to the date benefits are payable under this chapter; or (v) An illegitimate child legitimized prior to the date any benefits are payable under this chapter. (b) A person shall also be deemed to be a child up to and including the age of twenty years and eleven months while attending any high school, college, or vocational or other educational institution accredited, licensed, or approved by the state, in which it is located, including the summer vacation months and all other normal and regular vacation periods at the particular educational institution after which the child returns to school. (7) "Department" means the department of retirement systems created in chapter 41.50 RCW. (8) "Director" means the director of the department. (9) "Disability board" for plan 1 members means either the county disability board or the city disability board established in RCW 41.26.110 . (10) "Disability leave" means the period of six months or any portion thereof during which a member is on leave at an allowance equal to the member's full salary prior to the commencement of disability retirement. The definition contained in this subsection shall apply only to plan 1 members. (11) "Disability retirement" for plan 1 members, means the period following termination of a member's disability leave, during which the member is in receipt of a disability retirement allowance. (12) "Domestic partners" means two adults who have registered as domestic partners under RCW 26.60.020 . (13) "Employee" means any law enforcement officer or firefighter as defined in subsections (17) and (19) of this section. (14)(a) "Employer" for plan 1 members, means the legislative authority of any city, town, county, district, or regional fire protection service authority or the elected officials of any municipal corporation that employs any law enforcement officer and/or firefighter, any authorized association of such municipalities, and, except for the purposes of RCW 41.26.150 , any labor guild, association, or organization, which represents the firefighters or law enforcement officers of at least seven cities of over 20,000 population and the membership of each local lodge or division of which is composed of at least sixty percent law enforcement officers or firefighters as defined in this chapter. (b) "Employer" for plan 2 members, means the following entities to the extent that the entity employs any law enforcement officer and/or firefighter: (i) The legislative authority of any city, town, county, district, public corporation, or regional fire protection service authority established under RCW 35.21.730 to provide emergency medical services as defined in RCW 18.73.030 ; (ii) The elected officials of any municipal corporation; (iii) The governing body of any other general authority law enforcement agency; (iv) A four-year institution of higher education having a fully operational fire department as of January 1, 1996; or (v) The department of social and health services or the department of corrections when employing firefighters serving at a prison or civil commitment center on an island. (c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, "employer" does not include a government contractor. For purposes of this subsection, a "government contractor" is any entity, including a partnership, limited liability company, for-profit or nonprofit corporation, or person, that provides services pursuant to a contract with an "employer." The determination whether an employer-employee relationship has been established is not based on the relationship between a government contractor and an "employer," but is based solely on the relationship between a government contractor's employee and an "employer" under this chapter. (15)(a) "Final average salary" for plan 1 members, means (i) for a member holding the same position or rank for a minimum of twelve months preceding the date of retirement, the basic salary attached to such same position or rank at time of retirement; (ii) for any other member, including a civil service member who has not served a minimum of twelve months in the same position or rank preceding the date of retirement, the average of the greatest basic salaries payable to such member during any consecutive twenty-four month period within such member's last ten years of service for which service credit is allowed, computed by dividing the total basic salaries payable to such member during the selected twenty-four month period by twenty-four; (iii) in the case of disability of any member, the basic salary payable to such member at the time of disability retirement; (iv) in the case of a member who hereafter vests pursuant to RCW 41.26.090 , the basic salary payable to such member at the time of vesting. (b) "Final average salary" for plan 2 members, means the monthly average of the member's basic salary for the highest consecutive sixty service credit months of service prior to such member's retirement, termination, or death. Periods constituting authorized unpaid leaves of absence may not be used in the calculation of final average salary. (c) In calculating final average salary under (a) or (b) of this subsection, the department of retirement systems shall include: (i) Any compensation forgone by a member employed by a state agency or institution during the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory or voluntary leave without pay, temporary reduction in pay implemented prior to December 11, 2010, or temporary layoffs if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the employer; (ii) Any compensation forgone by a member employed by the state or a local government employer during the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or reductions to current pay if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the employer. Reductions to current pay shall not include elimination of previously agreed upon future salary increases; and (iii) Any compensation forgone by a member employed by the state or a local government employer during the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 fiscal biennia as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, furloughs, reductions to current pay, or other similar measures resulting from the COVID-19 budgetary crisis, if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the employer. Reductions to current pay shall not include elimination of previously agreed upon future salary increases. (16) "Fire department" includes a fire station operated by the department of social and health services or the department of corrections when employing firefighters serving a prison or civil commitment center on an island. (17) "Firefighter" means: (a) Any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis as a member of a fire department of an employer and who is serving in a position which requires passing a civil service examination for firefighter, and who is actively employed as such; (b) Anyone who is actively employed as a full time firefighter where the fire department does not have a civil service examination; (c) Supervisory firefighter personnel; (d) Any full time executive secretary of an association of fire protection districts authorized under RCW 52.12.031 . The provisions of this subsection (17)(d) shall not apply to plan 2 members; (e) The executive secretary of a labor guild, association or organization (which is an employer under subsection (14) of this section), if such individual has five years previous membership in a retirement system established in chapter 41.16 or 41.18 RCW. The provisions of this subsection (17)(e) shall not apply to plan 2 members; (f) Any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis for an employer, as a fire dispatcher, in a department in which, on March 1, 1970, a dispatcher was required to have passed a civil service examination for firefighter; (g) Any person who on March 1, 1970, was employed on a full time, fully compensated basis by an employer, and who on May 21, 1971, was making retirement contributions under the provisions of chapter 41.16 or 41.18 RCW; (h) Any person who is employed on a full-time, fully compensated basis by an employer as an emergency medical technician that meets the requirements of RCW 18.71.200 or 18.73.030 (13), and whose duties include providing emergency medical services as defined in RCW 18.73.030 ; and (i) Personnel serving on a full-time, fully compensated basis as an employee of a fire department in positions that necessitate experience as a firefighter to perform the essential functions of those positions. (18) "General authority law enforcement agency" means any agency, department, or division of a municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other unit of local government of this state, the government of a federally recognized tribe, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as its primary function the detection and apprehension of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws in general, but not including the Washington state patrol. Such an agency, department, or division is distinguished from a limited authority law enforcement agency having as one of its functions the apprehension or detection of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws relating to limited subject areas, including but not limited to, the state departments of natural resources and social and health services, the state gambling commission, the state lottery commission, the state parks and recreation commission, the state utilities and transportation commission, the state liquor and cannabis board, and the state department of corrections. A general authority law enforcement agency under this chapter does not include a government contractor. (19) "Law enforcement officer" beginning January 1, 1994, means any person who is commissioned and employed by an employer on a full time, fully compensated basis to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington generally, with the following qualifications: (a) No person who is serving in a position that is basically clerical or secretarial in nature, and who is not commissioned shall be considered a law enforcement officer; (b) Only those deputy sheriffs, including those serving under a different title pursuant to county charter, who have successfully completed a civil service examination for deputy sheriff or the equivalent position, where a different title is used, and those persons serving in unclassified positions authorized by RCW 41.14.070 except a private secretary will be considered law enforcement officers; (c) Only such full time commissioned law enforcement personnel as have been appointed to offices, positions, or ranks in the police department which have been specifically created or otherwise expressly provided for and designated by city charter provision or by ordinance enacted by the legislative body of the city shall be considered city police officers; (d) The term "law enforcement officer" also includes the executive secretary of a labor guild, association or organization (which is an employer under subsection (14) of this section) if that individual has five years previous membership in the retirement system established in chapter 41.20 RCW. The provisions of this subsection (19)(d) shall not apply to plan 2 members; (e) The term "law enforcement officer" also includes a person employed on or after January 1, 1993, as a public safety officer or director of public safety, so long as the job duties substantially involve only either police or fire duties, or both, and no other duties in a city or town with a population of less than ten thousand. The provisions of this subsection (19)(e) shall not apply to any public safety officer or director of public safety who is receiving a retirement allowance under this chapter as of May 12, 1993; (f) The term "law enforcement officer" also includes a person who is employed on or after January 1, 2024, on a full-time basis by the government of a federally recognized tribe within the state of Washington that meets the terms and conditions of RCW 41.26.565 , is employed in a police department maintained by that tribe, and who is currently certified as a general authority peace officer under chapter 43.101 RCW; and (g) Beginning July 1, 2024, the term "law enforcement officer" also includes any person who is commissioned and employed by an employer on a fully compensated basis to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington generally, on a less than full-time basis, with the qualifications in (a) through (e) of this subsection. (20) "Medical services" for plan 1 members, shall include the following as minimum services to be provided. Reasonable charges for these services shall be paid in accordance with RCW 41.26.150 . (a) Hospital expenses: These are the charges made by a hospital, in its own behalf, for (i) Board and room not to exceed semiprivate room rate unless private room is required by the attending physician due to the condition of the patient. (ii) Necessary hospital services, other than board and room, furnished by the hospital. (b) Other medical expenses: The following charges are considered "other medical expenses," provided that they have not been considered as "hospital expenses." (i) The fees of the following: (A) A physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.71 RCW; (B) An osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.57 RCW; (C) A chiropractor licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.25 RCW. (ii) The charges of a registered graduate nurse other than a nurse who ordinarily resides in the member's home, or is a member of the family of either the member or the member's spouse. (iii) The charges for the following medical services and supplies: (A) Drugs and medicines upon a physician's prescription; (B) Diagnostic X-ray and laboratory examinations; (C) X-ray, radium, and radioactive isotopes therapy; (D) Anesthesia and oxygen; (E) Rental of iron lung and other durable medical and surgical equipment; (F) Artificial limbs and eyes, and casts, splints, and trusses; (G) Professional ambulance service when used to transport the member to or from a hospital when injured by an accident or stricken by a disease; (H) Dental charges incurred by a member who sustains an accidental injury to his or her teeth and who commences treatment by a legally licensed dentist within ninety days after the accident; (I) Nursing home confinement or hospital extended care facility; (J) Physical therapy by a registered physical therapist; (K) Blood transfusions, including the cost of blood and blood plasma not replaced by voluntary donors; (L) An optometrist licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.53 RCW. (21) "Member" means any firefighter, law enforcement officer, or other person as would apply under subsection (17) or (19) of this section whose membership is transferred to the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system on or after March 1, 1970, and every law enforcement officer and firefighter who is employed in that capacity on or after such date. (22) "Plan 1" means the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system, plan 1 providing the benefits and funding provisions covering persons who first became members of the system prior to October 1, 1977. (23) "Plan 2" means the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system, plan 2 providing the benefits and funding provisions covering persons who first became members of the system on and after October 1, 1977. (24) "Position" means the employment held at any particular time, which may or may not be the same as civil service rank. (25) "Regular interest" means such rate as the director may determine. (26) "Retiree" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means any member in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer by such member. (27) "Retirement fund" means the "Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system fund" as provided for herein. (28) "Retirement system" means the "Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system" provided herein. (29)(a) "Service" for plan 1 members, means all periods of employment for an employer as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, for which compensation is paid, together with periods of suspension not exceeding thirty days in duration. For the purposes of this chapter service shall also include service in the armed forces of the United States as provided in RCW 41.26.190 . Credit shall be allowed for all service credit months of service rendered by a member from and after the member's initial commencement of employment as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, during which the member worked for seventy or more hours, or was on disability leave or disability retirement. Only service credit months of service shall be counted in the computation of any retirement allowance or other benefit provided for in this chapter. (i) For members retiring after May 21, 1971, who were employed under the coverage of a prior pension act before March 1, 1970, "service" shall also include (A) such military service not exceeding five years as was creditable to the member as of March 1, 1970, under the member's particular prior pension act, and (B) such other periods of service as were then creditable to a particular member under the provisions of RCW 41.18.165 , 41.20.160 , or 41.20.170 . However, in no event shall credit be allowed for any service rendered prior to March 1, 1970, where the member at the time of rendition of such service was employed in a position covered by a prior pension act, unless such service, at the time credit is claimed therefor, is also creditable under the provisions of such prior act. (ii) A member who is employed by two employers at the same time shall only be credited with service to one such employer for any month during which the member rendered such dual service. (iii) Reduction efforts such as furloughs, reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or other similar situations as contemplated by subsection (15)(c)(iii) of this section do not result in a reduction in service credit that otherwise would have been earned for that month of work, and the member shall receive the full service credit for the hours that were scheduled to be worked before the reduction. (b)(i) "Service" for plan 2 members, means periods of employment by a member for one or more employers for which basic salary is earned for ninety or more hours per calendar month which shall constitute a service credit month. Periods of employment by a member for one or more employers for which basic salary is earned for at least seventy hours but less than ninety hours per calendar month shall constitute one-half service credit month. Periods of employment by a member for one or more employers for which basic salary is earned for less than seventy hours shall constitute a one-quarter service credit month. (ii) Members of the retirement system who are elected or appointed to a state elective position may elect to continue to be members of this retirement system. (iii) Service credit years of service shall be determined by dividing the total number of service credit months of service by twelve. Any fraction of a service credit year of service as so determined shall be taken into account in the computation of such retirement allowance or benefits. (iv) If a member receives basic salary from two or more employers during any calendar month, the individual shall receive one service credit month's service credit during any calendar month in which multiple service for ninety or more hours is rendered; or one-half service credit month's service credit during any calendar month in which multiple service for at least seventy hours but less than ninety hours is rendered; or one-quarter service credit month during any calendar month in which multiple service for less than seventy hours is rendered. (v) Reduction efforts such as furloughs, reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or other similar situations as contemplated by subsection (15)(c)(iii) of this section do not result in a reduction in service credit that otherwise would have been earned for that month of work, and the member shall receive the full service credit for the hours that were scheduled to be worked before the reduction. (30) "Service credit month" means a full service credit month or an accumulation of partial service credit months that are equal to one. (31) "Service credit year" means an accumulation of months of service credit which is equal to one when divided by twelve. (32) "State actuary" or "actuary" means the person appointed pursuant to RCW 44.44.010 (2). (33) "State elective position" means any position held by any person elected or appointed to statewide office or elected or appointed as a member of the legislature. (34) "Surviving spouse" means the surviving widow or widower of a member. "Surviving spouse" shall not include the divorced spouse of a member except as provided in RCW 41.26.162 .
RCW 41.37.220 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 220
RCW 41.37.220: Employer and member contribution rates.
Status: in_force

The required contribution rates to the retirement system for both members and employers shall be established by the director from time to time as may be necessary upon the advice of the state actuary. The state actuary shall use the aggregate actuarial cost method to calculate contribution rates. The employer contribution rate calculated under this section shall be used only for the purpose of determining the amount of employer contributions to be deposited in the plan 2 fund from the total employer contributions collected under RCW 41.37.080 . Contribution rates required to fund the costs of the retirement system shall always be equal for members and employers, except under this section. Any adjustments in contribution rates required from time to time for future costs shall likewise be shared equally by the members and employers. Any increase in the contribution rate required as the result of a failure of an employer to make any contribution required by this section shall be borne in full by the employer not making the contribution. The director shall notify all employers of any pending adjustment in the required contribution rate and the increase shall be announced at least thirty days prior to the effective date of the change. A member's contributions required by this section shall be deducted from the member's compensation earnable each payroll period. The member's contribution and the employer's contribution shall be remitted directly to the department within fifteen days following the end of the calendar month during which the payroll period ends.
RCW 41.14.250 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 250
RCW 41.14.250: City contracts to obtain sheriff's office law enforcement services—Transfer of police department employees.
Status: in_force

When any city or town shall contract with the county sheriff's office to obtain law enforcement services to the city or town, any employee of the police department of such city or town who (1) was at the time such contract was entered into employed exclusively or principally in performing the powers, duties, and functions which are to be performed by the county sheriff's office under such contract (2) will, as a direct consequence of such contract, be separated from the employ of the city or town, and (3) meets the minimum standards and qualifications of the county sheriff's office, then such employee may transfer his or her employment to the county sheriff's office as provided for in RCW 41.14.260 and 41.14.270 .
RCW 41.59.937 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 937
RCW 41.59.937: Collective bargaining agreements not altered or impaired—Compliance with chapter—2017 3rd sp.s. c 13.
Status: in_force

Nothing in chapter 13, Laws of 2017 3rd sp. sess. is intended to alter or impair school district collective bargaining agreements that are in effect on October 19, 2017. Any school district collective bargaining agreement executed or modified after October 19, 2017, must comply with chapter 13, Laws of 2017 3rd sp. sess.