RCW 41.16.100 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 100
RCW 41.16.100: Payment on death of retired firefighter.
Status: in_force

The widow or widower, child, children or beneficiary of any firefighter retired under this chapter shall receive an amount equal to his or her accumulated contributions to the fund, plus earned interest thereon compounded semiannually: PROVIDED, That there shall be deducted from said sum the amount paid to decedent in pensions and the remainder shall be paid to his or her widow or widower, child, children or beneficiary: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the amount paid shall not be less than one thousand dollars.
RCW 41.05.023 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 023
RCW 41.05.023: Chronic care management program—Uniform medical plan—Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) The health care authority, in collaboration with the department of health, shall design and implement a chronic care management program for employees and school employees enrolled in the state's self-insured uniform medical plan. Programs must be evidence based, facilitating the use of information technology to improve quality of care and must improve coordination of primary, acute, and long-term care for those enrollees with multiple chronic conditions. The authority shall consider expansion of existing medical home and chronic care management programs. The authority shall use best practices in identifying those employees and school employees best served under a chronic care management model using predictive modeling through claims or other health risk information. (2) For purposes of this section: (a) "Medical home" means a site of care that provides comprehensive preventive and coordinated care centered on the patient needs and assures high quality, accessible, and efficient care. (b) "Chronic care management" means the authority's program that provides care management and coordination activities for health plan enrollees determined to be at risk for high medical costs. "Chronic care management" provides education and training and/or coordination that assist program participants in improving self-management skills to improve health outcomes and reduce medical costs by educating clients to better utilize services.
RCW 41.14.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 070
RCW 41.14.070: Classified and unclassified service designated—Procedures.
Status: in_force

(1) The classified civil service and provisions of this chapter shall include all deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office of sheriff in each county except the county sheriff in every county and an additional number of positions, designated the unclassified service, determined as follows: Staff Personnel Unclassified Position Appointments 1 through 10 2 11 through 20 3 21 through 50 4 51 through 100 5 101 through 250 6 251 through 500 8 501 and over 10 (2) The unclassified position appointments authorized by this section must include selections from the following positions up to the limit of the number of positions authorized: Undersheriff, inspector, chief criminal deputy, chief civil deputy, jail superintendent, and administrative assistant or administrative secretary. The initial selection of specific positions to be exempt shall be made by the sheriff, who shall notify the civil service commission of his or her selection. Subsequent changes in the designation of which positions are to be exempt may be made only with the concurrence of the sheriff and the civil service commission, and then only after the civil service commission has heard the issue in open meeting. Should the position or positions initially selected by the sheriff to be exempt (unclassified) pursuant to this section be under the classified civil service at the time of such selection, and should it (or they) be occupied, the employee(s) occupying said position(s) shall have the right to return to the next highest position or a like position under classified civil service. (3) In counties with a sheriff's department that operates the 911 emergency communications system, in addition to the unclassified positions authorized in subsections (1), (2), and (4) of this section, the sheriff may designate one unclassified position for the 911 emergency communications system. (4) In addition to the unclassified positions authorized in this section, the county legislative authority of any county with a population of five hundred thousand or more operating under a home rule charter may designate unclassified positions of administrative responsibility not to exceed twenty positions.
RCW 41.32.044 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 044
RCW 41.32.044: Retired teacher may reenter system—Benefit limitations.
Status: in_force

A retired teacher upon returning to service in the public schools of Washington may elect to again become a member of the retirement system: PROVIDED, That if such a retired teacher elects to be restored to membership he or she must establish two full years of service credit before he or she will be eligible to retire under the provision of a formula other than the one in effect at the time of his or her previous retirement: PROVIDED FURTHER, That where any such right to again retire is exercised to become effective before a member has established two full years of service credit he or she may elect to retire only under the provisions of the formula in effect at the time of his or her previous retirement: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section shall not apply to any individual who has returned to service and is presently in service on *the effective date of this 1973 amendatory act.
RCW 41.40.061 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 061
RCW 41.40.061: Credit for service in Seattle's police relief and pension fund system—Terms and conditions.
Status: in_force

(1) A member who fulfills the requirements of RCW 41.40.059 may file a written declaration no later than September 30, 1992, with the department and the Seattle police relief and pension fund system indicating the member's desire to make an irrevocable transfer of credit from the Seattle system to this retirement system. The member shall restore his or her contributions, with interest since the date of withdrawal as determined by the director, no later than December 31, 1992. (2) Upon receipt of the written declaration, the Seattle police relief and pension fund system shall send the department a report of the member's service credit. It shall also transfer to the department the portion of such member's contributions that was retained in the Seattle police relief and pension fund pursuant to RCW 41.20.150 , plus a sum equal to such member's total contributions to the Seattle police relief and pension fund, which shall be treated as matching contributions by the employer, plus the compound interest that would have been generated by such sums, as determined by the Seattle city treasurer. The Seattle police relief and pension fund system shall send the service credit report and transfer the funds within ninety days of receiving the member's written declaration.
RCW 41.04.803 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 803
RCW 41.04.803: Application of chapter 236, Laws of 2012.
Status: in_force

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

(1) Chapter 236, Laws of 2012 is curative and remedial and is applicable to any future determination of eligibility for membership in a retirement system under chapters 41.26 , 41.32, 41.35, 41.37, and 41.40 RCW. (2) Chapter 236, Laws of 2012 does not apply to or contravene any prior final decision of the state supreme court regarding the interpretation of the statutes addressed in chapter 236, Laws of 2012.
RCW 41.04.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 190
RCW 41.04.190: Hospitalization and medical aid for county, municipal and other political subdivision employees or elected officials—Cost not additional compensation—Disbursement.
Status: in_force

The cost of a policy or plan to a public agency or body is not additional compensation to the employees or elected officials covered thereby. The elected officials to whom this section applies include but are not limited to commissioners elected under chapters 28A.315 , 52.14, 53.12, 54.12, 57.12, 70.44, and 87.03 RCW, as well as any county elected officials who are provided insurance coverage under RCW 41.04.180 , and city officials elected under chapters 35.17 , 35.22, 35.23, 35.27, 35A.12, and 35A.13 RCW. Any officer authorized to disburse such funds may pay in whole or in part to an insurance carrier or health care service contractor the amount of the premiums due under the contract.
RCW 41.37.145 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 145
RCW 41.37.145: Appeal—No bond required.
Status: in_force

A bond of any kind shall not be required of a claimant appealing to the superior court, the court of appeals, or the supreme court from a finding of the department affecting the claimant's right to retirement or disability benefits.
RCW 41.32.818 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 818
RCW 41.32.818: Public employees' retirement system members who previously declined membership in the teachers' retirement system—Transfer to plan 3—Irrevocable option.
Status: in_force

Any member of the public employees' retirement system plan 2 who is employed in an eligible position as an educational staff associate and who elected pursuant to RCW 41.32.032 (2)(a) to remain a member of the public employees' retirement system under chapter 41.40 RCW may make an irrevocable option before January 1, 1998, to transfer to plan 3 pursuant to RCW 41.32.817 , PROVIDED THAT: (1) Only service credit for previous periods of employment in a position covered by RCW 41.32.010 is transferred to plan 3; (2) Equivalent accumulated employee and employer contributions attributable to service covered by subsection (1) of this section are transferred to plan 3; (3) Employer contributions transferred under this section shall be paid into the teachers' retirement system combined plan 2 and 3 fund.
RCW 41.50.131 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 131
RCW 41.50.131: Correction of errors in reporting compensation earnable.
Status: in_force

(1) Notwithstanding RCW 41.50.130 , the department is not required to correct, nor to cause any employer to correct the reporting error described in subsection (2) of this section. (2) Standby pay and other similar forms of compensation that are not pay for time worked were not salary or wages for personal services within the meaning of RCW 41.40.010 (8). Contrary to RCW 41.40.010 (8), some employers have been reporting standby pay to the department as compensation earnable. To avoid unduly impacting the retirement allowances of persons who have retired on or before June 9, 1994, the department is not required to correct, nor cause to be corrected, any misreporting of amounts identified as standby pay through June 9, 1994. Any erroneous reporting of amounts identified as standby pay to the department on or after June 9, 1994, shall be corrected as an error under RCW 41.50.130 . (3) The forgiveness of past misreporting under subsection (2) of this section constitutes a benefit enhancement for those individuals for whom amounts received as standby pay were misreported to the department. Prior to June 9, 1994, no retirement system member had any right, contractual or otherwise, to have amounts identified as standby pay included as compensation earnable.
RCW 41.04.281 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 281
RCW 41.04.281: Select committee on pension policy—Powers and duties.
Status: in_force

The select committee on pension policy has the following powers and duties: (1) Study pension issues, develop pension policies for public employees in state retirement systems, and make recommendations to the legislature; (2) Study the financial condition of the state pension systems, develop funding policies, and make recommendations to the legislature; and (3) Receive the results of the actuarial audits of the actuarial valuations and experience studies administered by the pension funding council pursuant to RCW 41.45.110 . The select committee on pension policy shall study and make recommendations on changes to assumptions or contribution rates to the pension funding council prior to adoption of changes under RCW 41.45.030 , 41.45.035 , or 41.45.060 .
RCW 41.32.810 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 810
RCW 41.32.810: Service credit for paid leave of absence, officers of labor organizations, unpaid leave of absence, military service.
Status: in_force

(1) A member who is on a paid leave of absence authorized by a member's employer shall continue to receive service credit as provided for under the provisions of RCW 41.32.755 through 41.32.825 . (2) A member who receives compensation from an employer while on an authorized leave of absence to serve as an elected official of a labor organization, and whose employer is reimbursed by the labor organization for the compensation paid to the member during the period of absence, may also be considered to be on a paid leave of absence. This subsection shall only apply if the member's leave of absence is authorized by a collective bargaining agreement that provides that the member retains seniority rights with the employer during the period of leave. The earnable compensation reported for a member who establishes service credit under this subsection may not be greater than the salary paid to the highest paid job class covered by the collective bargaining agreement. (3) Except as specified in subsection (6) of this section, a member shall be eligible to receive a maximum of two years service credit during a member's entire working career for those periods when a member is on an unpaid leave of absence authorized by an employer. Such credit may be obtained only if the member makes both the employer and member contributions plus interest as determined by the department for the period of the authorized leave of absence within five years of resumption of service or prior to retirement whichever comes sooner. (4) If a member fails to meet the time limitations of subsection (3) of this section, the member may receive a maximum of two years of service credit during a member's working career for those periods when a member is on unpaid leave of absence authorized by an employer. This may be done by paying the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2) prior to retirement. (5) For the purpose of subsection (3) of this section, the contribution shall not include the contribution for the unfunded supplemental present value as required by *RCW 41.32.775 . The contributions required shall be based on the average of the member's earnable compensation at both the time the authorized leave of absence was granted and the time the member resumed employment. (6) A member who leaves the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States shall be entitled to retirement system service credit for up to five years of military service. This subsection shall be administered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the federal uniformed services employment and reemployment rights act. (a) The member qualifies for service credit under this subsection if: (i) Within ninety days of the member's honorable discharge from the uniformed services of the United States, the member applies for reemployment with the employer who employed the member immediately prior to the member entering the uniformed services; and (ii) The member makes the employee contributions required under *RCW 41.32.775 within five years of resumption of service or prior to retirement, whichever comes sooner; or (iii) Prior to retirement and not within ninety days of the member's honorable discharge or five years of resumption of service the member pays the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2); or (iv) Prior to retirement the member provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . Any member who made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 may, prior to retirement and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to his or her credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to him or her. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service credit during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection. (b) Upon receipt of member contributions under (a)(ii), (d)(iii), or (e)(iii) of this subsection, or adequate proof under (a)(iv), (d)(iv), or (e)(iv) of this subsection, the department shall establish the member's service credit and shall bill the employer for its contribution required under *RCW 41.32.775 for the period of military service, plus interest as determined by the department. (c) The contributions required under (a)(ii), (d)(iii), or (e)(iii) of this subsection shall be based on the compensation the member would have earned if not on leave, or if that cannot be estimated with reasonable certainty, the compensation reported for the member in the year prior to when the member went on military leave. (d) The surviving spouse or eligible child or children of a member who left the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States and died while serving in the uniformed services may, on behalf of the deceased member, apply for retirement system service credit under this subsection up to the date of the member's death in the uniformed services. The department shall establish the deceased member's service credit if the surviving spouse or eligible child or children: (i) Provides to the director proof of the member's death while serving in the uniformed services; (ii) Provides to the director proof of the member's honorable service in the uniformed services prior to the date of death; and (iii) Pays the employee contributions required under chapter 41.45 RCW within five years of the date of death or prior to the distribution of any benefit, whichever comes first; or (iv) Prior to the distribution of any benefit, provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . If the deceased member made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 , the surviving spouse or eligible child or children may, prior to the distribution of any benefit and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to the deceased member's credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to the surviving spouse or children. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection. (e) A member who leaves the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States and becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer while serving in the uniformed services is entitled to retirement system service credit under this subsection up to the date of discharge from the uniformed services if: (i) The member obtains a determination from the director that he or she is totally incapacitated for continued employment due to conditions or events that occurred while serving in the uniformed services; (ii) The member provides to the director proof of honorable discharge from the uniformed services; and (iii) The member pays the employee contributions required under chapter 41.45 RCW within five years of the director's determination of total disability or prior to the distribution of any benefit, whichever comes first; or (iv) Prior to retirement the member provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . Any member who made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 may, prior to retirement and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to his or her credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to him or her. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service credit during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection.
RCW 41.59.060 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 060
RCW 41.59.060: Employee rights enumerated—Employee authorization of membership dues and other payments—Revocation.
Status: in_force

(1) Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist employee organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall also have the right to refrain from any or all of such activities. (2)(a) Upon authorization of an employee within the bargaining unit and after the certification or recognition of the bargaining unit's exclusive bargaining representative, the employer must deduct from the payments to the employee the monthly amount of dues as certified by the secretary of the exclusive bargaining representative and must transmit the same to the treasurer of the exclusive bargaining representative. (b) An employee's written, electronic, or recorded voice authorization to have the employer deduct membership dues from the employee's salary must be made by the employee to the exclusive bargaining representative. If the employer receives a request for authorization of deductions, the employer shall as soon as practicable forward the request to the exclusive bargaining representative. (c) Upon receiving notice of the employee's authorization from the exclusive bargaining representative, the employer shall deduct from the employee's salary membership dues and remit the amounts to the exclusive bargaining representative. (d) The employee's authorization remains in effect until expressly revoked by the employee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the authorization. (e) An employee's request to revoke authorization for payroll deductions must be in writing and submitted by the employee to the exclusive bargaining representative in accordance with the terms and conditions of the authorization. (f) After the employer receives confirmation from the exclusive bargaining representative that the employee has revoked authorization for deductions, the employer shall end the deduction no later than the second payroll after receipt of the confirmation. (g) The employer shall rely on information provided by the exclusive bargaining representative regarding the authorization and revocation of deductions. (3) If the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit enter into a collective bargaining agreement that includes requirements for deductions of other payments, the employer must make such deductions upon authorization of the employee.
RCW 41.12.150 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 150
RCW 41.12.150: Deceptive practices, false marks, etc., prohibited.
Status: in_force

No commissioner or any other person shall, by himself or herself, or in cooperation with one or more persons, defeat, deceive, or obstruct any person in respect of his or her right of examination or registration according to the rules and regulations of this chapter, or falsely mark, grade, estimate or report upon the examination or proper standing of any person examined, registered or certified pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or aid in so doing, or make any false representation concerning the same, or concerning the person examined, or furnish any person any special or secret information for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects or chances of any person so examined, registered or certified, or to be examined, registered or certified or persuade any other person, or permit or aid in any manner any other person to personate him or her, in connection with any examination or registration of application or request to be examined or registered.
RCW 41.05.670 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 670
RCW 41.05.670: Chronic care management incentives—Provider reimbursement methods.
Status: in_force

(1) Effective January 1, 2013, the authority must contract with all of the public employees' benefits board managed care plans and the self-insured plan or plans to include provider reimbursement methods that incentivize chronic care management within health homes resulting in reduced emergency department and inpatient use. (2) Health home services contracted for under this section may be prioritized to enrollees with complex, high cost, or multiple chronic conditions. (3) For the purposes of this section, "chronic care management" and "health home" have the same meaning as in RCW 74.09.010 . (4) Contracts with fully insured plans and with any third-party administrator for the self-funded plan that include the items in subsection (1) of this section must be funded within the resources provided by employer funding rates provided for employee health benefits in the omnibus appropriations act. (5) Nothing in this section shall require contracted third-party health plans administering the self-insured contract to expend resources to implement items in subsection (1) of this section beyond the resources provided by employer funding rates provided for employee health benefits in the omnibus appropriations act or from other sources in the absence of these provisions. (6) The school employees' benefits board, under RCW 41.05.740 , shall implement the provisions of this section, effective January 1, 2020.
RCW 41.35.720 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 720
RCW 41.35.720: Employer contribution rates.
Status: in_force

The required contribution rates to the retirement system for 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 41.35.090 . 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 such increase shall be announced at least thirty days prior to the effective date of the change. 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 41.16.090 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 090
RCW 41.16.090: Limit of pension.
Status: in_force

All pensioners receiving a pension under the provisions of this chapter as provided for in section 12, chapter 91, Laws of 1947 and RCW 41.16.230 , shall from and after April 25, 1973 receive a minimum pension of three hundred dollars per month.
RCW 41.32.005 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 005
RCW 41.32.005: Provisions applicable to "plan 1," "plan 2," and "plan 3."
Status: in_force

RCW 41.32.010 through 41.32.067 shall apply to members of plan 1, plan 2, and plan 3.
RCW 41.80.310 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 310
RCW 41.80.310: Uniformed personnel—Higher education—Negotiations—Certification for interest arbitration.
Status: in_force

(1) Negotiations between the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative of a unit of uniformed personnel shall be commenced at least five months prior to the submission of the budget to the legislature. If no agreement has been reached sixty days after the commencement of such negotiations then, at any time thereafter, either party may declare that an impasse exists and may submit the dispute to the commission for mediation, with or without the concurrence of the other party. The commission shall appoint a mediator, who shall promptly meet with the representatives of the parties, either jointly or separately, and shall take such other steps as he or she may deem appropriate in order to persuade the parties to resolve their differences and effect an agreement. A mediator, however, does not have a power of compulsion. The mediator may consider only matters that are subject to bargaining under this chapter. (2) If an agreement has not been reached following a reasonable period of negotiations and mediation, and the executive director, upon the recommendation of the assigned mediator, finds that the parties remain at impasse, then the executive director shall certify the issues for interest arbitration. The issues for determination by the arbitration panel shall be limited to the issues certified by the executive director.
RCW 41.06.074 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 074
RCW 41.06.074: Department of health—Certain personnel exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

In addition to the exemptions under RCW 41.06.070 , the provisions of this chapter shall not apply in the department of health to any deputy secretary, assistant secretary, or person who administers the necessary divisions, offices, bureaus, and programs and five additional positions involved in policy or program direction.
RCW 41.40.0931 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 0931
RCW 41.40.0931: Death benefit—Course of employment as a police officer—Occupational disease or infection.
Status: in_force

(1) A one hundred fifty thousand dollar death benefit for members who had the opportunity to transfer to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system pursuant to chapter 502, Laws of 1993, but elected to remain in the public employees' retirement system, shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the member has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department. If there is no designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, the member's death benefit shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse as if in fact the spouse had been nominated by written designation, or if there is no surviving spouse, then to the member's legal representatives. (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, the benefit under this section shall be paid only where death occurs as a result of (a) injuries sustained in the course of employment as a general authority police officer; or (b) an occupational disease or infection that arises naturally and proximately out of employment covered under this chapter. The determination of eligibility for the benefit shall be made consistent with Title 51 RCW by the department of labor and industries. The department of labor and industries shall notify the department of retirement systems by order under RCW 51.52.050 . (3) The benefit under this section shall not be paid in the event the member was in the act of committing a felony when the fatal injuries were suffered.
RCW 41.18.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 040
RCW 41.18.040: Retirement for service—Widow's or widower's pension—Payments to children.
Status: in_force

Whenever any firefighter, *at the time of taking effect of this act or thereafter, shall have been appointed under civil service rules and have served for a period of twenty-five years or more as a member in any capacity of the regularly constituted fire department of any city, town or fire protection district which may be subject to the provisions of this chapter, and shall have attained the age of fifty years, he or she shall be eligible for retirement and shall be retired by the board upon his or her written request. Upon his or her retirement such firefighter shall be paid a monthly pension which shall be equal to fifty percent of the basic salary now or hereafter attached to the same rank and status held by the said firefighter at the date of his or her retirement: PROVIDED, That a firefighter hereafter retiring who has served as a member for more than twenty-five years, shall have his or her pension payable under this section increased by two percent of the basic salary per year for each full year of such additional service to a maximum of five additional years. Upon the death of any such retired firefighter, his or her pension shall be paid to his widow or her widower, at the same monthly rate that the retired firefighter would have received had he or she lived, if such widow or widower was his wife or her husband for a period of five years prior to the time of his or her retirement. If there be no widow or widower, then such monthly payments shall be distributed to and divided among his or her children, share and share alike, until they reach the age of eighteen or are married, whichever occurs first.
RCW 41.04.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 900
RCW 41.04.900: 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 41.59.090 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 090
RCW 41.59.090: Certification of exclusive bargaining representative—Scope of representation.
Status: in_force

The employee organization which has been determined to represent a majority of the employees in a bargaining unit shall be certified by the commission as the exclusive bargaining representative of, and shall be required to represent all the employees within the unit without regard to membership in that bargaining representative: PROVIDED, That any employee at any time may present his or her grievance to the employer and have such grievance adjusted without the intervention of the exclusive bargaining representative, as long as such representative has been given an opportunity to be present at that adjustment and to make its views known, and as long as the adjustment is not inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement then in effect.
RCW 41.35.670 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 670
RCW 41.35.670: Lump sum payments—Reentry.
Status: in_force

(1) The director may pay a member eligible to receive a retirement allowance or the member's beneficiary a lump sum payment in lieu of a monthly benefit if the initial monthly benefit would be less than one hundred dollars. The one hundred dollar limit shall be increased annually as determined by the director. The lump sum payment shall be the actuarial equivalent of the monthly benefit. (2) Persons covered under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section may upon returning to member status reinstate all previous service by depositing the lump sum payment received, with interest as computed by the director, within two years of returning to service or prior to retiring again, whichever comes first. In computing the amount due, the director shall exclude the accumulated value of the normal payments the member would have received while in beneficiary status if the lump sum payment had not occurred. (3) Any member who receives a settlement under this section is deemed to be retired from this system.
RCW 41.50.215 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 215
RCW 41.50.215: Teachers' retirement system funds—Annual interest to be credited.
Status: in_force

From interest and other earnings on the moneys of the Washington state teachers' retirement system, and except as otherwise provided in *RCW 41.32.499 , at the close of each fiscal year the department shall make an allowance of regular interest on the balance which was on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year in each of the teachers' retirement system funds as they may deem advisable; however, no interest shall be credited to the expense fund.
RCW 41.40.820 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 820
RCW 41.40.820: Retirement eligibility.
Status: in_force

(1) NORMAL RETIREMENT. Any member who is at least age sixty-five and who has: (a) Completed ten service credit years; or (b) Completed five service credit years, including twelve service credit months after attaining age forty-four; or (c) Completed five service credit years by the transfer payment date specified in RCW 41.40.795 , under the public employees' retirement system plan 2 and who transferred to plan 3 under RCW 41.40.795 ; shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.790 . (2) EARLY RETIREMENT. Any member who has attained at least age fifty-five and has completed at least ten years of service shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.790 , except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five. (3) ALTERNATE EARLY RETIREMENT. (a) Any member who has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.790 , except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced by three percent per year to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five. (b)(i) On or after July 1, 2008, any member who has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.790 , except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced as follows: Retirement Age Percent Reduction 55 20% 56 17% 57 14% 58 11% 59 8% 60 5% 61 2% 62 0% 63 0% 64 0% (ii) Any member who retired on or after September 1, 2008, and chose the three percent per year reduction provided under (a) of this subsection shall have a retirement allowance recalculated under the reductions of (b)(i) of this subsection for benefit payments made on or after January 1, 2024. (c) Members who first become employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after May 1, 2013, are not eligible for the alternate early retirement provisions of (a) or (b) of this subsection. Any member who first becomes employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after May 1, 2013, and has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.790 , except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced by five percent per year to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five.
RCW 41.06.260 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 260
RCW 41.06.260: Conflict with federal requirements—Effect—Rules to conform chapter.
Status: in_force

If any part of this chapter shall be found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a condition precedent to the allocation of federal funds to the state, such conflicting part of this chapter is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of such conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and such findings or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this chapter in its application to the agencies concerned. The office of financial management and the department of enterprise services, as appropriate, shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to meet federal requirements which are a condition precedent to the receipt of federal funds by the state.
RCW 41.76.001 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 001
RCW 41.76.001: Findings—Declarations—Intent.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds and declares that: (1) The people of the state of Washington have a fundamental interest in developing harmonious and cooperative labor relations within the public four-year institutions of higher education. (2) Teachers in the public school system and instructors in the community colleges in the state have been granted the opportunity to bargain collectively. It is desirable to expand the jurisdiction of the public employment relations commission to cover faculty in the state's public four-year institutions of higher education. (3) It is the purpose of this chapter to provide the means by which relations between the boards of regents and trustees of the public four-year institutions of higher education of the state of Washington and their faculty may assure that the responsibilities and authorities granted to these institutions are carried out in an atmosphere that permits the fullest participation by faculty in determining the conditions of employment which affect them. It is the intent of the legislature to accomplish this purpose by providing a uniform structure for recognizing the right of faculty of the public four-year institutions of higher education to engage in collective bargaining as provided in this chapter, if they should so choose. (4) It is the further purpose of this chapter to provide orderly and clearly defined procedures for collective bargaining and dispute resolution, and to define and prohibit certain practices that are contrary to the public interest.
RCW 41.44.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 130
RCW 41.44.130: Contributions by employees.
Status: in_force

(1) The normal rates of contribution of members shall be based on sex and age at time of entry into the system, which age shall be the age at the birthday nearest the date of such entry. (2) The normal rates of contribution for miscellaneous personnel shall be so fixed as to provide an annuity which, together with the pension provided by the city, shall produce as nearly as may be, a retirement allowance at the age of sixty-two years, of one and one-third percent of the final compensation multiplied by the number of years of service of the retiring employee. The normal rate established for age sixty shall be the rate for any member who has attained a greater age before entrance into the retirement system and the normal contribution established for age twenty-four shall be the rate for any member who enters the system at an earlier age. (3) The normal rates of contribution for uniformed personnel shall be so fixed as to provide an annuity which, together with the pension that would be derived from equal contributions by the city, shall produce as nearly as may be for members who enter service at age thirty-seven or below, a retirement allowance, at age fifty-five with twenty-five or more years of service, or at an age greater than fifty-five after twenty-five years of service, equal to fifty percent of final compensation; and for members entering service at ages over thirty-seven, a retirement allowance at age sixty-two which shall be the same proportion of fifty percent of final compensation as the member's actual years credited bear to twenty-five years. The normal rate established for age fifty shall be the rate for any member who has attained a greater age before entrance into the retirement system. (4) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the board shall adopt rules and regulations governing the making of deductions from the compensation of employees and shall certify to the proper officials in each city the normal rate of contribution for each member provided for in subsections (2) and (3) of this section. The proper officials in each city shall apply such rate of contribution to the full compensation of uniformed personnel and to so much of the compensation of miscellaneous personnel as does not exceed three hundred dollars per month, or four hundred dollars per month, or to any increased amount of such compensation as to members whose member cities have duly elected to increase the limitation provided for in subsection (12) of RCW 41.44.030 and shall certify to the board on each and every payroll the total amount to be contributed and shall furnish immediately to the board a copy of each and every payroll; and each of said amounts shall be forwarded immediately to the board and the board shall credit the deduction shown on such payroll to individual accounts of the members represented on such payrolls. (5) Every member shall be deemed to consent and agree to the contribution made and provided for herein, and shall receipt in full for his or her salary or compensation. Payment less said contributions shall be a full and complete discharge of all claims and demands whatsoever for the service rendered by such person during the period covered by such payment, except his or her claim to the benefits to which he or she may be entitled under the provisions of this chapter. (6) Any member may elect to contribute in excess of the contributions provided for in this section in accordance with rules to be established by the board for the purpose of providing additional benefits, but the exercise of this privilege shall not place on the member city or cities any additional financial obligation. The board shall have authority to fix the rate of interest to be paid or allowed upon the additional contributions and from time to time make any necessary changes in said rate. Refunds of additional contributions shall be governed by the same rules as those covering normal contributions unless the board shall establish separate rules therefor.
RCW 41.05.400 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 400
RCW 41.05.400: Plan of health care coverage—Available funds—Components—Eligibility—Director's duties.
Status: in_force

(1) The director shall design and offer a plan of health care coverage as described in subsection (2) of this section, for any person eligible under subsection (3) of this section. The health care coverage shall be designed and offered only to the extent that state funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose. (2) The plan of health care coverage shall have the following components: (a) Services covered more limited in scope than those contained in RCW 48.41.110 (3); (b) Enrollee cost-sharing that may include but not be limited to point-of-service cost-sharing for covered services; (c) Deductibles of three thousand dollars on a per person per calendar year basis, and four thousand dollars on a per family per calendar year basis. The deductible shall be applied to the first three thousand dollars, or four thousand dollars, of eligible expenses incurred by the covered person or family, respectively, except that the deductible shall not be applied to clinical preventive services as recommended by the United States public health service. Enrollee out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid under the plan for cost-sharing and deductibles shall not exceed five thousand dollars per person, or six thousand dollars per family; (d) Payment methodologies for network providers may include but are not limited to resource-based relative value fee schedules, capitation payments, diagnostic related group fee schedules, and other similar strategies including risk-sharing arrangements; and (e) Other appropriate care management and cost-containment measures determined appropriate by the director, including but not limited to care coordination, provider network limitations, preadmission certification, and utilization review. (3) Any person is eligible for coverage in the plan who resides in a county of the state where no carrier, as defined in RCW 48.43.005 , or insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW offers to the public an individual health benefit plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 at the time of application to the director. Such eligibility may terminate pursuant to subsection (8) of this section. (4) The director may not reject an individual for coverage based upon preexisting conditions of the individual or deny, exclude, or otherwise limit coverage for an individual's preexisting health conditions; except that it shall impose a nine-month benefit waiting period for preexisting conditions for which medical advice was given, or for which a health care provider recommended or provided treatment, or for which a prudent layperson would have sought advice or treatment, within six months before the effective date of coverage. The preexisting condition waiting period shall not apply to prenatal care services. Credit against the waiting period shall be provided pursuant to subsections (5) and (6) of this section. (5) Except for persons to whom subsection (6) of this section applies, the director shall credit any preexisting condition waiting period in the plan for a person who was enrolled at any time during the sixty-three day period immediately preceding the date of application for the plan in a group health benefit plan or an individual health benefit plan other than a catastrophic health plan. The director must credit the period of coverage the person was continuously covered under the immediately preceding health plan toward the waiting period of the new health plan. For the purposes of this subsection, a preceding health plan includes an employer-provided self-funded health plan. (6) The director shall waive any preexisting condition waiting period in the plan for a person who is an eligible individual as defined in section 2741(b) of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 300gg-41(b)). (7) The director shall set the rates to be charged plan enrollees. (8) When a carrier, as defined in RCW 48.43.005 , or an insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW, begins to offer an individual health benefit plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 in a county where no carrier or insurer had been offering an individual health benefit plan: (a) If the health benefit plan offered is other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 , any person enrolled in the plan under subsection (3) of this section in that county shall no longer be eligible; (b) The director shall provide written notice to any person who is no longer eligible for coverage under the plan within thirty days of the director's determination that the person is no longer eligible. The notice shall: (i) Indicate that coverage under the plan will cease ninety days from the date that the notice is dated; (ii) describe any other coverage options available to the person; and (iii) describe the enrollment process for the available options.
RCW 41.06.420 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 420
RCW 41.06.420: Entry-level management training course—Rules—Requirements—Suspension—Waiver—Designation of supervisory or management positions.
Status: in_force

(1) The office of financial management, by rule, shall prescribe the conditions under which an employee appointed to a supervisory or management position after June 12, 1980, shall be required to successfully complete an entry-level management training course as approved by the director. Such training shall not be required of any employee who has completed a management training course prior to the employee's appointment which is, in the judgment of the director, at least equivalent to the entry-level course required by this section. (2) The office of financial management, by rule, shall establish procedures for the suspension of the entry-level training requirement in cases where the ability of an agency to perform its responsibilities is adversely affected, or for the waiver of this requirement in cases where a person has demonstrated experience as a substitute for training. (3) Agencies subject to the provisions of this chapter, in accordance with rules prescribed by the office of financial management, shall designate individual positions, or groups of positions, as being "supervisory" or "management" positions. Such designations shall be subject to review by the director.
RCW 41.04.550 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 550
RCW 41.04.550: Disability leave supplement for law enforcement officers and firefighters—Not subject to interest arbitration.
Status: in_force

Disability leave supplement payments for employees covered by chapter 462, Laws of 1985 shall not be subject to interest arbitration as defined in *RCW 41.56.075 , 41.56.105 , 41.56.139 , 41.56.157 , 41.56.407 , 41.56.501 through 41.56.575 , 41.56.900 , and 41.56.905 .
RCW 41.04.830 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 830
RCW 41.04.830: Medical information exempt from disclosure—Exceptions.
Status: in_force

Medical information contained in files and records of members of retirement plans administered by the department of retirement systems or the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement board, under the provisions of this title, are confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW. However: (1) Representatives of an applicant may review an application file or receive specific information from an application file with the signed authorization of the applicant. (2) Health care providers treating or examining applicants claiming disability retirement benefits under this title, or physicians giving medical advice to the department of retirement systems regarding any application, may, at the discretion of the department of retirement systems, inspect the application files and records of applicants. (3) At the discretion of the department of retirement systems, persons rendering assistance to the department at any stage of the proceedings on any matter pertaining to the administration of this title may inspect the health information contained in application files and records of applicants.
RCW 41.35.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 110
RCW 41.35.110: Disability retirement—Criminal conduct.
Status: in_force

A member shall not receive a disability retirement benefit under RCW 41.35.440 or 41.35.690 if the disability is the result of criminal conduct by the member committed after April 21, 1997.
RCW 41.04.405 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 405
RCW 41.04.405: Consolidation of local governmental unit and first-class city retirement system—Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 41.04.400 through 41.04.430 . (1) "Legal entity" means any political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state, including but not limited to public agencies created under RCW 35.63.070 , 36.70.060 , or 39.34.030 . (2) "Consolidated employer" means the legal entity assigned by agreement to perform a governmental service, activity, or undertaking for two or more units of local government of the state, at least one of which is a first-class city with its own retirement system. (3) "Existing employee" means a person who both (a) becomes employed by the consolidated employer within one year after the consolidation and (b) was employed by one of the combining legal entities at the time of the consolidation. (4) "New employee" means an employee of the consolidated employer who is not an existing employee. (5) "Active member" means a member of a retirement system who was making contributions to that retirement system at the time of the consolidation.
RCW 41.06.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 900
RCW 41.06.900: Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be referred to as the state civil service law.
RCW 41.44.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 070
RCW 41.44.070: Board of trustees.
Status: in_force

(1) The board of trustees shall consist of seven members, one of whom shall be the state insurance commissioner, ex officio; three elective city officials eligible to the benefits of the system who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of six city officials submitted by the executive committee of the association of Washington cities as the official representative of cities and towns in the state. Original terms of office of the appointees shall be one, two and three years as designated by the governor; thereafter terms shall be for three years duration. Appointments to fill vacancies other than those caused by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired term. Appointees shall serve until successors have been appointed and qualified. In addition to these four members, there shall be three city employees who shall be elected by a secret ballot vote of the city employees who are members of the system. The method and details of such election shall be determined by the board of trustees. The first such election shall be held in June of 1968. The original terms of office for the elected city employee members shall be one, two and three years as designated by the board of trustees, and such terms shall begin July 1, 1968; thereafter terms shall be for three years' duration. In the case of vacancies of elected city employee positions the board of trustees shall appoint city employees to serve for the unexpired terms. Such appointees shall serve until successors have been elected. (2) The board shall annually, dating from the first officially recorded meeting, elect a chair and secretary. Four members shall constitute a quorum. (3) Each member of the board shall take an oath of office that he or she will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the board, and that he or she will not knowingly violate or willfully permit to be violated any of the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.50.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 160
RCW 41.50.160: Restoration of withdrawn contributions.
Status: in_force

The department of retirement systems shall incorporate the development of individual member accounts receivable into its information systems projects for fiscal years 1993 and 1994, so that by January 1, 1994, members of state retirement systems who are otherwise eligible to restore previously withdrawn contributions have the option to make restoration in a manner determined by the department.
RCW 41.56.401 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 401
RCW 41.56.401: Application of chapter to employees of institutions of higher education—Exceptions—Limitations on bargaining.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to employees of institutions of higher education who are exempted from civil service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (2), with the following exceptions: (a) Executive employees, including all members of the governing board of each institution of higher education and related boards; all presidents and vice presidents; deans, directors, and chairs; and executive heads of major administrative or academic divisions; (b) Managers who perform any of the following functions: (i) Formulate, develop, or establish institutional policy, or direct the work of an administrative unit; (ii) Manage, administer, and control a program, including its physical, financial, or personnel resources; (iii) Have substantial responsibility for human resources administration, legislative relations, public information, internal audits and investigations, or the preparation and administration of budgets; (iv) Functionally is above the first level of supervision and exercises authority that is not merely routine or clerical in nature and requires the consistent use of independent judgment; (c) Employees who, in the regular course of their duties, act as a principal assistant, administrative assistant, or personal assistant to employees as defined by (a) of this subsection; (d) Confidential employees; (e) Employees who assist assistant attorneys general who advise and represent managers or confidential employees in personnel or labor relations matters, or who advise or represent the state in tort actions. (2) Employees subject to this section shall not be included in any unit of employees certified under *RCW 41.56.403 , 41.56.411 , or 41.56.423 , chapter 41.76 RCW, or chapter 41.80 RCW. Employees whose eligibility for collective bargaining is covered by chapter 28B.52 , 41.76, or 41.80 RCW are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. (3) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representatives shall not agree to any proposal that would prevent the implementation of approved affirmative action plans or that would be inconsistent with the comparable worth agreement that provided the basis for the salary changes implemented beginning with the 1983-1985 biennium to achieve comparable worth. (4) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representative shall not bargain over rights of management that, in addition to all powers, duties, and rights established by constitutional provision or statute, shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) The functions and programs of the institution, the use of technology, and the structure of the organization; (b) The institution's budget and the size of its workforce, including determining the financial basis for layoffs; (c) The right to direct and supervise employees; (d) The right to take whatever actions are deemed necessary to carry out the mission of the state and the institutions of higher education during emergencies; (e) Retirement plans and retirement benefits; or (f) Health care benefits or other employee insurance benefits, except as provided in RCW 41.80.020 .
RCW 41.12.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 170
RCW 41.12.170: Local legislation required—Penalty.
Status: in_force

The various cities affected by the provisions of this chapter, shall immediately upon the taking effect thereof, enact appropriate legislation for carrying this chapter into effect, and the failure upon the part of the duly constituted authorities of any such city so to do shall be considered a violation of this chapter and be punishable as such.
RCW 41.12.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 030
RCW 41.12.030: Civil service commission—Appointment—Terms—Removal—Quorum.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in every city, town or municipality except those referred to in RCW 41.12.010 , having fully paid police officers a civil service commission which shall be composed of three persons. The members of such commission shall be appointed by the 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 vested by law with the power and authority to select, appoint, or employ the chief of a police department in any such city, prior to the enactment of this chapter. The members of such commission shall serve without compensation. No person shall be appointed a member of such commission who is not a citizen of the United States, a resident of such city for at least three years immediately preceding such appointment, and an elector of the county wherein he or she resides. The term of office of such commissioners shall be for six years, except that the first three members of such commission shall be appointed for different terms, as follows: One to serve for a period of two years, one to serve for a period of four years, and one to serve for a period of six years. Any member of such commission may be removed from office for incompetency, incompatibility or dereliction of duty, or malfeasance in office, or other good cause: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no member of the commission shall be removed until charges have been preferred, in writing, due notice and a full hearing had. The members of such commission shall devote due time and attention to the performance of the duties hereinafter specified and imposed upon them by this chapter. Two members of such commission shall constitute a quorum and the votes of any two members of such commission concurring shall be sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business to be decided or transacted by the commission under or by virtue of the provisions of this chapter. Confirmation of said appointment or appointments of commissioners by any legislative body shall not be required. At the time of any appointment not more than two commissioners shall be adherents of the same political party.
RCW 41.05.531 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 531
RCW 41.05.531: Standard set of criteria—Updated versions—Review and use.
Status: in_force

When updated versions of the ASAM Criteria, treatment criteria for addictive, substance related, and co-occurring conditions, inclusive of adolescent and transition age youth versions, are published by the American society of addiction medicine, the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner shall jointly determine whether to use the updated version, and, if so, the date upon which the updated version must begin to be used by medicaid managed care organizations, carriers, and other relevant entities. Both agencies shall post notice of their decision on their websites. For purposes of the ASAM Criteria, 4th edition, medicaid managed care organizations and carriers shall begin to use the updated criteria no later than January 1, 2026, unless the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner jointly determine that it should not be used.
RCW 41.24.220 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 220
RCW 41.24.220: Hospitalization, surgery, etc.
Status: in_force

Whenever any participant becomes injured, disabled, or sick in consequence or as the result of the performance of his or her duties by reason of which he or she is confined to any hospital or other medical facility, an amount not exceeding the daily ward rate of the hospital or regular fees for such service shall be allowed and paid from the principal fund. This allowance shall not be in lieu of but in addition to any other allowance provided in this chapter. In addition, the costs of surgery, medicine, laboratory fees, X-ray, special therapies, and similar additional costs shall be paid. When extended treatment, not available in the injured, disabled, or sick participant's home area, is required, the participant may be reimbursed for actual mileage to and from the place of extended treatment pursuant to RCW 43.03.060 .The legislature finds that the public schools provide a unique and appropriate setting for educating young people about the pathology and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The legislature recognizes that schools and communities vary throughout the state and that locally elected school directors should have a significant role in establishing a program of sexually transmitted disease education in their districts, consistent with RCW 28A.230.020 and 28A.300.475 .
RCW 41.05.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 170
RCW 41.05.170: Neurodevelopmental therapies—Employer-sponsored group contracts.
Status: in_force

(1) Each health plan offered to public employees and their covered dependents under this chapter which is not subject to the provisions of Title 48 RCW and is established or renewed on or after twelve months after July 23, 1989, shall include coverage for neurodevelopmental therapies for covered individuals age six and under. (2) Benefits provided under this section shall cover the services of those authorized to deliver occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. Benefits shall be payable only where the services have been delivered pursuant to the referral and periodic review of a holder of a license issued pursuant to chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW or where covered services have been rendered by such licensee. Nothing in this section shall preclude a self-funded plan authorized under this chapter from negotiating rates with qualified providers. (3) Benefits provided under this section shall be for medically necessary services as determined by the self-funded plan authorized under this chapter. Benefits shall be payable for services for the maintenance of a covered individual in cases where significant deterioration in the patient's condition would result without the service. Benefits shall be payable to restore and improve function. (4) It is the intent of this section that the state, as an employer providing comprehensive health coverage including the benefits required by this section, retains the authority to design and employ utilization and cost controls. Therefore, benefits delivered under this section may be subject to contractual provisions regarding deductible amounts and/or copayments established by the self-funded plan authorized under this chapter. Benefits provided under this section may be subject to standard waiting periods for preexisting conditions, and may be subject to the submission of written treatment plans. (5) In recognition of the intent expressed in subsection (4) of this section, benefits provided under this section may be subject to contractual provisions establishing annual and/or lifetime benefit limits. Such limits may define the total dollar benefits available, or may limit the number of services delivered as established by the self-funded plan authorized under this chapter.
RCW 41.34.120 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 34 / Section 120
RCW 41.34.120: Money, property, income held in trust.
Status: in_force

All moneys in members' accounts, all property and rights purchased therewith, and all income attributable thereto, shall be held in trust by the state investment board, as set forth under RCW 43.33A.030 , for the exclusive benefit of the members and their beneficiaries.
RCW 41.76.035 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 035
RCW 41.76.035: Provisions relating to compensation—Restrictions.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, provisions of collective bargaining agreements relating to compensation shall not exceed the amount or percentage established by the legislature in the appropriations act. If any compensation provision is affected by subsequent modification of the appropriations act by the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into collective bargaining for the sole purpose of arriving at a mutually agreed upon replacement for the affected provision. (2) An employer may provide additional compensation to faculty that exceeds that provided by the legislature.
RCW 41.76.015 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 015
RCW 41.76.015: Exclusive bargaining representatives—Duty of representation.
Status: in_force

The employee organization which has been determined by the commission to be the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit shall be required to represent all the faculty members within the bargaining unit without regard to membership in that employee organization: PROVIDED, That any faculty member may at any time present his or her complaints or concerns to the employer and have such complaints or concerns adjusted without intervention of the exclusive bargaining representative, as long as the exclusive bargaining representative has been given an opportunity to be present at the adjustment and to make its views known, and as long as the adjustment is not inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement then in effect.
RCW 41.06.084 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 084
RCW 41.06.084: Department of agriculture—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 in the department of agriculture to the director, the director's confidential secretary, the deputy director, not more than eight assistant directors, the state veterinarian, and the milk pooling administrator employed under RCW 15.35.100 .
RCW 41.04.455 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 455
RCW 41.04.455: Members' retirement contributions—Pick up by employer—Conditions.
Status: in_force

The following two conditions apply to the employer pick up of member contributions authorized under RCW 41.04.445 (section 2, chapter 227, Laws of 1984): (1) The retirement contributions, although designated as member contributions, will be picked up by the employer, as provided in RCW 41.04.445 (section 2, chapter 227, Laws of 1984) in lieu of contributions by the member. (2) No retirement system member will have the option of choosing to receive the contributed amounts directly instead of having them paid by the employer to the retirement system.
RCW 41.20.100 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 100
RCW 41.20.100: Examination of disability pensioners—Emergency duty.
Status: in_force

Any person retired for disability under this chapter may be summoned before the board herein provided for, at any time thereafter, and shall submit himself or herself thereto for examination as to his or her fitness for duty, and shall abide the decision and order of said board with reference thereto; and all members of such police force who may be retired under the provisions of this chapter, shall report to the chief of police of such city where so retired on the first Mondays of April, July, October, and January of each year; and in cases of emergency, may be assigned to and shall perform such duty as said chief of police may direct, and such persons shall have no claim against such city for payment for such duty so performed.
RCW 41.14.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 110
RCW 41.14.110: Tenure—Grounds for deprivation.
Status: in_force

The tenure of every person holding an office, place, position, or employment under the provisions of this chapter shall be only during good behavior, and any such person may be removed or discharged, suspended without pay, demoted, or reduced in rank, or deprived of vacation privileges or other special privileges for any of the following reasons: (1) Incompetency, inefficiency, or inattention to, or dereliction of duty; (2) Dishonesty, intemperance, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, or a fellow employee, or any other act of omission or commission tending to injure the public service; or any other willful failure on the part of the employee to properly conduct himself or herself; or any willful violation of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations to be adopted hereunder; (3) Mental or physical unfitness for the position which the employee holds; (4) Dishonest, disgraceful, or prejudicial conduct; (5) Drunkenness or use of intoxicating liquors, narcotics, or any other habit forming drug, liquid, or preparation to such extent that the use thereof interferes with the efficiency or mental or physical fitness of the employee, or which precludes the employee from properly performing the function and duties of any position under civil service; (6) Conviction of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (7) Any other act or failure to act which in the judgment of the civil service commission is sufficient to show the offender to be an unsuitable and unfit person to be employed in the public service.
RCW 41.26.460 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 460
RCW 41.26.460: Options for payment of retirement allowances—Retirement allowance adjustment—Court-approved property settlement.
Status: in_force

(1) Upon retirement for service as prescribed in RCW 41.26.430 or disability retirement under RCW 41.26.470 , a member shall elect to have the retirement allowance paid pursuant to 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 domestic partner; or if there be neither such designated person or persons still living at the time of death nor a surviving spouse or domestic partner, 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 designated person. Such person shall be 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. (2)(a) A member, if married or a domestic partner, must provide the written consent of his or her spouse or domestic partner to the option selected under this section, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. If a member is married or a domestic partner and both the member and member's spouse or domestic partner do not give written consent to an option under this section, the department will pay the member a joint and fifty percent survivor benefit and record the member's spouse or domestic partner as the beneficiary. Such benefit shall be calculated to be actuarially equivalent to the benefit options available under subsection (1) of this section unless spousal or domestic partner 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 or domestic partner 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 or domestic partner from a postretirement marriage or domestic partnership as a survivor during a one-year period beginning one year after the date of the postretirement marriage or domestic partnership 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 or domestic partnership 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 or domestic partner 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 or a person not their domestic partner 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 41.26.530 (1) and the member's divorcing spouse or domestic partner be divided into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse or domestic partner. The member shall have available the benefit options of subsection (1) of this section upon retirement, and if remarried or in a domestic partnership at the time of retirement remains subject to the spousal or domestic partner 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 or former domestic partner shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefit upon reaching the ages provided in RCW 41.26.430 (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 or domestic partner if the nonmember ex spouse or former domestic partner 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 or domestic partner 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 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. (6) Beginning on the date that the state receives a determination from the federal internal revenue service that this subsection (6) conforms with federal law, retirees have up to ninety calendar days after the receipt of their first retirement allowance to change their survivor election under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. If a member changes the member's survivor election under this subsection the change is effective the first of the following month and is prospective only.
RCW 41.05.533 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 533
RCW 41.05.533: Medication synchronization policy required for health benefit plans covering prescription drugs—Requirements—Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) A health benefit plan offered to public employees and their covered dependents under this chapter that is not subject to chapter 48.43 RCW, that is issued or renewed after December 31, 2015, and that provides coverage for prescription drugs must implement a medication synchronization policy for the dispensing of prescription drugs to the plan's enrollees. (a) If an enrollee requests medication synchronization for a new prescription, the health [benefit] plan must permit filling the drug: (i) For less than a one-month supply of the drug if synchronization will require more than a fifteen-day supply of the drug; or (ii) for more than a one-month supply of the drug if synchronization will require a fifteen-day supply of the drug or less. (b) The health benefit plan shall adjust the enrollee cost-sharing for a prescription drug subject to coinsurance that is dispensed for less than the standard refill amount for the purpose of synchronizing the medications. (c) The health benefit plan shall adjust the enrollee cost-sharing for a prescription drug with a copayment that is dispensed for less than the standard refill amount for the purpose of synchronizing the medications by: (i) Discounting the copayment rate by fifty percent; (ii) Discounting the copayment rate based on fifteen-day increments; or (iii) Any other method that meets the intent of this section and is approved by the office of the insurance commissioner. (2) Upon request of an enrollee, the prescribing provider or pharmacist shall: (a) Determine that filling or refilling the prescription is in the best interest of the enrollee, taking into account the appropriateness of synchronization for the drug being dispensed; (b) Inform the enrollee that the prescription will be filled to less than the standard refill amount for the purpose of synchronizing his or her medications; and (c) Deny synchronization on the grounds of threat to patient safety or suspected fraud or abuse. (3) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: (a) "Medication synchronization" means the coordination of medication refills for a patient taking two or more medications for a chronic condition such that the patient's medications are refilled on the same schedule for a given time period. (b) "Prescription" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011 .
RCW 41.05.845 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 845
RCW 41.05.845: Prior authorization.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5395-S2.SL ) ***

(1) A health plan offered to public employees, retirees, and their covered dependents under this chapter issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, shall comply with the following standards related to prior authorization for health care services and prescription drugs: (a) The health plan shall meet the following time frames for prior authorization determinations and notifications to a participating provider or facility that submits the prior authorization request through an electronic prior authorization process: (i) For electronic standard prior authorization requests, the health plan shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within three calendar days, excluding holidays, of submission of an electronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the health plan to make a decision, the health plan shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the electronic prior authorization request. (ii) For electronic expedited prior authorization requests, the health plan shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within one calendar day of submission of an electronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the health plan to make a decision, the health plan shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the electronic prior authorization request. (b) The health plan shall meet the following time frames for prior authorization determinations and notifications to a participating provider or facility that submits the prior authorization request through a process other than an electronic prior authorization process described in subsection (2) of this section: (i) For nonelectronic standard prior authorization requests, the health plan shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within five calendar days of submission of a nonelectronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the health plan to make a decision, the health plan shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within five calendar days of submission of the nonelectronic prior authorization request. (ii) For nonelectronic expedited prior authorization requests, the health plan shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within two calendar days of submission of a nonelectronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the health plan to make a decision, the health plan shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the nonelectronic prior authorization request. (c) In any instance in which the health plan has determined that a provider or facility has not provided sufficient information for making a determination under (a) and (b) of this subsection, the health plan may establish a specific reasonable time frame for submission of the additional information. This time frame must be communicated to the provider and enrollee with the health plan's request for additional information. (d) The prior authorization requirements of the health plan must be described in detail and written in easily understandable language. The health plan shall make its most current prior authorization requirements and restrictions, including the written clinical review criteria, available to providers and facilities in an electronic format upon request. The prior authorization requirements must be based on peer-reviewed clinical review criteria. The clinical review criteria must be evidence-based criteria and must accommodate new and emerging information related to the appropriateness of clinical criteria with respect to black and indigenous people, other people of color, gender, and underserved populations. The clinical review criteria must be evaluated and updated, if necessary, at least annually. (2)(a) Each health plan offered to public employees, retirees, and their covered dependents under this chapter shall establish and maintain a prior authorization application programming interface that is consistent with final rules issued by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services and published in the federal register, and that indicates that a prior authorization denial or authorization of a service less intensive than that included in the original request is an adverse benefit determination and is subject to the health plan's grievance and appeal process under RCW 48.43.535 . (b) Each health plan offered to public employees, retirees, and their covered dependents under this chapter shall establish and maintain an interoperable electronic process or application programming interface that automates the process for in-network providers to determine whether a prior authorization is required for a covered prescription drug. The interoperable electronic process or application programming interface must support the exchange of prior authorization requests and determinations for prescription drugs, including information on covered alternative prescription drugs, beginning January 1, 2027, and must: (i) Allow providers to identify prior authorization information and documentation requirements; (ii) Facilitate the exchange of prior authorization requests and determinations from its electronic health records or practice management system; and (iii) Indicate that a prior authorization denial or authorization of a drug other than the one included in the original prior authorization request is an adverse benefit determination and is subject to the health plan's grievance and appeal process under RCW 48.43.535 . (c) Regardless of whether federal rules related to standards for using an application programming interface to communicate prior authorization status to providers are revoked, delayed, suspended, or not finalized by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services after February 8, 2024, the requirements of (a) of this subsection shall be enforced beginning January 1, 2027. (3) Nothing in this section applies to prior authorization determinations made pursuant to RCW 41.05.526 . (4) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Expedited prior authorization request" means a request by a provider or facility for approval of a health care service or prescription drug where: (i) The passage of time: (A) Could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee; (B) Could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's ability to regain maximum function; or (C) In the opinion of a provider or facility with knowledge of the enrollee's medical condition, would subject the enrollee to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the health care service or prescription drug that is the subject of the request; or (ii) The enrollee is undergoing a current course of treatment using a nonformulary drug. (b) "Standard prior authorization request" means a request by a provider or facility for approval of a health care service or prescription drug where the request is made in advance of the enrollee obtaining a health care service that is not required to be expedited. (5) This section shall not apply to coverage provided under the medicare part C or part D programs set forth in Title XVIII of the social security act of 1965, as amended.
RCW 41.16.230 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 230
RCW 41.16.230: Repeal does not affect accrued rights.
Status: repealed

Chapter 50, Laws of 1909; chapter 196, Laws of 1919; chapter 86, Laws of 1929, and chapter 39, Laws of 1935 (secs. 9559 to 9578, incl., Rem. Rev. Stat.; secs. 396-1 to 396-43, incl., PPC) and all other acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed: PROVIDED, That the repeal of said laws shall not affect any "prior firefighter," his widow, her widower, child or children, any firefighter eligible for retirement but not retired, his widow, her widower, child or children, or the rights of any retired firefighter, his widow, her widower, child or children, to receive payments and benefits from the firefighters' pension fund created under this chapter, in the amount, and in the manner provided by said laws which are hereby repealed and as if said laws had not been repealed.
RCW 41.05A.280 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05A / Section 280
RCW 41.05A.280: Recording of notice of transfer or encumbrance of real property.
Status: in_force

(1) When an individual receives assistance subject to recovery under this chapter and the individual is the holder of record title to real property or the purchaser under a land sale contract, the authority may present to the county auditor for recording in the deed and mortgage records of a county a request for notice of transfer or encumbrance of the real property. The authority shall adopt a rule providing prior notice and hearing rights to the record titleholder or purchaser under a land sale contract. (2) The authority shall present to the county auditor for recording a termination of request for notice of transfer or encumbrance when, in the judgment of the authority, it is no longer necessary or appropriate for the authority to monitor transfers or encumbrances related to the real property. (3) The authority shall adopt by rule a form for the request for notice of transfer or encumbrance and the termination of request for notice of transfer or encumbrance that, at a minimum: (a) Contains the name of the assistance recipient and a case identifier or other appropriate information that links the individual who is the holder of record title to real property or the purchaser under a land sale contract to the individual's assistance records; (b) Contains the legal description of the real property; (c) Contains a mailing address for the authority to receive the notice of transfer or encumbrance; and (d) Complies with the requirements for recording in RCW 36.18.010 for those forms intended to be recorded. (4) The authority shall pay the recording fee required by the county clerk under RCW 36.18.010 . (5) The request for notice of transfer or encumbrance described in this section does not affect title to real property and is not a lien on, encumbrance of, or other interest in the real property.
RCW 41.04.360 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 360
RCW 41.04.360: State-employed religious coordinator—Housing allowance.
Status: in_force

In the case of a minister or other clergyperson employed as a religious coordinator in a state institution or agency, there is designated in the salary or wage paid to the person an amount up to forty percent of the gross salary as either of the following: (1) The rental value of a home furnished to the person as part of the person's compensation; or (2) The housing/rental allowance paid to the person as part of the person's compensation, to the extent used by the person to rent or provide a home.
RCW 41.56.423 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 423
RCW 41.56.423: University of Washington—Certain employees enrolled in an academic program—Scope of collective bargaining.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to the University of Washington with respect to employees who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification in (a) through (i) of this subsection on any University of Washington campus. The employees in (a) through (i) of this subsection constitute an appropriate bargaining unit: (a) Predoctoral instructor; (b) Predoctoral lecturer; (c) Predoctoral teaching assistant; (d) Predoctoral teaching associates I and II; (e) Tutors, readers, and graders in all academic units and tutoring centers; (f) Predoctoral staff assistant; (g) Predoctoral staff associates I and II; (h) Except as provided in this subsection (1)(h), predoctoral researcher, predoctoral research assistant, and predoctoral research associates I and II. The employees that constitute an appropriate bargaining unit under this subsection (1) do not include predoctoral researchers, predoctoral research assistants, and predoctoral research associates I and II who are performing research primarily related to their dissertation and who have incidental or no service expectations placed upon them by the university; and (i) All employees enrolled in an academic program whose duties and responsibilities are substantially equivalent to those employees in (a) through (h) of this subsection. (2)(a) The scope of bargaining for employees at the University of Washington under this section excludes: (i) The ability to terminate the employment of any individual if the individual is not meeting academic requirements as determined by the University of Washington; (ii) The amount of tuition or fees at the University of Washington. However, tuition and fee remission and waiver is within the scope of bargaining; (iii) The academic calendar of the University of Washington; and (iv) The number of students to be admitted to a particular class or class section at the University of Washington. (b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, provisions of collective bargaining agreements relating to compensation must not exceed the amount or percentage established by the legislature in the appropriations act. If any compensation provision is affected by subsequent modification of the appropriations act by the legislature, both parties must immediately enter into collective bargaining for the sole purpose of arriving at a mutually agreed upon replacement for the affected provision. (ii) The University of Washington may provide additional compensation to student employees covered by this section that exceeds that provided by the legislature.
RCW 41.04.672 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 672
RCW 41.04.672: Veterans' in-state service shared leave pool.
Status: in_force

(1) The veterans' in-state service shared leave pool is created to allow employees to donate leave to be used as shared leave for: (a) Veteran employees who meet the requirements of RCW 41.04.665 ; or (b) Spouses of veteran employees, who meet the requirements of RCW 41.04.665 , who are caring for their spouses. (2) Participation in the pool shall, at all times, be voluntary on the part of the employee. The department of veterans affairs shall administer the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool. (3) Employees who are eligible to donate leave under RCW 41.04.665 may donate leave to the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool. (4) A veteran employee who is eligible for shared leave under RCW 41.04.665 or a spouse of a veteran employee, who is eligible for shared leave under RCW 41.04.665 , who is caring for his or her spouse may request shared leave from veterans' in-state service shared leave pool. (5) Shared leave under this section may not be granted unless the pool has a sufficient balance to fund the requested shared leave. (6) Shared leave paid under this section, in combination with an employees's salary, may not exceed the level of the employee's state monthly salary. (7) Any leave donated must be removed from the personally accumulated leave balance of the employee donating the leave. (8) All employees who donate to the shared leave pool must specify their intent to donate to the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool. (9) An employee who receives shared leave from the pool is not required to recontribute such leave to the pool, except as otherwise provided in this section. (10) Leave that may be donated or received by any one employee must be calculated as in RCW 41.04.665 . (11) As used in this section: (a) "Employee" has the meaning provided in RCW 41.04.655 , except that "employee" as used in this section does not include employees of school districts and educational service districts. "Employee" does not include employees called to service in the uniformed services. (b) "Monthly salary" includes monthly salary and special pay and shift differential, or the monthly equivalent for hourly employees. "Monthly salary" does not include: (i) Overtime pay; (ii) Call back pay; (iii) Standby pay; or (iv) Performance bonuses. (c) "Service in the uniformed services" has the meaning provided in RCW 41.04.655 . (d) "Veteran" has the meaning provided in RCW 41.04.005 . (12) The office of financial management, in consultation with the department of veterans affairs, shall adopt rules and policies governing the donation and use of shared leave from the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool, including definitions of pay and allowances and guidelines for agencies to use in recordkeeping concerning shared leave. (13) Agencies shall investigate any alleged abuse of the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool and on a finding of wrongdoing, the employee may be required to repay all of the shared leave received from the veterans' in-state service shared leave pool. (14) Higher education institutions shall adopt policies consistent with the needs of the employees under their respective jurisdictions.
RCW 41.56.560 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 560
RCW 41.56.560: Uniformed personnel—Application of chapter to Washington state patrol—Bargaining subjects.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to the state with respect to the officers of the Washington state patrol appointed under RCW 43.43.020 , except that the state is prohibited from negotiating any matters relating to retirement benefits or health care benefits or other employee insurance benefits. (2) For the purposes of negotiating wages, wage-related matters, and nonwage matters, the state shall be represented by the governor or the governor's designee who is appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW, and costs of the negotiations under this section shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 41.80.140 . (3) The governor or the governor's designee shall consult with the chief of the Washington state patrol regarding collective bargaining. (4) The negotiation of provisions pertaining to wages and wage-related matters in a collective bargaining agreement between the state and the Washington state patrol officers is subject to the following: (a) The state's bargaining representative must periodically consult with a subcommittee of the joint committee on employment relations created in **RCW 41.80.010 (5) which shall consist of the four members appointed to the joint committee with leadership positions in the senate and the house of representatives, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate transportation committee and the house transportation committee, or their successor committees. The subcommittee must be consulted regarding the appropriations necessary to implement these provisions in a collective bargaining agreement and, on completion of negotiations, must be advised on the elements of these provisions. (b) Provisions that are entered into before the legislature approves the funds necessary to implement the provisions must be conditioned upon the legislature's subsequent approval of the funds. (5) The governor shall submit a request for funds necessary to implement the wage and wage-related matters in the collective bargaining agreement or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement. Requests for funds necessary to implement the provisions of bargaining agreements may not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless such requests: (a) Have been submitted to the director of financial management by October 1st before the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered; and (b) Have been certified by the director of financial management as being feasible financially for the state or reflects the decision of an arbitration panel reached under *RCW 41.56.562 .
RCW 41.56.139 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 139
RCW 41.56.139: School district collective bargaining agreements.
Status: in_force

(1) All collective bargaining agreements entered into between a school district employer and school district employees under this chapter after June 10, 2010, as well as bargaining agreements existing on June 10, 2010, but renewed or extended after June 10, 2010, shall be consistent with RCW 28A.657.050 . (2) All collective bargaining agreements entered into between a school district employer and school district employees under this chapter shall be consistent with RCW 28A.400.280 and 28A.400.350 . (3) Employee bargaining shall be initiated after July 1, 2018, over the dollar amount to be contributed for school employee health benefits beginning January 1, 2020, on behalf of each employee for health care benefits. Bargaining must subsequently be conducted in even-numbered years between the governor or governor's designee and one coalition of all the exclusive bargaining representatives impacted by benefit purchasing with the school employees' benefits board established in RCW 41.05.740 , consistent with RCW 28A.400.280 and 28A.400.350 . The coalition bargaining must follow the model initially established for state employees in RCW 41.80.020 . (4) The governor shall submit a request for funds necessary to implement the collective bargaining agreement for the dollar amount to be expended for school employee health benefits, or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement. A request for funds shall not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless such request: (a) Has been submitted to the director of the office of financial management by October 1st prior to the legislative session at which the request is to be considered; and (b) Has been certified by the director of the office of financial management as being feasible financially for the state. The legislature shall approve or reject the submission of the request for funds. The legislature shall not consider a request for funds unless the request is transmitted to the legislature as part of the governor's budget document submitted under RCW 43.88.030 and 43.88.060 . If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, either party may reopen all or part of the agreement. However, if the director of the office of financial management does not certify a request under this section as being feasible financially for the state, the parties shall enter into collective bargaining solely for the purpose of reaching a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement necessary to address the absence of those requested funds. The legislature may act upon the health care benefit provisions of the modified collective bargaining agreement if those provisions are agreed upon and submitted to the office of financial management and legislative budget committees before final legislative action on the biennial or supplemental operating budget. If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, either party may reopen all or part of the agreement.
RCW 41.06.022 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 022
RCW 41.06.022: "Manager"—Definition.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter, "manager" means any employee who: (1) Formulates statewide policy or directs the work of an agency or agency subdivision; (2) Is responsible to administer one or more statewide policies or programs of an agency or agency subdivision; (3) Manages, administers, and controls a local branch office of an agency or agency subdivision, including the physical, financial, or personnel resources; (4) Has substantial responsibility in personnel administration, legislative relations, public information, or the preparation and administration of budgets; or (5) Functionally is above the first level of supervision and exercises authority that is not merely routine or clerical in nature and requires the consistent use of independent judgment. Members of the Washington management service may be included in a collective bargaining unit established under chapter 41.80 RCW, except as provided in RCW 41.80.430 .
RCW 41.18.045 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 045
RCW 41.18.045: Pension benefits for widows or widowers of unretired, eligible firefighters—Retroactive.
Status: in_force

Upon the death of a firefighter who is eligible to retire under RCW 41.18.040 as now or hereafter amended, but who has not retired, a pension shall be paid to his widow or her widower at the same monthly rate that he or she was eligible to receive at the time of his or her death, if such widow or widower was his wife or her husband for a period of five years prior to his or her death. If there be no widow or widower, then such monthly payments shall be distributed to and divided among his or her children, share and share alike, until they reach the age of eighteen or are married, whichever comes first. This section shall apply retroactively for the benefit of all widows or widowers and survivors of firefighters who died after January 1, 1967, if such firefighters were otherwise eligible to retire on the date of death.
RCW 41.35.600 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 600
RCW 41.35.600: Provisions applicable to plan 3—Plan 3 elements.
Status: in_force

(1) RCW 41.35.600 through 41.35.720 apply only to plan 3 members. (2) Plan 3 consists of two separate elements: (a) A defined benefit portion covered under this subchapter; and (b) a defined contribution portion covered under chapter 41.34 RCW. (3) Unless otherwise specified, all references to "plan 3" in this subchapter refer to the defined benefit portion of plan 3.
RCW 41.40.055 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 055
RCW 41.40.055: Penalty for false statements.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall knowingly make any false statements, or shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record or records of this retirement system in any attempt to defraud the retirement system as a result of such act, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
RCW 41.32.470 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 470
RCW 41.32.470: Eligibility for retirement allowance.
Status: in_force

A member who is not a dual member under RCW 41.54.010 must have established or reestablished with the retirement system at least five years of credit for public school service in this state to be entitled to a retirement allowance.
RCW 41.05.004 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 004
RCW 41.05.004: Intent—Use of word "board."
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the legislature that the word "board" be read to mean both the school employees' benefits board and the public employees' benefits board throughout this chapter. The use of "board" should be liberally construed to mean both boards, to the extent not in conflict with state or federal law. In no case shall either board be limited from exercising its individual authority as authorized within this chapter.
RCW 41.37.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 070
RCW 41.37.070: Members agree to deductions.
Status: in_force

The deductions from the compensation of members, provided for in RCW 41.37.220 , shall be made notwithstanding that the minimum compensation provided for by law for any member shall be reduced thereby. Every member shall be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions made and provided for in this chapter and receipt in full for his or her salary or compensation, and payment, less the deductions, shall be a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for the services rendered by the person during the period covered by the payment, except as to benefits provided for under this chapter.
RCW 41.26.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 110
RCW 41.26.110: Disability boards authorized—Composition—Terms—Reimbursement for travel expenses—Duties.
Status: in_force

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

(1) All claims for disability shall be acted upon and either approved or disapproved by either type of disability board authorized to be created in this section. (a) Each city having a population of twenty thousand or more shall establish a disability board having jurisdiction over all members employed by those cities and composed of the following five members: Two members of the city legislative body to be appointed by the mayor; one active or retired firefighter employed by or retired from the city to be elected by the firefighters employed by or retired from the city who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board; one active or retired law enforcement officer employed by or retired from the city to be elected by the law enforcement officers employed by or retired from the city who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board; and one member from the public at large who resides within the city to be appointed by the other four members designated in this subsection. Only those active or retired firefighters and law enforcement officers who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board have the right to elect under this section. All firefighters and law enforcement officers employed by or retired from the city are eligible for election. Each of the elected members shall serve a two year term. If there are either no firefighters or law enforcement officers under the jurisdiction of the board eligible to vote, a second eligible employee representative shall be elected by the law enforcement officers or firefighters eligible to vote. The members appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve for two year terms: PROVIDED, That cities of the first class only, shall retain existing firefighters' pension boards established pursuant to RCW 41.16.020 and existing boards of trustees of the relief and pension fund of the police department as established pursuant to RCW 41.20.010 which such boards shall have authority to act upon and approve or disapprove claims for disability by firefighters or law enforcement officers as provided under the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system act. (b) If no eligible active or retired firefighter or law enforcement officer is willing or able to be elected to the board under (a) of this subsection, then the following individuals may be elected to the board under (a) of this subsection: (i) Any active or retired firefighter under this chapter or chapters 41.16 , 41.18, and 52.26 RCW or law enforcement officers under this chapter or chapter 41.20 RCW who resides within the jurisdiction served by the board; (ii) The surviving spouse or domestic partner of a firefighter or law enforcement officer subject to the jurisdiction of the board. (c) Each county shall establish a disability board having jurisdiction over all members employed by or retired from an employer within the county and not employed by a city in which a disability board is established. The county disability board so created shall be composed of five members to be chosen as follows: One member of the legislative body of the county to be appointed by the county legislative body; one member of a city or town legislative body located within the county which does not contain a city disability board established pursuant to (a) of this subsection to be chosen by a majority of the mayors of such cities and towns within the county which does not contain a city disability board; one active firefighter or retired firefighter employed by or retired from an employer within the county to be elected by the firefighters employed or retired from an employer within the county who are subject to the jurisdiction of that board; one law enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer employed by or retired from an employer within the county to be elected by the law enforcement officers employed in or retired from an employer within the county who are subject to the jurisdiction of that board; and one member from the public at large who resides within the county but does not reside within a city in which a city disability board is established, to be appointed by the other four members designated in this subsection. However, in counties with a population less than sixty thousand, the member of the disability board appointed by a majority of the mayors of the cities and towns within the county that do not contain a city disability board must be a resident of one of the cities and towns but need not be a member of a city or town legislative body. Only those active or retired firefighters and law enforcement officers who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board have the right to elect under this section. All firefighters and law enforcement officers employed by or retired from an employer within the county are eligible for election. All members appointed or elected pursuant to this subsection shall serve for two year terms. If there are no firefighters under the jurisdiction of the board eligible to vote, a second eligible employee representative shall be elected by the law enforcement officers eligible to vote. If there are no law enforcement officers under the jurisdiction of the board eligible to vote, a second eligible representative shall be elected by the firefighters eligible to vote. (d) If no eligible active or retired firefighter or law enforcement officer is willing or able to be elected to the board under (c) of this subsection, then the following individuals may be elected to the board under (c) of this subsection: (i) Any active or retired firefighter under this chapter or chapters 41.16 , 41.18, and 52.26 RCW or law enforcement officers under this chapter or chapter 41.20 RCW who resides within the jurisdiction served by the board; (ii) The surviving spouse or domestic partner of a firefighter or law enforcement officer subject to the jurisdiction of the board. (2) The members of both the county and city disability boards shall not receive compensation for their service upon the boards but the members shall be reimbursed by their respective county or city for all expenses incidental to such service as to the amount authorized by law. (3) The disability boards authorized for establishment by this section shall perform all functions, exercise all powers, and make all such determinations as specified in this chapter.
RCW 41.04.208 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 208
RCW 41.04.208: Local government retirees—Health care—Definitions—Participation—Exception.
Status: in_force

(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section. (a) " Disabled employee" means a person eligible to receive a disability retirement allowance from the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 and the public employees' retirement system. (b) "Health plan" means a contract, policy, fund, trust, or other program established jointly or individually by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state that provides for all or a part of hospitalization or medical aid for its employees and their dependents under RCW 41.04.180 . (c) "Retired employee" means a public employee meeting the retirement eligibility, years of service requirements, and other criteria of the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 and the public employees' retirement system. (2) A county, municipality, or other political subdivision that provides a health plan for its employees shall permit retired and disabled employees and their dependents to continue participation in a plan subject to the exceptions, limitations, and conditions set forth in this section. However, this section does not apply to a county, municipality, or other political subdivision participating in an insurance program administered under chapter 41.05 RCW if retired and disabled employees and their dependents of the participating county, municipality, or other political subdivision are covered under an insurance program administered under chapter 41.05 RCW. Nothing in this subsection or chapter 319, Laws of 2002 precludes the local government employer from offering retired or disabled employees a health plan with a benefit structure, copayment, deductible, coinsurance, lifetime benefit maximum, and other plan features which differ from those offered through a health plan provided to active employees. Further, nothing in this subsection precludes a local government employer from joining with other public agency employers, including interjurisdictional benefit pools and multiemployer associations or consortiums, to fulfill its obligations under chapter 319, Laws of 2002. (3) A county, municipality, or other political subdivision has full authority to require a person who requests continued participation in a health plan under subsection (2) of this section to pay the full cost of such participation, including any amounts necessary for administration. However, this subsection does not require an employer who is currently paying for all or part of a health plan for its retired and disabled employees to discontinue those payments. (4) Payments for continued participation in a former employer's health plan may be assigned to the underwriter of the health plan from public pension benefits or may be paid to the former employer, as determined by the former employer, so that an underwriter of the health plan that is an insurance company, health care service contractor, or health maintenance organization is not required to accept individual payments from persons continuing participation in the employer's health plan. (5) After an initial open enrollment period of ninety days after January 1, 2003, an employer may not be required to permit a person to continue participation in the health plan if the person is responsible for a lapse in coverage under the plan. In addition, an employer may not be required to permit a person to continue participation in the employer's health plan if the employer offered continued participation in a health plan that meets the requirements of chapter 319, Laws of 2002. (6) If a person continuing participation in the former employer's health plan has medical coverage available through another employer, the medical coverage of the other employer is the primary coverage for purposes of coordination of benefits as provided for in the former employer's health plan. (7) If a person's continued participation in a health plan was permitted because of the person's relationship to a retired or disabled employee of the employer providing the health plan and the retired or disabled employee dies, then that person is permitted to continue participation in the health plan for a period of not more than six months after the death of the retired or disabled employee. However, the employer providing the health plan may permit continued participation beyond that time period. (8) An employer may offer one or more health plans different from that provided for active employees and designed to meet the needs of persons requesting continued participation in the employer's health plan. An employer, in designing or offering continued participation in a health plan, may utilize terms or conditions necessary to administer the plan to the extent the terms and conditions do not conflict with this section. (9) If an employer changes the underwriter of a health plan, the replaced underwriter has no further responsibility or obligation to persons who continued participation in a health plan of the replaced underwriter. However, the employer shall permit those persons to participate in any new health plan. (10) The benefits granted under this section are not considered a matter of contractual right. Should the legislature, a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state revoke or change any benefits granted under this section, an affected person is not entitled to receive the benefits as a matter of contractual right. (11) This section does not affect any health plan contained in a collective bargaining agreement in existence as of January 1, 2003. However, any plan contained in future collective bargaining agreements shall conform to this section. In addition, this section does not affect any health plan contract or policy in existence as of January 1, 2003. However, any renewal of the contract or policy shall conform to this section. (12) Counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions that make a documented good faith effort to comply with the provisions of subsections (2) through (11) of this section and are unable to provide access to a fully insured group health benefit plan are discharged from any obligations under subsections (2) through (11) of this section but shall assist disabled employees and retired employees in applying for health insurance. Assistance may include developing and distributing standardized information on the availability and cost of individual health benefit plans, application packages, and health benefit fairs. (13) The office of the insurance commissioner shall make available to counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions information regarding individual health benefit plans, including a list of carriers offering individual coverage, the rates charged, and how to apply for coverage.
RCW 41.26.047 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 047
RCW 41.26.047: Minimum medical and health standards—Exemptions—Employer may adopt higher standards.
Status: in_force

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

Nothing in RCW 41.26.035 , 41.26.045 and 41.26.046 shall apply to any firefighters or law enforcement officers who are employed as such on or before August 1, 1971, as long as they continue in such employment; nor to promotional appointments after becoming a member in the police or fire department of any employer nor to the reemployment of a law enforcement officer or firefighter by the same or a different employer within six months after the termination of his or her employment, nor to the reinstatement of a law enforcement officer or firefighter who has been on military or disability leave, disability retirement status, or leave of absence status. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent any employer from adopting higher medical and health standards than those which are adopted by the *retirement board.
RCW 41.50.580 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 580
RCW 41.50.580: Mandatory assignment of retirement benefits—Order—Contents.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The mandatory benefits assignment order issued pursuant to RCW 41.50.570 and directed at periodic retirement benefits shall include: (i) The maximum amount of current spousal maintenance to be withheld from the obligor's periodic retirement benefits each month; (ii) The total amount of the arrearage judgments previously entered by the court, if any, together with interest, if any; and (iii) The maximum amount to be withheld from the obligor's periodic retirement payments each month to satisfy the arrearage judgments specified in (a)(ii) of this subsection. (b) The total amount to be withheld from the obligor's periodic retirement payments each month pursuant to a mandatory benefits assignment order shall not exceed fifty percent of the disposable benefits of the obligor. If the amounts to be paid toward the arrearage are specified in the assignment order, then the maximum amount to be withheld is the sum of the current maintenance ordered and the amount ordered to be paid toward the arrearage, or fifty percent of the disposable benefits of the obligor, whichever is less. (c) Fifty percent of the disposable benefits of the obligor are exempt from collection under the assignment order, and may be disbursed by the department to the obligor. The provisions of RCW 6.27.150 do not apply to mandatory benefits assignment orders under this chapter. (2)(a) A mandatory benefits assignment order issued pursuant to RCW 41.50.570 and directed at a withdrawal of accumulated contributions shall include: (i) The maximum amount of current spousal maintenance to be withheld from the obligor's accumulated contributions; (ii) The total amount of the arrearage judgments for spousal maintenance payments entered by the court, if any, together with interest, if any; and (iii) The amount to be withheld from the obligor's withdrawal of accumulated contributions to satisfy the current maintenance obligation and the arrearage judgments specified in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection; (b) The total amount to be withheld from the obligor's withdrawal of accumulated contributions may be up to one hundred percent of the disposable benefits of the obligor. (3) If an obligor is subject to two or more mandatory benefits assignment orders on account of different obligees and if the nonexempt portion of the obligor's benefits is not sufficient to respond fully to all the mandatory benefits assignment orders, the department shall apportion the obligor's nonexempt disposable benefits among the various obligees in proportionate shares to the extent permitted by federal law. Any obligee may seek a court order directing the department to reapportion the obligor's nonexempt disposable earnings upon notice to all interested obligees. The order must specifically supersede the terms of previous mandatory benefits assignment orders the terms of which it alters. Notice shall be by personal service, or in a manner provided by the civil rules of superior court or applicable statute.
RCW 41.37.260 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 260
RCW 41.37.260: Leaves of absence, military service.
Status: in_force

(1) A member who is on a paid leave of absence authorized by a member's employer shall continue to receive service credit as provided for under RCW 41.37.190 through 41.37.290 . (2) A member who receives compensation from an employer while on an authorized leave of absence to serve as an elected official of a labor organization, and whose employer is reimbursed by the labor organization for the compensation paid to the member during the period of absence, may also be considered to be on a paid leave of absence. This subsection shall only apply if the member's leave of absence is authorized by a collective bargaining agreement that provides that the member retains seniority rights with the employer during the period of leave. The compensation earnable reported for a member who establishes service credit under this subsection may not be greater than the salary paid to the highest paid job class covered by the collective bargaining agreement. (3) Except as specified in subsection (4) of this section, a member shall be eligible to receive a maximum of two years service credit during a member's entire working career for those periods when a member is on an unpaid leave of absence authorized by an employer. This credit may be obtained only if: (a) The member makes both the employer and member contributions plus interest as determined by the department for the period of the authorized leave of absence within five years of resumption of service or prior to retirement whichever comes sooner; or (b) If not within five years of resumption of service but prior to retirement, pay the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2). The contributions required under (a) of this subsection shall be based on the average of the member's compensation earnable at both the time the authorized leave of absence was granted and the time the member resumed employment. (4) A member who leaves the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States shall be entitled to retirement system service credit for up to five years of military service. This subsection shall be administered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the federal uniformed services employment and reemployment rights act. (a) The member qualifies for service credit under this subsection if: (i) Within ninety days of the member's honorable discharge from the uniformed services of the United States, the member applies for reemployment with the employer who employed the member immediately prior to the member entering the uniformed services; and (ii) The member makes the employee contributions required under RCW 41.37.220 within five years of resumption of service or prior to retirement, whichever comes sooner; or (iii) Prior to retirement and not within ninety days of the member's honorable discharge or five years of resumption of service the member pays the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2); or (iv) Prior to retirement the member provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . Any member who made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 may, prior to retirement and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to his or her credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to him or her. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service credit during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection. (b) Upon receipt of member contributions under (a)(ii), (d)(iii), or (e)(iii) of this subsection, or adequate proof under (a)(iv), (d)(iv), or (e)(iv) of this subsection, the department shall establish the member's service credit and shall bill the employer for its contribution required under RCW 41.37.220 for the period of military service, plus interest as determined by the department. (c) The contributions required under (a)(ii), (d)(iii), or (e)(iii) of this subsection shall be based on the compensation the member would have earned if not on leave, or if that cannot be estimated with reasonable certainty, the compensation reported for the member in the year prior to when the member went on military leave. (d) The surviving spouse or eligible child or children of a member who left the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States and died while serving in the uniformed services may, on behalf of the deceased member, apply for retirement system service credit under this subsection up to the date of the member's death in the uniformed services. The department shall establish the deceased member's service credit if the surviving spouse or eligible child or children: (i) Provides to the director proof of the member's death while serving in the uniformed services; (ii) Provides to the director proof of the member's honorable service in the uniformed services prior to the date of death; and (iii) Pays the employee contributions required under chapter 41.45 RCW within five years of the date of death or prior to the distribution of any benefit, whichever comes first; or (iv) Prior to the distribution of any benefit, provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . If the deceased member made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 , the surviving spouse or eligible child or children may, prior to the distribution of any benefit and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to the deceased member's credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to the surviving spouse or children. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection. (e) A member who leaves the employ of an employer to enter the uniformed services of the United States and becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer while serving in the uniformed services is entitled to retirement system service credit under this subsection up to the date of discharge from the uniformed services if: (i) The member obtains a determination from the director that he or she is totally incapacitated for continued employment due to conditions or events that occurred while serving in the uniformed services; (ii) The member provides to the director proof of honorable discharge from the uniformed services; and (iii) The member pays the employee contributions required under chapter 41.45 RCW within five years of the director's determination of total disability or prior to the distribution of any benefit, whichever comes first; or (iv) Prior to retirement the member provides to the director proof that the member's interruptive military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . Any member who made payments for service credit for interruptive military service during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 may, prior to retirement and on a form provided by the department, request a refund of the funds standing to his or her credit for up to five years of such service, and this amount shall be paid to him or her. Members with one or more periods of interruptive military service credit during a period of war may receive no more than five years of free retirement system service credit under this subsection.
RCW 41.56.045 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 045
RCW 41.56.045: Unfair labor practices for public employer enumerated.
Status: in_force

It shall be an unfair labor practice for a public employer: (1) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce public employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed by this chapter; (2) To control, dominate, or interfere with a bargaining representative; (3) To discriminate against a public employee who has filed an unfair labor practice charge; (4) To refuse to engage in collective bargaining with the certified exclusive bargaining representative.
RCW 41.05.008 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 008
RCW 41.05.008: Duties of employing agencies.
Status: in_force

(1) Every employing agency shall carry out all actions required by the authority under this chapter including, but not limited to, those necessary for the operation of benefit plans, education of employees, claims administration, and appeals process. (2) Employing agencies shall report all data relating to employees eligible to participate in benefits or plans administered by the authority in a format designed and communicated by the authority.
RCW 41.14.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 020
RCW 41.14.020: Terms defined.
Status: in_force

Definition of terms: (1) "Appointing power" means the county sheriff who is invested by law with power and authority to select, appoint, or employ any deputy, deputies, or other necessary employees subject to civil service; (2) "Appointment" includes all means of selecting, appointing, or employing any person to any office, place, position, or employment subject to civil service; (3) "Commission" means the civil service commission, or combined county civil service commission, herein created, and "commissioner" means any one of the members of any such commission; (4) "County" means any county of the state, or any counties combined pursuant to RCW 41.14.040 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter; (5) "Deputy sheriff or other members of the office of county sheriff" means all persons regularly employed in the office of county sheriff either on a part time or full time basis.
RCW 41.50.720 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 720
RCW 41.50.720: Payment of benefits—Restraining orders.
Status: in_force

A party to a dissolution proceeding may file a motion with the court requesting the court to enter an order restraining the department from paying any benefits to a member until further order of the court. The department shall not initiate payment of benefits to a member from the time a restraining order is served on the department until the court enters a further order disposing of the benefits.
RCW 41.32.587 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 587
RCW 41.32.587: Justices or judges retirement allowance—In lieu of RCW 41.32.498.
Status: in_force

(1) In lieu of the retirement allowance provided under RCW 41.32.498 , the retirement allowance payable for service as a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge, for those justices or judges who elected to participate under RCW 41.32.584 (1), shall be equal to three and one-half percent of average final compensation for each year of service earned after the date of the election. The total retirement benefit accrued or purchased under chapter 189, Laws of 2006 in combination with benefits accrued during periods served prior to the election shall not exceed seventy-five percent of average final compensation. (2) In lieu of the retirement allowance provided under RCW 41.32.498 , the retirement allowance payable for service as a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge, for those justices or judges newly elected or appointed after January 1, 2007, shall be equal to three and one-half percent of average final compensation for each year of service after January 1, 2007. The total retirement benefits accrued under chapter 189, Laws of 2006 in combination with benefits accrued during periods served prior to January 1, 2007, shall not exceed seventy-five percent of average final compensation.
RCW 41.40.250 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 250
RCW 41.40.250: Allowance on retirement for nonduty disability—Election.
Status: in_force

An individual who was a member on February 25, 1972, may upon qualifying pursuant to RCW 41.40.230 , make an irrevocable election to receive the nonduty disability retirement allowance provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section subject to the provisions of RCW 41.40.310 and 41.40.320 . Upon attaining or becoming disabled after age sixty the member shall receive a service retirement allowance as provided for in RCW 41.40.190 except that the annuity portion thereof shall consist of a continuation of the cash refund annuity previously provided to him or her. The disability retirement allowance prior to age sixty shall consist of: (1) A cash refund annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of his or her retirement; and (2) A pension, in addition to the annuity, equal to one one-hundredth of the member's average final compensation for each year of service. If the recipient of a retirement allowance under this section dies before the total of the annuity portions of the retirement allowance paid to him or her equals the amount of his or her 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 as he or she shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department, or if there is no designated person or persons, still living at the time of his or her death, then to his or her 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 representatives.
RCW 41.04.0332 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 0332
RCW 41.04.0332: State combined fund drive—Secretary of state—Contracts and partnerships.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state may enter into contracts and partnerships with private institutions, persons, firms, or corporations for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the Washington state combined fund drive. Activities of the Washington state combined fund drive shall not result in direct commercial solicitation of state employees, or a benefit or advantage that would violate one or more provisions of chapter 42.52 RCW. This section does not authorize individual state agencies to enter into contracts or partnerships unless otherwise authorized by law.
RCW 41.56.545 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 545
RCW 41.56.545: Uniformed employees—Strikes prohibited—Violations—Contempt of court.
Status: in_force

The right of uniformed employees to engage in any strike, work slowdown, or stoppage is not granted. An organization recognized as the bargaining representative of uniformed employees subject to this chapter that willfully disobeys a lawful order of enforcement by a superior court pursuant to *RCW 41.56.540 and 41.56.545 , or willfully offers resistance to such order, whether by strike or otherwise, is in contempt of court as provided in chapter 7.21 RCW. An employer that willfully disobeys a lawful order of enforcement by a superior court pursuant to *RCW 41.56.540 or willfully offers resistance to such order is in contempt of court as provided in chapter 7.21 RCW.
RCW 41.26.545 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 545
RCW 41.26.545: Emergency medical technicians—Establishing service credit—Dates—Process—Contributions.
Status: in_force

(1) A member who provided service as an emergency medical technician to an employer may establish credit for such service rendered on or after July 24, 2005, and prior to July 23, 2017, unless that service is already credited. Upon receipt of a written request, the department of retirement systems must notify the member of the cost to establish credit for all or part of such service. (a) Before July 1, 2018, a member not enrolled in the public employees' retirement system for service between July 24, 2005, and July 23, 2017, may elect to establish credit in plan 2 under this section. Such election must be filed in writing with the department of retirement systems by June 30, 2018. The elected period must be in contiguous monthly increments beginning with the oldest service. (i) To establish service under this section, except as provided in RCW 41.26.546 , the member must pay the employee contributions he or she would have paid if he or she had been participating in the retirement system at the time of the service: (A) No later than five years from the effective date of the election made under this section; and (B) Prior to retirement. (ii) Upon full payment of employee contributions for the elected period of service the department of retirement systems must: (A) Credit the member with the service; and (B) Bill the employer for the employer contributions it would have paid if such member had been participating in the retirement system at the time of such service. The amount billed to the employer by the department of retirement systems must be reduced by the amount of any employer contributions to an employee's retirement account prior to January 1, 2016, not to exceed three percent of the member's basic salary from July 1, 2005, through December 31, 2015. (iii) The employer shall pay the required amount prior to July 1, 2028. (b)(i) A member of the public employees' retirement system who is eligible for membership in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 under this section may: (A) Make an election in writing to the department of retirement systems by January 1, 2018, to remain a member of the public employees' retirement system and not participate in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2; (B) Leave any service credit earned as a member of the public employees' retirement system in the public employees' retirement system, and have service rendered on or after January 1, 2018, as an emergency medical technician in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2, becoming a dual member under the provisions of chapter 41.54 RCW; or (C) Before July 1, 2018, elect to transfer service credit previously earned as an emergency medical technician to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 as defined in RCW 41.26.030 . Such election must be filed in writing with the department of retirement systems by June 30, 2018. (I) A member who elects to transfer service credit under this subsection (1)(b) shall pay, for the applicable period of service, the difference between the contributions the employee paid to the public employees' retirement system plan and the contributions that would have been paid by the employee had the employee been a member of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2, plus interest on this difference as determined by the director. (II) The payment under (a) of this subsection must be made no later than five years from the effective date of the election and must be made prior to retirement, except as provided under RCW 41.26.546 . (2) Upon transfer or establishment of service credit, contributions, and interest under this section, the employee is permanently excluded from membership in the public employees' retirement system for all service transfers related to their time served as an emergency medical technician under the public employees' retirement system. (3) Employers shall provide the department of retirement systems with a list of former employees who were employed as emergency medical technicians on or after July 24, 2005, and who are eligible to establish credit for service under this section. The list must include a former employee's name, last known address, and period of employment. The department of retirement systems must notify former employees of the process and cost to establish credit for service under this section.
RCW 41.50.200 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 200
RCW 41.50.200: Subdivision of retirement system funds.
Status: in_force

In the records of the teachers' retirement system the teachers' retirement system plan 1 fund shall be subdivided into the member reserve, the pension reserve, and other funds as may from time to time be created by the director for the purpose of the internal accounting record. The director may adopt rules creating or deleting funds as he or she deems necessary.
RCW 41.37.240 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 240
RCW 41.37.240: Application for and effective date of retirement allowances.
Status: in_force

Any member or beneficiary eligible to receive a retirement allowance under RCW 41.37.210 , 41.37.230 , or 41.37.250 shall be eligible to commence receiving a retirement allowance after having filed written application with the department. (1) Retirement allowances paid to members under RCW 41.37.210 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the member's separation from employment. (2) Retirement allowances paid to vested members no longer in service, but qualifying for an allowance pursuant to RCW 41.37.210 , shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the qualification. (3) Disability allowances paid to disabled members under RCW 41.37.230 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the member's separation from employment for disability. (4) Retirement allowances paid as death benefits under RCW 41.37.250 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the member's death.
RCW 41.05.620 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 620
RCW 41.05.620: Peer support services—Access.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall contract with one or more external entities to expand access to peer support services. (2) Beginning December 31, 2025, the entity or entities shall: (a) Provide technical assistance to support primary care clinics, urgent care clinics, and hospitals to integrate certified peer support specialists into their clinical care models and bill health insurance carriers for those services; (b) Develop detailed and innovative proposals to create low barrier and cost-effective opportunities for: (i) Community-based agencies, including peer-run agencies and organizations that are not currently licensed as behavioral health agencies under chapter 71.24 RCW, to bill health carriers for peer support services; (ii) Service providers to bill health carriers for behavioral health services that are currently funded by the state general fund, including the law enforcement assisted diversion program established under RCW 71.24.589 , the recovery navigator program established under RCW 71.24.115 , the arrest and jail alternatives program established under RCW 36.28A.450 , and the homeless outreach stabilization transition program established under RCW 71.24.145 ; (iii) Community-based victim services agencies, including agencies that support domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking victims, to bill health carriers for peer support services provided to victims of gender-based violence; and (iv) Tribes, tribal health providers, and urban Indian health programs to bill for peer support services provided by tribal elders; (c) Develop a proposal to establish the concept of, and billing mechanisms for, substance use disorder peer-run respite centers that are modeled after the mental health peer-run respite centers established under RCW 71.24.649 ; and (d) Explore options for health carriers to pay for peer support services through capitated payment arrangements rather than on a fee-for-service basis. (3) By November 1, 2026, the contracted entity or entities shall submit reports to the authority to describe the type and quantity of technical assistance that have been provided, the proposals that have been developed, and the trends in health carriers providing payment for peer support services, and any policy or budget recommendations to encourage health carriers to reimburse providers for peer support services.
RCW 41.35.035 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 035
RCW 41.35.035: Membership in system—Charter school employers and employees.
Status: in_force

This section designates charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW as employers and charter school employees as members, and applies only if the department of retirement systems receives determinations from the internal revenue service and the United States department of labor that participation does not jeopardize the status of these retirement systems as governmental plans under the federal employees' retirement income security act and the internal revenue code.
RCW 41.35.060 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 060
RCW 41.35.060: Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by a plan under RCW 28B.10.400—Reestablishment of membership.
Status: in_force

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(1)(a) If a retiree enters employment with an employer sooner than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, the retiree's monthly retirement allowance will be reduced by five and one-half percent for every eight hours worked during that month. This reduction will be applied each month until the retiree remains absent from employment with an employer for one full calendar month. (b) The benefit reduction provided in (a) of this subsection will accrue for a maximum of one hundred sixty hours per month. Any benefit reduction over one hundred percent will be applied to the benefit the retiree is eligible to receive in subsequent months. (2)(a) A retiree who has satisfied the break in employment requirement of subsection (1) of this section may work up to eight hundred sixty-seven hours per calendar year in an eligible position, as defined in RCW 41.32.010 , 41.35.010 , 41.37.010 , or 41.40.010 , or as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, as defined in RCW 41.26.030 , or in a position covered by annuity and retirement income plans offered by institutions of higher education pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400 , without suspension of his or her benefit. (b) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retiree, including a retiree who has retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.35.420 (3)(b) or 41.35.680 (3)(b), who reenters employment more than one month after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this subsection (2)(b) in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than 867 hours in a calendar year without a reduction of his or her pension. (3) If the retiree opts to reestablish membership under RCW 41.35.030 , he or she terminates his or her retirement status and becomes a member. Retirement benefits shall not accrue during the period of membership and the individual shall make contributions and receive membership credit. Such a member shall have the right to again retire if eligible in accordance with RCW 41.35.420 or 41.35.680 . However, if the right to retire is exercised to become effective before the member has rendered two uninterrupted years of service, the retirement formula and survivor options the member had at the time of the member's previous retirement shall be reinstated.
RCW 41.54.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 030
RCW 41.54.030: Calculation of service retirement allowance.
Status: in_force

(1) A dual member may combine service in all systems for the purpose of: (a) Determining the member's eligibility to receive a service retirement allowance; and (b) Qualifying for a benefit under RCW 41.26.530 (2), 41.32.840 (2), 41.35.620 , or 41.40.790 . (2) A dual member who is eligible to retire under any system may elect to retire from all the member's systems and to receive service retirement allowances calculated as provided in this section. Each system shall calculate the allowance using its own criteria except that the member shall be allowed to substitute the member's base salary from any system as the compensation used in calculating the allowance. (3) The service retirement allowances from a system which, but for this section, would not be allowed to be paid at this date based on the dual member's age may be received immediately or deferred to a later date. The allowances shall be actuarially adjusted from the earliest age upon which the combined service would have made such dual member eligible in that system. (4) The service retirement eligibility requirements of RCW 41.40.180 shall apply to any dual member whose prior system is plan 1 of the public employees' retirement system established under chapter 41.40 RCW.
RCW 41.04.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 010
RCW 41.04.010: Veterans' scoring criteria status in examinations.
Status: in_force

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In all competitive examinations, unless otherwise provided in this section, to determine the qualifications of applicants for public offices, positions, or employment, either the state, and all of its political subdivisions and all municipal corporations, or private companies or agencies contracted with by the state to give the competitive examinations shall give a scoring criteria status to all veterans as defined in RCW 41.04.007 , by adding to the passing mark, grade or rating only, based upon a possible rating of one hundred points as perfect a percentage in accordance with the following: (1) Ten percent to a veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict as defined in RCW 41.04.005 and does not receive military retirement. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations; (2) Five percent to a veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict as defined in RCW 41.04.005 or is receiving military retirement. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations; (3) Five percent to a veteran who was called to active military service from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations. The percentage shall be added to promotional examinations until the first promotion only; (4) All veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed: (a) Upon release from active military service with a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 ; or (b) Upon receipt of a United States department of defense discharge document DD form 214, NGB form 22, or their equivalent or successor discharge paperwork, that characterizes his or her discharge as a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 .
RCW 41.12.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 160
RCW 41.12.160: Political contributions and services.
Status: in_force

No person holding any office, place, position or employment subject to civil service, is under any obligation to contribute to any political fund or to render any political service to any person or party whatsoever, and no person shall be removed, reduced in grade or salary, or otherwise prejudiced for refusing so to do. No public officer, whether elected or appointed, shall discharge, promote, demote, or in any manner change the official rank, employment or compensation of any person under civil service, or promise or threaten so to do, for giving or withholding, or neglecting to make any contribution of money, or services, or any other valuable thing, for any political purpose.
RCW 41.40.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 190
RCW 41.40.190: Retirement allowance—In lieu of allowance provided in RCW 41.40.185.
Status: in_force

In lieu of the retirement allowance provided in RCW 41.40.185 , an individual employed on or before April 25, 1973 may, after complying with RCW 41.40.180 or 41.40.210 , make an irrevocable election to receive the retirement allowance provided by this section which shall consist of: (1) An annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of his or her accumulated contributions at the time of his or her retirement; and (2) A basic service pension of one hundred dollars per annum; and (3) A membership service pension, subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of this section, which shall be equal to one one-hundredth of his or her average final compensation for each year or fraction of a year of membership service credited to his or her service account; and (4) A prior service pension which shall be equal to one-seventieth of his or her average final compensation for each year or fraction of a year of prior service not to exceed thirty years credited to his or her service accounts. In no event shall any original member upon retirement at age seventy with ten or more years of service credit receive less than nine hundred dollars per annum as a retirement allowance, nor shall any member upon retirement at any age receive a retirement allowance of less than nine hundred dollars per annum if such member has twelve or more years of service credit, or less than one thousand and two hundred dollars per annum if such member has sixteen or more years of service credit, or less than one thousand five hundred and sixty dollars per annum if such member has twenty or more years of service credit. In the event that the retirement allowance as to such member provided by subdivisions (1), (2), (3), and (4) hereof shall amount to less than the aforesaid minimum retirement allowance, the basic service pension of the member shall be increased from one hundred dollars to a sum sufficient to make a retirement allowance of the applicable minimum amount. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) through (4) of this section, the retirement allowance payable for service where a member was elected or appointed pursuant to Articles II or III of the Constitution of the state of Washington or RCW 48.02.010 and the implementing statutes shall be a combined pension and annuity. Said retirement allowance shall be equal to three percent of the average final compensation for each year of such service. Any member covered by this subsection who upon retirement has served ten or more years shall receive a retirement allowance of at least one thousand two hundred dollars per annum; such member who has served fifteen or more years shall receive a retirement allowance of at least one thousand eight hundred dollars per annum; and such member who has served twenty or more years shall receive a retirement allowance of at least two thousand four hundred dollars per annum: PROVIDED, That the initial retirement allowance of a member retiring only under the provisions of this subsection shall not exceed the average final compensation upon which the retirement allowance is based. The minimum benefits provided in this subsection shall apply to all retired members or to the surviving spouse of deceased members who were elected under the provisions of Article II of the Washington state Constitution. (6) Unless payment shall be made under RCW 41.40.270 , a joint and one hundred percent survivor benefit under RCW 41.40.188 shall automatically be given effect as if selected for the benefit of the surviving spouse upon the death in service, or while on authorized leave of absence for a period not to exceed one hundred and twenty days from the date of payroll separation, of any member who is qualified for a service retirement allowance or has completed ten years of service at the time of death, except that if the member is not then qualified for a service retirement allowance, such option II benefit shall be based upon the actuarial equivalent of the sum necessary to pay the accrued regular retirement allowance commencing when the deceased member would have first qualified for a service retirement allowance.
RCW 41.05.046 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 046
RCW 41.05.046: Health information—Conflict with federal requirements.
Status: in_force

If any provision in RCW 41.05.036 , 41.05.039 , and 41.05.042 conflicts with existing or new federal requirements, the director shall recommend modifications, as needed, to assure compliance with the aims of RCW 41.05.036 , 41.05.039 , and 41.05.042 and federal requirements.
RCW 41.32.4991 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 4991
RCW 41.32.4991: Permanent retirement allowance adjustment.
Status: in_force

The dollar amount of the temporary postretirement allowance adjustment granted by section 1, chapter 519, Laws of 1993 shall be provided as a permanent retirement allowance adjustment as of July 1, 1995.
RCW 41.24.310 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 310
RCW 41.24.310: State board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers—Secretary, duties, compensation.
Status: in_force

The secretary shall maintain an office at Olympia at a place to be provided, wherein the secretary shall: (1) Keep a record of all proceedings of the state board, which shall be public; (2) Maintain a record of all members of the pension fund, including such pertinent information relative thereto as may be required by law or rule of the state board; (3) Receive and promptly remit to the state treasurer all moneys received for the principal fund; (4) Transmit periodically to the proper state agency for payment all claims payable from the principal fund, stating the amount and purpose of such payment; (5) Certify monthly for payment a list of all persons approved for retirement pensions and the amount to which each is entitled; and (6) Perform such other and further duties as shall be prescribed by the state board. The secretary shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the state board, together with travel expenses in carrying out his or her duties authorized by the state board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 .
RCW 41.34.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 34 / Section 900
RCW 41.34.900: 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 41.06.570 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 570
RCW 41.06.570: Executive agencies—Paid leave for life-giving procedures—Limitations—Intent—Definition.
Status: in_force

(1) All executive agencies shall allow employees to take paid leave, not to exceed thirty days in a two-year period, as needed to participate in life-giving procedures. Such leave shall not be charged against sick leave or annual leave, and use of leave without pay is not required. (2) Agencies may take into account program implementation and staffing replacement requirements in the scheduling of such leave time. Employees may be required to provide reasonable advance notice of a desire to take paid leave time under this section. (3) When planning for and granting paid leave under this section, agencies shall take into account provisions of collective bargaining agreements that cover leave usage. Any additional leave time needed for life-giving procedures is subject to each agency's leave policies and collective bargaining agreements. (4) Employees must provide written proof from an accredited medical institution, physician, or other medical professional that the employee participated in a life-giving procedure. (5) This section does not create any entitlement or other right that may be converted to cash, other compensation, or any other benefit. It is intended only to encourage altruistic life-giving procedures, and to allow paid leave to participate in such procedures. (6) Agencies may continue or implement any informal, flextime, ad hoc, or other leave. (7) For purposes of this section, "life-giving procedure" means a medically supervised procedure involving the testing, sampling, or donation of organs, tissues, and other human body components for the purposes of donation, without compensation, to a person or organization for medically necessary treatments. "Life-giving procedure" does not include the donation of blood or plasma.
RCW 41.37.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 010
RCW 41.37.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all contributions standing to the credit of a member in the member's individual account, including any amount paid under RCW 41.50.165 (2), together with the regular interest thereon. (2) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of such mortality and other tables as may be adopted by the director. (3) "Adjustment ratio" means the value of index A divided by index B. (4) "Annuity" means payments for life derived from accumulated contributions of a member. All annuities shall be paid in monthly installments. (5)(a) "Average final compensation" means the member's average compensation earnable of the highest consecutive sixty months of service credit months prior to such member's retirement, termination, or death. Periods constituting authorized leaves of absence may not be used in the calculation of average final compensation except under RCW 41.37.290 . (b) In calculating average final compensation under (a) 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 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. (6) "Beneficiary" 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. (7)(a) "Compensation earnable" for 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 nonmoney maintenance compensation and lump sum or other payments for deferred annual sick leave, unused accumulated vacation, unused accumulated annual leave, or any form of severance pay. (b) "Compensation earnable" for members also includes the following actual or imputed payments, which are not paid for personal services: (i) Retroactive payments to an individual by an employer on reinstatement of the employee in a position, or payments by an employer to an individual in lieu of reinstatement, which are awarded or granted as the equivalent of the salary or wage which the individual would have earned during a payroll period shall be considered compensation earnable to the extent provided in this subsection, and the individual shall receive the equivalent service credit; (ii) In any year in which a member serves in the legislature, the member shall have the option of having such member's compensation earnable be the greater of: (A) The compensation earnable the member would have received had such member not served in the legislature; or (B) Such member's actual compensation earnable received for nonlegislative public employment and legislative service combined. Any additional contributions to the retirement system required because compensation earnable under (b)(ii)(A) of this subsection is greater than compensation earnable under (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection shall be paid by the member for both member and employer contributions; (iii) Assault pay only as authorized by RCW 27.04.100 , 72.01.045 , and 72.09.240 ; (iv) Compensation that a member would have received but for a disability occurring in the line of duty only as authorized by RCW 41.37.060 ; (v) Compensation that a member receives due to participation in the leave sharing program only as authorized by RCW 41.04.650 through 41.04.670 ; and (vi) Compensation that a member receives for being in standby status. For the purposes of this section, a member is in standby status when not being paid for time actually worked and the employer requires the member to be prepared to report immediately for work, if the need arises, although the need may not arise. (8) "Department" means the department of retirement systems created in chapter 41.50 RCW. (9) "Director" means the director of the department. (10) "Eligible position" means any permanent, full-time position included in subsection (19) of this section. (11) "Employee" or "employed" means a person who is providing services for compensation to an employer, unless the person is free from the employer's direction and control over the performance of work. The department shall adopt rules and interpret this subsection consistent with common law. (12)(a) "Employer" means: (i) The Washington state department of corrections; (ii) The Washington state parks and recreation commission; (iii) The Washington state gambling commission; (iv) The Washington state patrol; (v) The Washington state department of natural resources; (vi) The Washington state liquor and cannabis board; (vii) The Washington state department of veterans affairs; (viii) The Washington state department of children, youth, and families; (ix) The Washington state department of social and health services; (x) Any county corrections department; (xi) Any city corrections department not covered under chapter 41.28 RCW; (xii) Any public corrections entity created under RCW 39.34.030 by counties, cities not covered under chapter 41.28 RCW, or both; and (xiii) Any employer participating in the public employees' retirement system in chapter 41.40 RCW, some or all of whose employees' primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch 911 emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, or other public safety services that is not already covered by the provisions of this subsection. (b) 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. (13) "Final compensation" means the annual rate of compensation earnable by a member at the time of termination of employment. (14) "Index" means, for any calendar year, that year's annual average consumer price index, Seattle, Washington area, for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items, compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor. (15) "Index A" means the index for the year prior to the determination of a postretirement adjustment. (16) "Index B" means the index for the year prior to index A. (17) "Ineligible position" means any position which does not conform with the requirements set forth in subsection (10) of this section. (18) "Leave of absence" means the period of time a member is authorized by the employer to be absent from service without being separated from membership. (19) "Member" means any employee employed by an employer on a full-time basis: (a) Who is in a position that requires completion of a certified criminal justice training course and is authorized by their employer to arrest, conduct criminal investigations, enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington, and carry a firearm as part of the job; (b) Whose primary responsibility is to ensure the custody and security of incarcerated or probationary individuals as a corrections officer, probation officer, or jailer; (c) Who is a limited authority Washington peace officer, as defined in RCW 10.93.020 , for an employer; (d) Whose primary responsibility is to provide nursing care to, or to ensure the custody and safety of, offender, adult probationary, or patient populations; and who is in a position that requires completion of defensive tactics training or de-escalation training; and who is employed by one of the following state institutions or centers operated by the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families: (i) Juvenile rehabilitation administration institutions, not including community facilities; (ii) Mental health hospitals; (iii) Child study and treatment centers; or (iv) Institutions or residential sites that serve developmentally disabled patients or offenders, or perform competency restoration services, or serve civilly committed residents, or serve patients under not guilty by reason of insanity findings, except for state-operated living alternatives facilities; (e) Whose primary responsibility is to provide nursing care to offender and patient populations in institutions and centers operated by the following employers: A city or county corrections department as set forth in subsection (12) of this section, a public corrections entity as set forth in subsection (12) of this section, the Washington state department of corrections, or the Washington state department of veterans affairs; (f) Whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch 911 emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, or other public safety services, or to supervise those employees; or (g) Whose primary responsibility is to supervise members eligible under this subsection. (20) "Membership service" means all service rendered as a member. (21) "Pension" means payments for life derived from contributions made by the employer. All pensions shall be paid in monthly installments. (22) "Plan" means the Washington public safety employees' retirement system plan 2. (23) "Regular interest" means such rate as the director may determine. (24) "Retiree" means any person who has begun accruing a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer while a member. (25) "Retirement" means withdrawal from active service with a retirement allowance as provided by this chapter. (26) "Retirement allowance" means monthly payments to a retiree or beneficiary as provided in this chapter. (27) "Retirement system" means the Washington public safety employees' retirement system provided for in this chapter. (28) "Separation from service" occurs when a person has terminated all employment with an employer. (29) "Service" means periods of employment by a member on or after July 1, 2006, for one or more employers for which compensation earnable is paid. Compensation earnable earned for ninety or more hours in any calendar month shall constitute one service credit month. Compensation earnable earned for at least seventy hours but less than ninety hours in any calendar month shall constitute one-half service credit month of service. Compensation earnable earned for less than seventy hours in any calendar month shall constitute one-quarter service credit month of service. Time spent in standby status, whether compensated or not, is not service. Any fraction of a year of service shall be taken into account in the computation of such retirement allowance or benefits. (a) Service in any state elective position shall be deemed to be full-time service. (b) A member shall receive a total of not more than twelve service credit months of service for such calendar year. If an individual is employed in an eligible position by one or more employers the individual shall receive no more than one service credit month during any calendar month in which multiple service for ninety or more hours is rendered. (c) Reduction efforts such as furloughs, reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or other similar situations as contemplated by subsection (5)(b)(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 month or an accumulation of months of service credit which is 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) "State treasurer" means the treasurer of the state of Washington.
RCW 41.26.540 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 540
RCW 41.26.540: Refund of contributions on termination.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A member who has completed less than ten years of service, 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. (b) A member who has completed ten or more years of service, 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. (2) 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 41.26.410 through 41.26.550 .
RCW 41.80.005 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 005
RCW 41.80.005: Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Agency" means any agency as defined in RCW 41.06.020 and covered by chapter 41.06 RCW. "Agency" also includes the assistant attorneys general of the attorney general's office and the administrative law judges of the office of administrative hearings, regardless of whether those employees are exempt under chapter 41.06 RCW. "Agency" does not include a comprehensive cancer center participating in a collaborative arrangement as defined in RCW 28B.10.930 that is operated in conformance with RCW 28B.10.930 . (2) "Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of the representatives of the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative to meet at reasonable times and to bargain in good faith in an effort to reach agreement with respect to the subjects of bargaining specified under RCW 41.80.020 . The obligation to bargain does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or to make a concession, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. (3) "Commission" means the public employment relations commission. (4) "Confidential employee" means an employee who, in the regular course of his or her duties, assists in a confidential capacity persons who formulate, determine, and effectuate management policies with regard to labor relations or who, in the regular course of his or her duties, has authorized access to information relating to the effectuation or review of the employer's collective bargaining policies, or who assists or aids a manager. "Confidential employee" also includes employees who assist assistant attorneys general who advise and represent managers or confidential employees in personnel or labor relations matters. (5) "Director" means the director of the public employment relations commission. (6) "Employee" means any employee, including employees whose work has ceased in connection with the pursuit of lawful activities protected by this chapter, covered by chapter 41.06 RCW. "Employee" includes assistant attorneys general of the office of the attorney general and administrative law judges of the office of administrative hearings, regardless of their exemption under chapter 41.06 RCW. "Employee" does not include: (a) Employees covered for collective bargaining by chapter 41.56 RCW; (b) Confidential employees; (c) Members of the Washington management service excluded from collective bargaining under RCW 41.80.430 ; (d) Internal auditors in any agency; or (e) Any employee of the commission, the office of financial management, or the office of risk management within the department of enterprise services. (7) "Employee organization" means any organization, union, or association in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining with employers. (8) "Employer" means the state of Washington. (9) "Exclusive bargaining representative" means any employee organization that has been certified under this chapter as the representative of the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. (10) "Institutions of higher education" means the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, The Evergreen State College, and the various state community colleges. (11) "Labor dispute" means any controversy concerning terms, tenure, or conditions of employment, or concerning the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing, or seeking to arrange terms or conditions of employment with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in this chapter, regardless of whether the disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer and employee. (12) "Manager" means "manager" as defined in RCW 41.06.022 . (13) "Supervisor" means an employee who has authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, direct, reward, or discipline employees, or to adjust employee grievances, or effectively to recommend such action, if the exercise of the authority is not of a merely routine nature but requires the consistent exercise of individual judgment. (14) "Unfair labor practice" means any unfair labor practice listed in RCW 41.80.110 . (15) "Uniformed personnel" means duly sworn police officers employed as members of a police force established pursuant to RCW 28B.10.550 .
RCW 41.48.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 080
RCW 41.48.080: Administration costs—Allocation.
Status: in_force

All costs allocable to the administration of this chapter shall be charged to and paid to the OASI revolving fund by the participating divisions and instrumentalities of the state pro rata according to their respective contributions.
RCW 41.40.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 020
RCW 41.40.020: System created—Administration.
Status: in_force

A state employees' retirement system is hereby created for the employees of the state of Washington and its political subdivisions. The administration and management of the retirement system, the responsibility for making effective the provisions of this chapter, and the authority to make all rules and regulations necessary therefor are hereby vested in the department. All such rules and regulations shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, as now or hereafter amended. The retirement system herein provided for shall be known as the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System.
RCW 41.37.200 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 200
RCW 41.37.200: Lump sum retirement allowance—Reentry—Reinstatement of service.
Status: in_force

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(1) The director may pay a member eligible to receive a retirement allowance or the member's beneficiary, subject to subsection (5) of this section, a lump sum payment in lieu of a monthly benefit if the initial monthly benefit computed in accordance with RCW 41.37.190 would be less than fifty dollars. The lump sum payment shall be the greater of the actuarial equivalent of the monthly benefits or an amount equal to the individual's accumulated contributions plus accrued interest. (2) A retiree or a beneficiary, subject to subsection (5) of this section, who is receiving a regular monthly benefit of less than fifty dollars may request, in writing, to convert from a monthly benefit to a lump sum payment. If the director approves the conversion, the calculation of the actuarial equivalent of the total estimated regular benefit will be computed based on the beneficiary's age at the time the benefit initially accrued. The lump sum payment will be reduced to reflect any payments received on or after the initial benefit accrual date. (3) Persons covered under subsection (1) of this section may upon returning to member status reinstate all previous service by depositing the lump sum payment received, with interest as computed by the director, within two years of returning to service or prior to reretiring, whichever comes first. In computing the amount due, the director shall exclude the accumulated value of the normal payments the member would have received while in beneficiary status if the lump sum payment had not occurred. (4) If a member fails to meet the time limitations under subsection (3) of this section, reinstatement of all previous service will occur if the member pays the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2). The amount, however, shall exclude the accumulated value of the normal payments the member would have received while in beneficiary status if the lump sum payment had not occurred. (5) Only persons entitled to or receiving a service retirement allowance under RCW 41.37.210 or an earned disability allowance under RCW 41.37.230 qualify for participation under this section. (6) It is the intent of the legislature that any member who receives a settlement under this section shall be deemed to be retired from this system.