RCW 41.40.023 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 023
RCW 41.40.023: Membership.
Status: in_force

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Membership in the retirement system shall consist of all regularly compensated employees and appointive and elective officials of employers, as defined in this chapter, with the following exceptions: (1) Persons in ineligible positions; (2) Employees of the legislature except the officers thereof elected by the members of the senate and the house and legislative committees, unless membership of such employees be authorized by the said committee; (3)(a) Persons holding elective offices or persons appointed directly by the governor: PROVIDED, That such persons shall have the option of applying for membership during such periods of employment: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any persons holding or who have held elective offices or persons appointed by the governor who are members in the retirement system and who have, prior to becoming such members, previously held an elective office, and did not at the start of such initial or successive terms of office exercise their option to become members, may apply for membership to be effective during such term or terms of office, and shall be allowed to establish the service credit applicable to such term or terms of office upon payment of the employee contributions therefor by the employee with interest as determined by the director and employer contributions therefor by the employer or employee with interest as determined by the director: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That all contributions with interest submitted by the employee under this subsection shall be placed in the employee's individual account in the employee's savings fund and be treated as any other contribution made by the employee, with the exception that any contributions submitted by the employee in payment of the employer's obligation, together with the interest the director may apply to the employer's contribution, shall not be considered part of the member's annuity for any purpose except withdrawal of contributions; (b) A member holding elective office who has elected to apply for membership pursuant to (a) of this subsection and who later wishes to be eligible for a retirement allowance shall have the option of ending his or her membership in the retirement system. A member wishing to end his or her membership under this subsection must file, on a form supplied by the department, a statement indicating that the member agrees to irrevocably abandon any claim for service for future periods served as an elected official. A member who receives more than fifteen thousand dollars per year in compensation for his or her elective service, adjusted annually for inflation by the director, is not eligible for the option provided by this subsection (3)(b); (4) Employees holding membership in, or receiving pension benefits under, any retirement plan operated wholly or in part by an agency of the state or political subdivision thereof, or who are by reason of their current employment contributing to or otherwise establishing the right to receive benefits from any such retirement plan except as follows: (a) In any case where the retirement system has in existence an agreement with another retirement system in connection with exchange of service credit or an agreement whereby members can retain service credit in more than one system, such an employee shall be allowed membership rights should the agreement so provide; (b) An employee shall be allowed membership if otherwise eligible while receiving survivor's benefits; (c) An employee shall not either before or after June 7, 1984, be excluded from membership or denied service credit pursuant to this subsection solely on account of: (i) Membership in the plan created under chapter 2.14 RCW; or (ii) enrollment under the relief and compensation provisions or the pension provisions of the volunteer firefighters' relief and pension principal fund or the reserve officers' relief and pension principal fund under chapter 41.24 RCW; (d) Except as provided in RCW 41.40.109 , on or after July 25, 1999, an employee shall not be excluded from membership or denied service credit pursuant to this subsection solely on account of participation in a defined contribution pension plan qualified under section 401 of the internal revenue code; (e) Employees who have been reported in the retirement system prior to July 25, 1999, and who participated during the same period of time in a defined contribution pension plan qualified under section 401 of the internal revenue code and operated wholly or in part by the employer, shall not be excluded from previous retirement system membership and service credit on account of such participation; (5) Patient and inmate help in state charitable, penal, and correctional institutions; (6) "Members" of a state veterans' home or state soldiers' home; (7) Persons employed by an institution of higher learning or community college, primarily as an incident to and in furtherance of their education or training, or the education or training of a spouse; (8) Employees of an institution of higher learning or community college during the period of service necessary to establish eligibility for membership in the retirement plans operated by such institutions; (9) Persons rendering professional services to an employer on a fee, retainer, or contract basis or when the income from these services is less than fifty percent of the gross income received from the person's practice of a profession; (10) Persons appointed after April 1, 1963, by the liquor and cannabis board as contract liquor store managers; (11) Employees of a labor guild, association, or organization: PROVIDED, That elective officials and employees of a labor guild, association, or organization which qualifies as an employer within this chapter shall have the option of applying for membership; (12) Retirement system retirees: PROVIDED, That following reemployment in an eligible position, a retiree may elect to prospectively become a member of the retirement system if otherwise eligible; (13) Persons employed by or appointed or elected as an official of a first-class city that has its own retirement system: PROVIDED, That any member elected or appointed to an elective office on or after April 1, 1971, shall have the option of continuing as a member of this system in lieu of becoming a member of the city system. A member who elects to continue as a member of this system shall pay the appropriate member contributions and the city shall pay the employer contributions at the rates prescribed by this chapter. The city shall also transfer to this system all of such member's accumulated contributions together with such further amounts as necessary to equal all employee and employer contributions which would have been paid into this system on account of such service with the city and thereupon the member shall be granted credit for all such service. Any city that becomes an employer as defined in RCW 41.40.010 (13) as the result of an individual's election under this subsection shall not be required to have all employees covered for retirement under the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a city of the first class with its own retirement system from: (a) Transferring all of its current employees to the retirement system established under this chapter, or (b) allowing newly hired employees the option of continuing coverage under the retirement system established by this chapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, persons transferring from employment with a first-class city of over four hundred thousand population that has its own retirement system to employment with the state department of agriculture may elect to remain within the retirement system of such city and the state shall pay the employer contributions for such persons at like rates as prescribed for employers of other members of such system; (14) Employees who (a) are not citizens of the United States, (b) do not reside in the United States, and (c) perform duties outside of the United States; (15) Employees who (a) are not citizens of the United States, (b) are not covered by chapter 41.48 RCW, (c) are not excluded from membership under this chapter or chapter 41.04 RCW, (d) are residents of this state, and (e) make an irrevocable election to be excluded from membership, in writing, which is submitted to the director within thirty days after employment in an eligible position; (16) Employees who are citizens of the United States and who reside and perform duties for an employer outside of the United States: PROVIDED, That unless otherwise excluded under this chapter or chapter 41.04 RCW, the employee may apply for membership (a) within thirty days after employment in an eligible position and membership service credit shall be granted from the first day of membership service, and (b) after this thirty-day period, but membership service credit shall be granted only if payment is made for the noncredited membership service under RCW 41.50.165 (2), otherwise service shall be from the date of application; (17) The city manager or chief administrative officer of a city or town, other than a retiree, who serves at the pleasure of an appointing authority: PROVIDED, That such persons shall have the option of applying for membership within thirty days from date of their appointment to such positions. Persons serving in such positions as of April 4, 1986, shall continue to be members in the retirement system unless they notify the director in writing prior to December 31, 1986, of their desire to withdraw from membership in the retirement system. A member who withdraws from membership in the system under this section shall receive a refund of the member's accumulated contributions. Persons serving in such positions who have not opted for membership within the specified thirty days, may do so by paying the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2) for the period from the date of their appointment to the date of acceptance into membership; (18) Persons serving as: (a) The chief administrative officer of a public utility district as defined in RCW 54.16.100 ; (b) the chief administrative officer of a port district formed under chapter 53.04 RCW; or (c) the chief administrative officer of a county who serves at the pleasure of an appointing authority: PROVIDED, That such persons shall have the option of applying for membership within thirty days from the date of their appointment to such positions. Persons serving in such positions as of July 25, 1999, shall continue to be members in the retirement system unless they notify the director in writing prior to December 31, 1999, of their desire to withdraw from membership in the retirement system. A member who withdraws from membership in the system under this section shall receive a refund of the member's accumulated contributions upon termination of employment or as otherwise consistent with the plan's tax qualification status as defined in internal revenue code section 401. Persons serving in such positions who have not opted for membership within the specified thirty days, may do so at a later date by paying the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2) for the period from the date of their appointment to the date of acceptance into membership; (19) Persons enrolled in state-approved apprenticeship programs, authorized under chapter 49.04 RCW, and who are employed by local governments to earn hours to complete such apprenticeship programs, if the employee is a member of a union-sponsored retirement plan and is making contributions to such a retirement plan or if the employee is a member of a Taft-Hartley retirement plan; (20) Beginning on July 22, 2001, persons employed exclusively as trainers or trainees in resident apprentice training programs operated by housing authorities authorized under chapter 35.82 RCW, (a) if the trainer or trainee is a member of a union-sponsored retirement plan and is making contributions to such a retirement plan or (b) if the employee is a member of a Taft-Hartley retirement plan; (21) Employees who are removed from membership under RCW 41.40.823 or 41.40.633 ; (22) Persons employed as the state director of fire protection under RCW 43.43.938 who were previously members of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 under chapter 41.26 RCW may continue as a member of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system in lieu of becoming a member of this system; and (23) Persons hired on or after June 6, 2024, employed by a public transportation benefit area as defined in RCW 36.57A.010 as part-time bus drivers serving naval shipyards if the employee is simultaneously employed on a full-time basis with an employer of the federal government and is making contributions to the federal employees' retirement system.
RCW 41.37.090 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 090
RCW 41.37.090: Exemption from taxation and judicial process—Exemptions—Assignability—Deductions authorized.
Status: in_force

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(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or retirement allowance, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under this chapter, the various funds created by this chapter, and all moneys and investments and income thereof, are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law whatsoever, whether the same be in actual possession of the person or be deposited or loaned and shall be unassignable. (2) This section does not prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of public employees of the state of Washington or its political subdivisions and which has been approved for deduction in accordance with rules that may be adopted by the state health care authority and/or the department. This section also does not prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of dues and other membership fees to any retirement association or organization the membership of which is composed of retired public employees, if a total of three hundred or more retired employees have authorized the deduction for payment to the same retirement association or organization. (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to *RCW 26.23.060 , (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500 (3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700 , or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
RCW 41.26.567 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 567
RCW 41.26.567: Tribal general authority peace officers—Establishing service credit for prior service.
Status: in_force

(1) A member who is employed as a law enforcement officer with the police department of the government of a federally recognized tribe on July 1, 2025, may establish credit for such service rendered prior to July 1, 2025, unless service is either already credited for those periods, or a member was in receipt of retirement benefits from any retirement system listed in RCW 41.50.030 . 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. Service credit may only be established for periods prior to July 1, 2025, if that service meets the requirements of RCW 41.26.030 . (2) Before July 1, 2026, a member 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, 2026. The elected period must be in monthly increments beginning with the oldest service. (a) To establish service under this section, the member must pay the actuarial value of the resulting increase in their benefit in a manner defined by the department: (i) No later than five years from the effective date of the election made under this section; and (ii) prior to retirement. (b) Upon full payment of employee contributions for the elected period of service the department of retirement systems must credit the member with the service.
RCW 41.48.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 050
RCW 41.48.050: Extension of social security benefits to employees of political subdivisions—Termination, procedure.
Status: in_force

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

(1) Each political subdivision of the state is hereby authorized to submit for approval by the governor a plan for extending the benefits of title II of the social security act, in conformity with the applicable provisions of such act, to those employees of such political subdivisions who are not covered by an existing pension or retirement system. Each pension or retirement system established by the state or a political subdivision thereof is hereby authorized to submit for approval by the governor a plan for extending the benefits of title II of the social security act, in conformity with applicable provisions of such act, to members of such pension or retirement system. Each such plan and any amendment thereof shall be approved by the governor if he or she finds that such plan, or such plan as amended, is in conformity with such requirements as are provided in regulations of the governor, except that no such plan shall be approved unless — (a) It is in conformity with the requirements of the social security act and with the agreement entered into under RCW 41.48.030 ; (b) It provides that all services which constitute employment as defined in RCW 41.48.020 and are performed in the employ of the political subdivision by employees thereof, shall be covered by the plan; (c) It specifies the source or sources from which the funds necessary to make the payments required by paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and by subsection (4) of this section are expected to be derived and contains reasonable assurance that such sources will be adequate for such purposes; (d) It provides that in the plan of coverage for members of the state teachers' retirement system or for state employee members of the state employees' retirement system, there shall be no additional cost to or involvement of the state until such plan has received prior approval by the legislature; (e) It provides for such methods of administration of the plan by the political subdivision as are found by the governor to be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the plan; (f) It provides that the political subdivision will make such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the governor may from time to time require and comply with such provisions as the governor or the secretary of health, education, and welfare may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and (g) It authorizes the governor to terminate the plan in its entirety, in his or her discretion, if he or she finds that there has been a failure to comply substantially with any provision contained in such plan, such termination to take effect at the expiration of such notice and on such conditions as may be provided by regulations of the governor and may be consistent with the provisions of the social security act; (h) It provides that law enforcement officers and firefighters of each political subdivision of this state who are covered by the Washington Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Act (chapter 209, Laws of 1969 ex. sess.) as now in existence or hereafter amended shall constitute a separate "coverage group" for purposes of the plan or agreement entered into under this section and for purposes of section 216 of the social security act. To the extent that the plan or agreement entered into between the state and any political subdivision of this state is inconsistent with this subsection, the governor shall seek to modify the inconsistency; (i) It provides that the plan or agreement may be terminated by any political subdivision as to any such coverage group upon giving at least two years advance notice in writing to the governor, effective at the end of the calendar quarter specified in the notice. It shall specify that before notice of such termination is given, a referendum shall be held among the members of the coverage group under the following conditions: (i) The referendum shall be conducted under the supervision of the legislative body of the political subdivision. (ii) Not less than sixty days' notice of such referendum shall be given to members of the coverage group. (iii) An opportunity to vote by secret ballot in such referendum shall be given and shall be limited to all members of the coverage group. (iv) The proposal for termination shall be approved only if a majority of the coverage group vote in favor of termination. (v) If a majority of the coverage group vote in favor of termination, the legislative body of the political subdivision shall certify the results of the referendum to the governor and give notice of termination of such coverage group. (2) The governor shall not finally refuse to approve a plan submitted by a political subdivision under subsection (1) [of this section], and shall not terminate an approved plan, without reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the political subdivision affected thereby. (3)(a) Each political subdivision as to which a plan has been approved under this section shall pay into the contribution account, with respect to wages (as defined in RCW 41.48.020 ), at such time or times as the governor may by regulation prescribe, contributions in the amounts and at the rates specified in the applicable agreement entered into by the governor under RCW 41.48.030 . (b) Each political subdivision required to make payments under paragraph (a) of this subsection is authorized, in consideration of the employee's retention in, or entry upon, employment after enactment of this chapter, to impose upon each of its employees, as to services which are covered by an approved plan, a contribution with respect to his or her wages (as defined in RCW 41.48.020 ), not exceeding the amount of employee tax which is imposed by the federal insurance contributions act, and to deduct the amount of such contribution from his or her wages as and when paid. Contributions so collected shall be paid into the OASI contribution account in partial discharge of the liability of such political subdivision or instrumentality under paragraph (a) of this subsection. Failure to deduct such contribution shall not relieve the employee or employer of liability therefor. (4) Delinquent reports and payments due under paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section will be subject to an added interest charge of six percent per year or, if higher, the rate chargeable to the state by the secretary by virtue of federal law, if the late report or payment contributes to any federal penalty for late filing of reports or for late deposit of contributions. Delinquent contributions, interest, and penalties may be recovered by civil action or may, at the request of the governor, be deducted from any other moneys payable to the political subdivision by any department or agency of the state.
RCW 41.35.399 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 399
RCW 41.35.399: Provisions applicable to plan 2 and plan 3.
Status: in_force

RCW 41.35.005 through 41.35.230 apply to members of plan 2 and plan 3.
RCW 41.56.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 900
RCW 41.56.900: Short title—Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 108.
Status: in_force

RCW 41.56.010 through 41.56.900 and 41.06.150 shall be known as the "Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act" and shall take effect on July 1, 1967.
RCW 41.08.180 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 180
RCW 41.08.180: Office and supplies to be furnished—Penalty for not providing.
Status: in_force

The duly constituted authorities of each and every city coming within the purview of this chapter, shall provide the commission with suitable and convenient rooms and accommodations and cause the same to be furnished, heated and lighted and supplied with all office supplies and equipment necessary to carry on the business of the commission and with such clerical assistance as may be necessary, all of which is to be commensurate with the number of persons in each such city coming within the purview of this chapter; and the failure upon the part of the duly constituted authorities to do so, shall be considered a violation of this chapter and shall be punishable as such.
RCW 41.26.420 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 420
RCW 41.26.420: Computation of the retirement allowance.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in RCW 41.26.530 , a member of the retirement system shall receive a retirement allowance equal to two percent of such member's final average salary for each year of service. (2) Beginning January 16, 2023, members new to the retirement system after February 1, 2021, who earn more than 15 years of service credit shall receive a tiered multiplier retirement allowance as follows: (a) Two percent of such member's final average salary for the first 15 years of service; (b) Two and one-half percent of such member's final average salary for the 10 years of service after 15 years and up to 25 years; and (c) Two percent of such member's final average salary for years of service above 25 years. (3) Members active in the retirement system on or before February 1, 2021, at retirement must make an irrevocable choice between the lump sum defined benefit in RCW 41.26.555 or a tiered multiplier retirement allowance as follows: (a) Two percent of such member's final average salary for the first 15 years of service; (b) Two and one-half percent of such member's final average salary for the 10 years of service after 15 years and up to 25 years; and (c) Two percent of such member's final average salary for years of service above 25 years. (4) Any member who receives the tiered multiplier benefit in this section is not eligible for the lump sum defined benefit in RCW 41.26.555 .
RCW 41.32.215 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 215
RCW 41.32.215: Provisions applicable to plan 1.
Status: in_force

RCW 41.32.240 through * 41.32.575 shall apply only to members of plan 1.
RCW 41.32.825 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 825
RCW 41.32.825: Reentry.
Status: in_force

(1) A member, who had left service and withdrawn the member's accumulated contributions, shall, upon reestablishment of membership under RCW 41.32.240 , receive service credit for such prior service if the member restores all withdrawn accumulated contributions together with interest since the time of withdrawal as determined by the department. The restoration of such funds must be completed within five years of the resumption of service or prior to retirement, whichever occurs first. (2) If a member fails to meet the time limitations of subsection (1) of this section, the member may receive service credit destroyed by the withdrawn contributions if the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2) is paid.
RCW 41.50.610 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 610
RCW 41.50.610: Mandatory assignment of retirement benefits—Order—Answer—Form.
Status: in_force

The answer of the department shall be made on forms, served on the director with the mandatory benefits assignment order, substantially as follows: IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. . . . . Obligee vs. ANSWER TO . . . . MANDATORY BENEFITS Obligor ASSIGNMENT ORDER . . . . Department of Retirement Systems of the State of Washington 1. At the time of the service of the mandatory benefits assignment order on the department, was the above-named obligor receiving periodic retirement payments from the department of retirement systems? Yes . . . . . . No . . . . . . (check one). 2. At the time of the service of the mandatory benefits assignment order on the department, had the above-named obligor requested a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from the department? Yes . . . . . . No . . . . . . (check one). 3. Are there any other court or administrative orders on file with the department currently in effect directing the department to withhold all or a portion of the obligor's benefits? Yes . . . . . . No . . . . . . (check one). 4. If the answer to question one or two is yes and the department cannot comply fully with the mandatory benefits assignment order, provide an explanation. I declare under the laws of the state of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. . . . . . . . . Signature of director Date and place or . . . . . . . . . . . . Signature of person Place answering for director . . . . Connection with director
RCW 41.04.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 130
RCW 41.04.130: Extension of provisions of retirement and pension systems by cities of the first class to nonincluded personnel.
Status: in_force

Any city of the first class may, by ordinance, extend, upon conditions deemed proper, the provisions of retirement and pension systems for superannuated and disabled officers and employees to officers and employees with five years of continuous service and acting in capacities in which they would otherwise not be entitled to participation in such systems: PROVIDED, That the following shall be specifically exempted from the provisions of this section. (1) Members of the police departments who are entitled to the benefits of the police relief and pension fund as established by state law. (2) Members of the fire department who are entitled to the benefits of the firefighters' relief and pension fund as established by state law.
RCW 41.68.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 68 / Section 010
RCW 41.68.010: Legislative finding.
Status: in_force

The dismissal or termination of various state employees during World War II resulted from the promulgation of federal Executive Order 9066 which was based mainly on fear and suspicion rather than on factual justification. It is fair and just that reparations be made to those employees who were terminated from state employment during the wartime years because of these circumstances. The legislature therefore finds that equity and fairness will be served by authorizing the filing of claims with the state for salary losses suffered by the state employees directly affected, and by authorizing the payment thereof, subject to the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.37.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 030
RCW 41.37.030: Nonelective position—Eligible position, when.
Status: in_force

Any person who has been employed in a nonelective position for at least nine months and who has made member contributions required under this chapter throughout such period, shall be deemed to have been in an eligible position during such period of employment.
RCW 41.37.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 130
RCW 41.37.130: Hearing prior to appeal required—Notice.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by any decision of the department affecting his or her legal rights, duties, or privileges must, before he or she appeals to the courts, file with the director by mail or personally within sixty days from the day the decision was communicated to the person, a notice for a hearing before the director's designee. The notice of hearing shall set forth in full detail the grounds upon which the person considers the decision unjust or unlawful and shall include every issue to be considered by the department, and it must contain a detailed statement of facts upon which the person relies in support of the appeal. These persons shall be deemed to have waived all objections or irregularities concerning the matter on which the appeal is taken, other than those specifically set forth in the notice of hearing or appearing in the records of the retirement system.
RCW 41.05A.240 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05A / Section 240
RCW 41.05A.240: Recovery of temporary total disability compensation—Service of lien and notice to withhold and deliver.
Status: in_force

The effective date of the lien and notice to withhold and deliver provided in RCW 41.05A.230 is the day that it is received by the department of labor and industries or a self-insurer as defined in chapter 51.08 RCW. Service of the lien and notice to withhold and deliver may be made personally, by regular mail with postage prepaid, or by electronic means. A statement of lien and notice to withhold and deliver must be mailed to the recipient at the recipient's last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, no later than two business days after the authority mails, delivers, or transmits the lien and notice to withhold and deliver to the department of labor and industries or a self-insurer.
RCW 41.14.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 030
RCW 41.14.030: Civil service commission—Appointment, terms, qualifications, compensation, etc.
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in each county and in each combination of counties, combined pursuant to RCW 41.14.040 to carry out the provisions of this chapter, a civil service commission which shall be composed of three persons, or five persons under subsection (2) of this section. The commission members shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners, or boards of county commissioners of each combination of counties, within sixty days after December 4, 1958. No person shall be appointed to the commission who is not a citizen of the United States, a resident of the county, or one of the counties combined, for at least two years immediately preceding his or her appointment, and an elector of the county wherein he or she resides. The term of office of the commissioners shall be six years, except that the first three members of the 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 the commission may be removed from office for incompetency, incompatibility, or dereliction of duty, or malfeasance in office, or other good cause: PROVIDED, That no member of the commission shall be removed until charges have been preferred, in writing, due notice, and a full hearing had. Any vacancy in the commission shall be filled by the county commissioners for the unexpired term. Two members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the votes of any two members concurring shall be sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business to be decided or transacted by the commission. Confirmation of the appointment of commissioners by any legislative body shall not be required. At the time of appointment not more than two commissioners shall be adherents of the same political party. No member after appointment shall hold any salaried public office or engage in county employment, other than his or her commission duties. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation. (2)(a) Each county and each combination of counties under RCW 41.14.040 may, by ordinance, increase the number of members serving on a commission from three to five members. If a commission is increased to five members, the terms of the three commissioners serving at the time of the increase are not affected. The initial term of office for the two additional commissioners is six years. (b) Three commissioners constitute a quorum for a five-member commission and the votes of three commissioners concurring are sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business decided or transacted by a five-member commission. (c) At the time of appointment of the two additional commissioners, no more than three commissioners may be adherents of the same political party. (d) Except as provided otherwise in this subsection (2), subsection (1) of this section applies to five-member commissions.
RCW 41.06.142 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 142
RCW 41.06.142: Contracting for services—Effect on employees in the classified service—Criteria to be met—Website posting—Contract file report—Requirements of agreements—Effectiveness beyond agreement expiration date—Violation of RCW 49.60.030—Competitive contracting—Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) If any department, agency, or institution of higher education intends to contract for services that, on or after July 1, 2005, have been customarily and historically provided by, and would displace or relocate, employees in the classified service under this chapter, a department, agency, or institution of higher education may do so by contracting with individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, employee business units, or other entities if the following criteria are met: (a) A comprehensive impact assessment is completed by the agency, department, or institution of higher education to assist it in determining whether the decision to contract out is beneficial. (i) The comprehensive impact assessment must include at a minimum the following analysis: (A) An estimate of the cost of performance of the service by employees, including the fully allocated costs of the service, the cost of the employees' salaries and benefits, space, equipment, materials, and other costs necessary to perform the function. The estimate must not include the state's indirect overhead costs unless those costs can be attributed directly to the function in question and would not exist if that function were not performed in state service; (B) An estimate of the cost of performance of the services if contracted out, including the cost of administration of the program and allocating sufficient employee staff time and resources to monitor the contract and ensure its proper performance by the contractor; (C) The reason for proposing to contract out, including the objective the agency would like to achieve; and (D) The reasons for the determination made under (e) of this subsection. (ii) When the contract will result in termination of state employees or elimination of state positions, the comprehensive impact assessment may also include an assessment of the potential adverse impacts on the public from outsourcing the contract, such as loss of employment, effect on social services and public assistance programs, economic impacts on local businesses and local tax revenues, and environmental impacts; (b) The invitation for bid or request for proposal contains measurable standards for the performance of the contract; (c) Employees whose positions or work would be displaced by the contract are provided an opportunity to offer alternatives to purchasing services by contract and, if these alternatives are not accepted, compete for the contract under competitive contracting procedures in subsection (7) of this section; (d) The department, agency, or institution of higher education has established a contract monitoring process to measure contract performance, costs, service delivery quality, and other contract standards, and to cancel contracts that do not meet those standards; and (e) The department, agency, or institution of higher education has determined that the contract results in savings or efficiency improvements. The contracting agency, department, or institution of higher education must consider the consequences and potential mitigation of improper or failed performance by the contractor. (2)(a) The agency, department, or institution of higher education must post on its website the request for proposal, the contract or a statement that the agency, department, or institution of higher education did not move forward with contracting out, and the comprehensive impact assessment pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. (b) The agency, department, or institution of higher education must maintain the information in (a) of this subsection in its files in accordance with the record retention schedule under RCW 40.14.060 . (3) Every five years or upon completion of the contract, whichever comes first, the agency, department, or institution of higher education must prepare and maintain in the contract file a report, which must include at a minimum the following information: (a) Documentation of the contractor's performance as measured by the itemized performance standards; (b) Itemization of any contract extensions or change orders that resulted in a change in the dollar value or cost of the contract; and (c) A report of any remedial actions that were taken to enforce compliance with the contract, together with an estimate of the cost incurred by the agency, department, or institution of higher education in enforcing such compliance. (4) In addition to any other terms required by law, the terms of any agreement to contract out a service pursuant to this section must include terms that address the following: (a) The contract's contract management provision must allow review of the contractor's performance; (b) The contract's termination clauses must allow termination of the contract if the contractor fails to meet the terms of the contract, including failure to meet performance standards or failure to provide the services at the contracted price; (c) The contract's damages provision must allow recovery of direct damages and , when applicable, indirect damages that the agency, department, or institution of higher education incurs due to the contractor's breach of the agreement; (d) If the contractor will be using a subcontractor for performance of services under the contract, the contract must allow the agency, department, or institution of higher education to obtain information about the subcontractor, as applicable to the performance of services under the agreement; and (e) A provision requiring the contractor to consider employment of employees who may be displaced by the contract, if the contract is with an entity other than an employee business unit. (5) Any provision contrary to or in conflict with this section in any collective bargaining agreement in effect on July 1, 2005, is not effective beyond the expiration date of the agreement. (6) When contracting out for services as authorized in this section the agency, department, or institution of higher education must ensure firms adhere to the values of the state of Washington under RCW 49.60.030 , which provide its citizens freedom from discrimination. Any relationship with a potential or current industry partner that is found to have violated RCW 49.60.030 by the attorney general shall not be considered and must be immediately terminated unless: (a) The industry partner has fulfilled the conditions or obligations associated with any court order or settlement resulting from that violation; or (b) The industry partner has taken significant and meaningful steps to correct the violation, as determined by the Washington state human rights commission. (7) Competitive contracting shall be implemented as follows: (a) At least ninety days prior to the date the contracting agency, department, or institution of higher education requests bids from private entities for a contract for services provided by employees, the contracting agency, department, or institution of higher education shall notify the employees whose positions or work would be displaced by the contract. The employees shall have sixty days from the date of notification to offer alternatives to purchasing services by contract, and the agency, department, or institution of higher education shall consider the alternatives before requesting bids. (b) If the employees decide to compete for the contract, they shall notify the contracting agency, department, or institution of higher education of their decision. Employees must form one or more employee business units for the purpose of submitting a bid or bids to perform the services. (c) The department of enterprise services, with the advice and assistance of the office of financial management, shall develop and make available to employee business units training in the bidding process and general bid preparation. (d) The director of enterprise services, with the advice and assistance of the office of financial management, shall, by rule, establish procedures to ensure that bids are submitted and evaluated in a fair and objective manner and that there exists a competitive market for the service. Such rules shall include, but not be limited to: (i) Prohibitions against participation in the bid evaluation process by employees who prepared the business unit's bid or who perform any of the services to be contracted; (ii) provisions to ensure no bidder receives an advantage over other bidders and that bid requirements are applied equitably to all parties; and (iii) procedures that require the contracting agency, department, or institution of higher education to receive complaints regarding the bidding process and to consider them before awarding the contract. Appeal of an agency's, department's, or institution of higher education's actions under this subsection is an adjudicative proceeding and subject to the applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, with the final decision to be rendered by an administrative law judge assigned under chapter 34.12 RCW. (e) An employee business unit's bid must include the fully allocated costs of the service, including the cost of the employees' salaries and benefits, space, equipment, materials, and other costs necessary to perform the function. An employee business unit's cost shall not include the state's indirect overhead costs unless those costs can be attributed directly to the function in question and would not exist if that function were not performed in state service. (f) A department, agency, or institution of higher education may contract with the department of enterprise services to conduct the bidding process. (8)(a) As used in this section: (i) "Employee business unit" means a group of employees who perform services to be contracted under this section and who submit a bid for the performance of those services under subsection (7) of this section. (ii) "Indirect overhead costs" means the pro rata share of existing agency administrative salaries and benefits, and rent, equipment costs, utilities, and materials associated with those administrative functions. (iii) "Competitive contracting" means the process by which employees of a department, agency, or institution of higher education compete with businesses, individuals, nonprofit organizations, or other entities for contracts authorized by subsection (1) of this section. (b) Unless otherwise specified, for the purpose of chapter 269, Laws of 2020, "employee" means state employees in the classified service under this chapter except employees in the Washington management service as defined under RCW 41.06.022 and 41.06.500 . (9) The processes set forth in subsections (1)(a), (2), (3), and (4)(a) through (d) of this section do not apply to contracts: (a) Awarded for the purposes of or by the department of transportation; (b) With an estimated cost of contract performance of twenty thousand dollars or less; (c) With an estimated cost of contract performance that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars for public work as defined by RCW 39.04.010 ; or (d) Relating to mechanical, plumbing as described in chapter 18.106 RCW, and electrical as described in chapter 19.28 RCW, procured to install systems for new construction or life-cycle replacement with an estimated cost of contract performance of seventy-five thousand dollars or more. (10) The processes set forth in subsections (1) through (4), (7), and (8) of this section do not apply to: (a) *RCW 74.13.031 (6); (b) The acquisition of printing services by a state agency; and (c) Contracts for services expressly mandated by the legislature, including contracts for fire suppression awarded by the department of natural resources under RCW 76.04.181 , or authorized by law prior to July 1, 2005, including contracts and agreements between public entities. (11) The processes set forth in subsections (1) through (4), (7), and (8) of this section do not apply to Washington technology solutions when contracting for services or activities as follows: (a) Contracting for services and activities that are necessary to establish, operate, or manage the state data center, including architecture, design, engineering, installation, and operation of the facility that are approved by the technology services board created in RCW 43.105.285 . (b) Contracting for services and activities recommended by the chief information officer through a business plan and approved by the technology services board created in RCW 43.105.285 .
RCW 41.50.730 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 730
RCW 41.50.730: Retirement or termination agreement payments—Effect on pension benefits calculation.
Status: in_force

Any payment made by an employer to a member of any retirement system enumerated in RCW 41.50.030 based on either an agreement of the employee to terminate or retire; or notification to the employer of intent to retire; shall affect retirement as follows: (1) If the agreement does not require the employee to perform additional service, the payment shall not be used in any way to calculate the pension benefit. (2) If the agreement requires additional service and results in payment at the same or a lower rate than that paid for the same or similar service by other employees it may be included in the pension benefit calculation but shall be deemed excess compensation and is billable to the employer as provided in RCW 41.50.150 . (3) If the agreement requires additional service and results in payment at a rate higher than that paid for the same or similar service by other employees, that portion of the payment which equals the payment for the same or similar service shall be treated as described in subsection (2) of this section, and the balance of the payment shall be treated as described in subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 41.50.790 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 790
RCW 41.50.790: Survivor benefits—Dissolution orders.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall designate an obligee as a survivor beneficiary of a member under RCW 2.10.146 , 41.26.460 , 41.32.530 , 41.32.785 , 41.32.851 , 41.35.220 , 41.40.188 , 41.40.660 , 41.37.170 , or 41.40.845 if the department has been served by registered or certified mail with a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500 at least thirty days prior to the member's retirement. The department's duty to comply with the dissolution order arises only if the order contains a provision that states in substantially the following form: When . . . . . . (the obligor) applies for retirement the department shall designate . . . . . . (the obligee) as survivor beneficiary with a . . . . . . survivor benefit. The survivor benefit designated in the dissolution order must be consistent with the survivor benefit options authorized by statute or administrative rule. (2) The obligee's entitlement to a survivor benefit pursuant to a dissolution order filed with the department in compliance with subsection (1) of this section shall cease upon the death of the obligee. (3)(a) A subsequent dissolution order may order the department to divide a survivor benefit between a survivor beneficiary and an alternate payee. In order to divide a survivor benefit between more than one payee, the dissolution order must: (i) Be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction following notice to the survivor beneficiary; (ii) Contain a provision that complies with subsection (1) of this section designating the survivor beneficiary; (iii) Contain a provision clearly identifying the alternate payee or payees; and (iv) Specify the proportional division of the benefit between the survivor beneficiary and the alternate payee or payees. (b) The department will calculate actuarial adjustment for the court-ordered survivor benefit based upon the life of the survivor beneficiary. (c) If the survivor beneficiary dies, the department shall terminate the benefit. If the alternate payee predeceases the survivor beneficiary, all entitlement of the alternate payee to a benefit ceases and the entire benefit will revert to the survivor beneficiary. (d) For purposes of this section, "survivor beneficiary" means: (i) The obligee designated in the provision of dissolution filed in compliance with subsection (1) of this section; or (ii) In the event of more than one dissolution order, the obligee named in the first decree of dissolution received by the department. (e) For purposes of this section, "alternate payee" means a person, other than the survivor beneficiary, who is granted a percentage of a survivor benefit pursuant to a dissolution order. (4) The department shall under no circumstances be held liable for not designating an obligee as a survivor beneficiary under subsection (1) of this section if the dissolution order or amendment thereto is not served on the department by registered or certified mail at least thirty days prior to the member's retirement. (5) If a dissolution order directing designation of a survivor beneficiary has been previously filed with the department in compliance with this section, no additional obligation shall arise on the part of the department upon filing of a subsequent dissolution order unless the subsequent dissolution order: (a) Specifically amends or supersedes the dissolution order already on file with the department; and (b) Is filed with the department by registered or certified mail at least thirty days prior to the member's retirement. (6) The department shall designate a court-ordered survivor beneficiary pursuant to a dissolution order filed with the department before June 6, 1996, only if the order: (a) Specifically directs the member or department to make such selection; (b) Specifies the survivor option to be selected; and (c) The member retires after June 6, 1996.
RCW 41.54.034 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 034
RCW 41.54.034: Calculation of surviving spouse's death benefit.
Status: in_force

(1) If a dual member dies in service in any system, the member's service in all systems may be combined for the sole purpose of determining the surviving spouse's eligibility to receive a death benefit from each of the member's current and prior systems. (2) Each system shall use its own criteria to: (a) Determine the surviving spouse's eligibility for a death benefit; and (b) Calculate the death benefit based on service actually established in that system. (3) The surviving spouse shall receive the same benefit from each system that would have been received if the member were active in the system at the time of death. The spouse shall be allowed to substitute the member's base salary from any system as the compensation used in calculating the allowance. (4) This section shall not apply to the Washington state patrol retirement system established under chapter 43.43 RCW.
RCW 41.80.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 130
RCW 41.80.130: Enforcement of collective bargaining agreements—Arbitrators—Subpoenas—Superior court.
Status: reserved

(1) For the purposes of implementing final and binding arbitration under grievance procedures required by RCW 41.80.030 , the parties to a collective bargaining agreement may agree on one or more permanent umpires to serve as arbitrator, or may agree on any impartial person to serve as arbitrator, or may agree to select arbitrators from any source available to them, including federal and private agencies, in addition to the staff and list of arbitrators maintained by the commission. If the parties cannot agree to the selection of an arbitrator, the commission shall supply a list of names in accordance with the procedures established by the commission. (2) An arbitrator may require any person to attend as a witness and to bring with him or her any book, record, document, or other evidence. The fees for such attendance shall be paid by the party requesting issuance of the subpoena and shall be the same as the fees of witnesses in the superior court. Arbitrators may administer oaths. Subpoenas shall issue and be signed by the arbitrator and shall be served in the same manner as subpoenas to testify before a court of record in this state. If any person so summoned to testify refuses or neglects to obey such subpoena, upon petition authorized by the arbitrator, the superior court may compel the attendance of the person before the arbitrator or punish the person for contempt in the same manner provided for the attendance of witnesses or the punishment of them in the courts of this state. (3) The arbitrator shall appoint a time and place for the hearing and notify the parties thereof, and may adjourn the hearing from time to time as may be necessary, and, on application of either party and for good cause, may postpone the hearing to a time not extending beyond the date fixed by the collective bargaining agreement for making the award. The arbitration award shall be in writing and signed by the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall, promptly upon its rendition, serve a true copy of the award on each of the parties or their attorneys of record. (4) If a party to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter refuses to submit a grievance for arbitration, the other party to the collective bargaining agreement may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which the labor dispute exists and such court shall have jurisdiction to issue an order compelling arbitration. Disputes concerning compliance with grievance procedures shall be reserved for determination by the arbitrator. Arbitration shall be ordered if the grievance states a claim that on its face is covered by the collective bargaining agreement. Doubts as to the coverage of the arbitration clause shall be resolved in favor of arbitration. (5) If a party to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter refuses to comply with the award of an arbitrator determining a grievance arising under the collective bargaining agreement, the other party to the collective bargaining agreement may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which the labor dispute exists and such court shall have jurisdiction to issue an order enforcing the arbitration award.
RCW 41.40.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 170
RCW 41.40.170: Credit for military service.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5420.SL ) ***

(1) A member who has served or shall serve on active federal service in the military or naval forces of the United States and who left or shall leave an employer to enter such service shall be deemed to be on military leave of absence if he or she has resumed or shall resume employment as an employee within one year from termination thereof. (2) If he or she has applied or shall apply for reinstatement of employment, within one year from termination of the military service, and is refused employment for reasons beyond his or her control, he or she shall, upon resumption of service within ten years have such service credited to him or her. (3) In any event, after completing twenty-five years of creditable service, any member may have service in the armed forces credited to him or her as a member whether or not he or she left the employ of an employer to enter the armed service: PROVIDED, That in no instance, described in this section, shall military service in excess of five years be credited: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That in each instance the member must restore all withdrawn accumulated contributions, which restoration must be completed within five years of membership service following the first resumption of employment or complete twenty-five years of creditable service: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section will not apply to any individual, not an honorably discharged veteran or veteran who received a physical discharge from the armed forces with an honorable record. Furthermore, an individual must prove that their military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . (4)(a) A member, after completing twenty-five years of creditable service, who would have otherwise become eligible for a retirement benefit as defined under this chapter while serving honorably in the armed forces, and with service during a period of war as referenced in RCW 41.04.005 , shall, upon application to the department, be eligible to receive credit for this service without returning to covered employment. (b) Service credit granted under (a) of this subsection applies only to honorably discharged veterans or veterans who received a physical discharge with an honorable record whose military service was during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 . (5) 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: (a) Provides to the director proof of the member's death while serving in the uniformed services; and (b) Provides to the director proof of the member's honorable service in the uniformed services prior to the date of death. (6) 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: (a) 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; and (b) The member provides to the director proof of honorable discharge from the uniformed services.
RCW 41.22.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 020
RCW 41.22.020: Washington state patrol and the department of fish and wildlife—Volunteer chaplain authorized.
Status: in_force

The Washington state patrol and the department of fish and wildlife may utilize the services of a volunteer chaplain.
RCW 41.04.370 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 370
RCW 41.04.370: Child care—Legislative intent.
Status: in_force

The legislature recognizes that supporting child care for employees of public and private organizations is a worthwhile pursuit. To further the goals of affordable, accessible, and quality child care for working parents, the legislature intends to provide for the development of self-supporting child care programs for employees of state government.
RCW 41.20.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 010
RCW 41.20.010: Board of trustees—Composition.
Status: in_force

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

(1) The mayor or his or her designated representative who shall be an elected official of the city, and the clerk, treasurer, president of the city council or mayor pro tem of each city of the first class, or in case any such city has no city council, the commissioner who has supervision of the police department, together with three active or retired members of the police department, to be elected as herein provided, in addition to the duties now required of them, are constituted a board of trustees of the relief and pension fund of the police department of each such city, and shall provide for the disbursement of the fund, and designate the beneficiaries thereof. (2) The police department and the retired law enforcement officers of each city of the first class shall elect three members to act as members of the board. Members shall be elected for three year terms. Existing members shall continue in office until replaced as provided for in this section. (3) Such election shall be held in the following manner. Not more than thirty nor less than fifteen days preceding the first day of June in each year, written notice of the nomination of any member or retired member of the department for membership on the board may be filed with the secretary of the board. Each notice of nomination shall be signed by not less than five members or retired members of the department, and nothing herein contained shall prevent any member or retired member of the department from signing more than one notice of nomination. The election shall be held on a date to be fixed by the secretary during the month of June. Notice of the dates upon which notice of nomination may be filed and of the date fixed for the election of such members of the board shall be given by the secretary of the board by posting written notices thereof in a prominent place in the police headquarters. For the purpose of such election, the secretary of the board shall prepare and furnish printed or typewritten ballots in the usual form, containing the names of all persons regularly nominated for membership and shall furnish a ballot box for the election. Each member and each retired member of the police department shall be entitled to vote at the election for one nominee as a member of the board. The chief of the department shall appoint two members to act as officials of the election, who shall be allowed their regular wages for the day, but shall receive no additional compensation therefor. The election shall be held in the police headquarters of the department and the polls shall open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. The one nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected to the board and his or her term shall commence on the first day of July succeeding the election. In the first election the nominee receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to the three year term, the second greatest to the two year term and the third greatest to the one year term. Retired members who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board have both the right to elect and the right to be elected under this section. Ballots shall contain all names of those nominated, both active and retired. Notice of nomination and voting by retired members shall be conducted by the board. (4) If no eligible active or retired members of the police department are willing or able to be elected to the board under subsection (3) of this section, then the following individuals may be elected to the board under subsection (3) of this section: (a) Any active or retired law enforcement officers who reside within the jurisdiction served by the board. This includes active and retired law enforcement officers under this chapter and chapter 41.26 RCW; (b) The widow or widower of a law enforcement officer subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
RCW 41.04.810 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 810
RCW 41.04.810: Title not applicable to individual providers, family child care providers, adult family home providers, and language access providers.
Status: in_force

Individual providers, as defined in RCW 74.39A.240 , and family child care providers, adult family home providers, and language access providers, all as defined in RCW 41.56.030 , are not employees of the state or any of its political subdivisions and are specifically and entirely excluded from all provisions of this title, except as provided in RCW 74.39A.270 , * 41.56.153 , and * 41.56.155 .
RCW 41.26.720 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 720
RCW 41.26.720: Board of trustees—Powers—Meeting procedures—Quorum—Judicial review—Budget.
Status: in_force

(1) The board of trustees have the following powers and duties and shall: (a) Adopt actuarial tables, assumptions, and cost methodologies in consultation with an enrolled actuary retained by the board. The state actuary shall provide assistance when the board requests. The actuary retained by the board shall utilize the aggregate actuarial cost method, or other recognized actuarial cost method based on a level percentage of payroll, as that term is employed by the American academy of actuaries. The actuary retained by the board shall adjust the actuarial cost method to recognize the actuarial present value of future revenue that will be included in the calculation of the market value of assets pursuant to RCW 41.26.805 (2), using the methods and assumptions employed by the state actuary in RCW 41.26.805 (9). In determining the reasonableness of actuarial valuations, assumptions, and cost methodologies, the actuary retained by the board shall provide a copy of all such calculations to the state actuary. If the two actuaries concur on the calculations, contributions shall be made as set forth in the report of the board's actuary. If the two actuaries cannot agree, they shall appoint a third, independent, enrolled actuary who shall review the calculations of the actuary retained by the board and the state actuary. Thereafter, contributions shall be based on the methodology most closely following that of the third actuary; (b)(i) Provide for the design and implementation of increased benefits for members and beneficiaries of the plan, subject to the contribution limitations under RCW 41.26.725 . An increased benefit may not be approved by the board until an actuarial cost of the benefit has been determined by the actuary and contribution rates adjusted as may be required to maintain the plan on a sound actuarial basis. Increased benefits as approved by the board shall be presented to the legislature on January 1st of each year. The increased benefits as approved by the board shall become effective within ninety days unless a bill is enacted in the next ensuing session of the legislature, by majority vote of each house of the legislature, repealing the action of the board; (ii) As an alternative to the procedure in (b)(i) of this subsection, recommend to the legislature changes in the benefits for members and beneficiaries, without regard to the cost limitations in RCW 41.26.725 (3). Benefits adopted in this manner shall have the same contractual protections as the minimum benefits in the plan. The recommendations of the board shall be presented to the legislature on January 1st of each year. These measures shall take precedence over all other measures in the legislature, except appropriations bills, and shall be either enacted or rejected without change or amendment by the legislature before the end of such regular session; (c) Retain professional and technical advisors necessary for the accomplishment of its duties. The cost of these services may be withdrawn from the trust; (d) Consult with the department for the purpose of improving benefit administration and member services; (e) Provide an annual report to the governor and the legislature setting forth the actuarial funding status of the plan and making recommendations for improvements in those aspects of retirement administration directed by the legislature or administered by the department; (f) Establish uniform administrative rules and operating policies in the manner prescribed by law; (g) Engage administrative staff and acquire office space independent of, or in conjunction with, the department. The department shall provide funding from its budget for these purposes; (h) Publish on an annual basis a schedule of increased benefits together with a summary of the minimum benefits as established by the legislature which shall constitute the official plan document; and (i) Be the fiduciary of the plan and discharge the board's duties solely in the interest of the members and beneficiaries of the plan. (2) Meetings of the board of trustees shall be conducted as follows: (a) All board meetings are open to the public, preceded by timely public notice; (b) All actions of the board shall be taken in open public session, except for those matters which may be considered in executive session as provided by law; (c) The board shall retain minutes of each meeting setting forth the names of those board members present and absent, and their voting record on any voted issue; and (d) The board may establish, with the assistance of the appropriate office of state government, an internet website providing for interactive communication with state government, members and beneficiaries of the plan, and the public. (3) A quorum of the board is six board members. All board actions require six concurring votes. (4) The decisions of the board shall be made in good faith and are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. The decisions of the board shall be subject to judicial review as provided by law. (5) A law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 expense fund is established for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the board. The board shall cause an annual budget to be prepared consistent with the requirements of chapter 43.88 RCW and shall draw the funding for the budget from the investment income of the trust. Board members shall be reimbursed for travel and education expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 . The board shall make an annual report to the governor, legislature, and state auditor setting forth a summary of the costs and expenditures of the plan for the preceding year. The board shall also retain the services of an independent, certified public accountant who shall annually audit the expenses of the fund and whose report shall be included in the board's annual report.
RCW 41.37.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 160
RCW 41.37.160: Postretirement cost-of-living.
Status: in_force

Beginning July 1, 2006, and every year thereafter, the department shall determine the following information for each retired member or beneficiary whose retirement allowance has been in effect for at least one year: (1) The original dollar amount of the retirement allowance; (2) The index for the calendar year prior to the effective date of the retirement allowance, to be known as "index A"; (3) The index for the calendar year prior to the date of determination, to be known as "index B"; and (4) The ratio obtained when index B is divided by index A. The value of the ratio obtained shall be the annual adjustment to the original retirement allowance and shall be applied beginning with the July payment. In no event, however, shall the annual adjustment: (a) Produce a retirement allowance which is lower than the original retirement allowance; (b) Exceed three percent in the initial annual adjustment; or (c) Differ from the previous year's annual adjustment by more than three percent. For the purposes of this section, "index" means, for any calendar year, that year's 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.
RCW 41.26.740 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 740
RCW 41.26.740: Reimbursement for expenses.
Status: in_force

All expenses of the department and the office of the state actuary related to the implementation of chapter 2, Laws of 2003 shall be reimbursed from the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system expense fund under RCW 39.34.130 .
RCW 41.07.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 07 / Section 010
RCW 41.07.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this chapter "state agency" means all offices, departments, agencies, institutions, boards, and commissions of state government including those headed by an elected official and including institutions of higher education. (2) As used in this chapter "central personnel-payroll system" means an automated data processing system capable of keeping records and processing necessary transactions in the process of employing persons, changing their employment status, and paying employees of any or all state agencies. Such system shall include production of reports and documents required or authorized by state or federal agencies.
RCW 41.59.068 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 068
RCW 41.59.068: Application of RCW 41.56.067—Bargaining representative access to new employees.
Status: in_force

*RCW 41.56.067 applies to this chapter.
RCW 41.80.430 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 430
RCW 41.80.430: Washington management service members.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Washington management service members who are not otherwise excluded from bargaining under (b) of this subsection are granted the right to collectively bargain. (b) The following Washington management service members are excluded from bargaining: (i) Employees in positions within Washington management salary band 3, salary band 4, and medical band, as defined by the office of financial management; (ii) Human resource managers; (iii) Budget managers; (iv) Risk and litigation managers; (v) Employees in positions whose official primary duties include conducting employee-related investigations including, but not limited to, a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW, a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws or an employing agency's internal policies, and employee misconduct or performance; (vi) Employees in positions that report directly to an assistant secretary, deputy secretary, agency director, or equivalent, of an agency; and (vii) Employees in positions excluded under RCW 41.80.005 (6). (c) Bargaining over wages will be limited to Washington management service salary band levels, not individual Washington management service classifications or positions. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the only units that may be designated for the purpose of collective bargaining under this chapter are a supervisory or nonsupervisory unit, as determined by the commission, of all salary band 1 and salary band 2 Washington management service members within an agency that are not otherwise excluded from bargaining under this section. (b) Subject to the public employment relations commission's review and to avoid excessive fragmentation, more than two bargaining units that otherwise meet the parameters in (a) of this subsection may be designated within a major administrative division of the following agencies: The department of corrections, the department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, the department of transportation, the department of health, the state health care authority, the department of natural resources, the department of enterprise services, the department of ecology, the employment security department, and the department of fish and wildlife. (3) The governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate for eligible Washington management service members within the bargaining agreements under RCW 41.80.010 (2)(a)(i). (4) No collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section with an exclusive bargaining representative of members of the Washington management service may take effect prior to July 1, 2025.
RCW 41.12.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 070
RCW 41.12.070: Qualifications of applicants—Law enforcement agencies.
Status: in_force

An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service under the provisions of this chapter, must be a citizen of the United States of America, a lawful permanent resident, or a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient. An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service under the provisions of this chapter must be able to speak, read, and write the English language. An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service must be of an age suitable for the position applied for, in ordinary good health, of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits; these facts to be ascertained in such manner as the commission may deem advisable. An application for a position with a law enforcement agency may be rejected if the law enforcement agency deems that it does not have the resources to conduct the background investigation required pursuant to chapter 43.101 RCW. Resources means materials, funding, and staff time. Nothing in this section impairs an applicant's rights under state antidiscrimination laws.
RCW 41.08.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 070
RCW 41.08.070: Qualifications of applicants.
Status: in_force

An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service under the provisions of this chapter, must be a citizen of the United States of America, a lawful permanent resident, or a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient. An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service under the provisions of this chapter must be able to speak, read, and write the English language. An applicant for a position of any kind under civil service must be of an age suitable for the position applied for, in ordinary good health, of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits; these facts to be ascertained in such manner as the commission may deem advisable.
RCW 41.06.157 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 157
RCW 41.06.157: Comprehensive classification plan for classified positions—Contents—Salary surveys.
Status: in_force

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(1) To promote the most effective use of the state's workforce and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of services to the citizens of the state, the director shall adopt and maintain a comprehensive classification plan for all positions in the classified service. The classification plan must: (a) Be simple and streamlined; (b) Support state agencies in responding to changing technologies, economic and social conditions, and the needs of its citizens; (c) Value workplace diversity; (d) Facilitate the reorganization and decentralization of governmental services; (e) Enhance mobility and career advancement opportunities; (f) Consider rates in other public employment and private employment in the state; (g) Not require a two-year or four-year college degree as the only way to demonstrate qualifications for the role unless that degree is required by law for an employee to perform the essential functions of a classification; and (h) Recognize that persons legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law, including deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law. (2) An appointing authority and an employee organization representing classified employees of the appointing authority for collective bargaining purposes may jointly request the director of financial management to initiate a classification study. (3) For institutions of higher education and related boards, the director may adopt special salary ranges to be competitive with positions of a similar nature in the state or the locality in which the institution of higher education or related board is located. (4) The director may undertake salary surveys of positions in other public and private employment to establish market rates. Any salary survey information collected from private employers which identifies a specific employer with salary rates which the employer pays to its employees shall not be subject to public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
RCW 41.32.390 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 390
RCW 41.32.390: Contributions for prior service credits.
Status: in_force

At least twenty percent of the total amount due for prior service credit must be paid before an application for credit may be presented to the department for approval. The balance is not due until date of retirement and may be paid at that time without additional charge. Any unpaid installments at the time the member is retired for service or disability shall constitute a first, paramount, and prior lien against his or her retirement allowance.
RCW 41.04.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 030
RCW 41.04.030: Payroll deductions—Duty of auditing officer.
Status: in_force

Upon being authorized by any employee or group of employees so to do under the provisions of RCW 41.04.020 , the auditor or other person authorized to draw warrants against the funds involved is authorized, and if such medical, surgical, and hospital care or either of them, or life insurance or accident and health disability insurance is to be provided on a group basis for groups each of not less than twenty-five individuals such auditor or other person is hereby required, to draw and issue a proper warrant or warrants directly to and in favor of the person, firm, or corporation, or organization named in the authorization for the total amount authorized to be deducted from the payroll of any such office, department, division, or institution.
RCW 41.04.003 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 003
RCW 41.04.003: Title application—Health benefit exchange.
Status: in_force

Except for chapters 41.05 and 41.40 RCW, this title does not apply to any position in or employee of the Washington health benefit exchange established in chapter 43.71 RCW.
RCW 41.54.902 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 902
RCW 41.54.902: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 41.48.100 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 100
RCW 41.48.100: Governor may delegate authority.
Status: in_force

Any authority conferred upon the governor by this chapter may be exercised by an official or state agency designated by him or her.
RCW 41.40.310 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 310
RCW 41.40.310: Periodical examination of disability beneficiaries—Benefits upon resumption of gainful employment.
Status: in_force

Once each year during the first five years following the retirement of a member on a disability pension or retirement allowance, and at least once in every three year period thereafter the department may, and upon the member's application shall, require any disability beneficiary, who has not attained age sixty years, to undergo a medical examination; such examination to be made by or under the direction of the medical adviser at the place of residence of the beneficiary, or other place mutually agreed upon. Should any disability beneficiary, who has not attained age sixty years, refuse to submit to a medical examination in any period, his or her disability pension or retirement allowance may be discontinued until his or her withdrawal of the refusal, and should the refusal continue for one year, all his or her rights in and to his or her disability pension, or retirement allowance, may be revoked by the department. If upon a medical examination of a disability beneficiary, the medical adviser reports and his or her report is concurred in by the department, that the disability beneficiary is no longer totally incapacitated for duty as the result of the injury or illness for which the disability was granted, or that he or she is engaged in a gainful occupation, his or her disability pension or retirement allowance shall cease. If the disability beneficiary resumes a gainful occupation and his or her compensation is less than his or her compensation earnable at the date of disability, the department shall continue the disability benefits in an amount which when added to his or her compensation does not exceed his or her compensation earnable at the date of separation, but the disability benefit shall in no event exceed the disability benefit originally awarded. The compensation earnable at the date of separation shall be adjusted July 1 of each year by the ratio of the average consumer price index (Seattle, Washington area) for urban consumers, compiled by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, for the calendar year prior to the adjustment to the average consumer price index for the calendar year in which separation from service occurred but in no event shall the adjustment result in an amount lower than the original compensation earnable at the date of separation.
RCW 41.35.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 080
RCW 41.35.080: Members agree to deductions.
Status: in_force

The deductions from the compensation of members, provided for in RCW 41.35.430 , 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 41.05.742 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 742
RCW 41.05.742: Single enrollment requirement.
Status: in_force

Beginning with the 2022 plan year, individuals are limited to a single enrollment in medical, dental, and vision plans in either the school employees' benefits board or the public employees' benefits board. The school employees' benefits board and the public employees' benefits board shall adopt policies to reflect this single enrollment requirement.
RCW 41.45.105 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 105
RCW 41.45.105: Pension funding council—State actuary appointment, removal, and salary.
Status: in_force

Subject to RCW 44.44.030 , the council shall appoint, remove, and set the salary of the state actuary, by affirmative vote of four members of the council. When considering the appointment, removal, and salary setting of the state actuary, the council shall consider recommendations from the executive committee of the select committee on pension policy.
RCW 41.04.585 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 585
RCW 41.04.585: Dismissal of municipal employees during World War II—Redress not mandatory.
Status: in_force

RCW 41.04.580 through 41.04.595 do not require a municipality to adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for redress of salary and other employment related losses.
RCW 41.26.192 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 192
RCW 41.26.192: Credit for service under prior pension system—Restoration of withdrawn contributions.
Status: in_force

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If a member of plan 1 served as a law enforcement officer or firefighter under a prior pension system and that service is not creditable to plan 1 because the member withdrew his or her contributions plus accrued interest from the prior pension system, the member's prior service as a law enforcement officer shall be credited to plan 1 if the member pays to the retirement system the amount under RCW 41.50.165 (2) prior to retirement.
RCW 41.32.805 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 805
RCW 41.32.805: Death benefits.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in RCW 11.07.010 , if a member or a vested member who has not completed at least ten years of service dies, the amount of the accumulated contributions standing to such member's credit in the retirement system, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , at the time of such member's death shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department. If there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, such member's accumulated contributions standing to such member's credit in the retirement system, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse as if in fact such spouse had been nominated by written designation, or if there be no such surviving spouse, then to such member's legal representatives. (2) If a member who is eligible for retirement or a member who has completed at least ten years of service dies, the surviving spouse or eligible children shall elect to receive either: (a) A retirement allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.32.765 , actuarially reduced by the amount of any lump sum benefit identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 and actuarially adjusted to reflect a joint and one hundred percent survivor option under RCW 41.32.785 and, except under subsection (4) of this section, if the member was not eligible for normal retirement at the date of death a further reduction as described in RCW 41.32.765 ; if a surviving spouse who is receiving a retirement allowance dies leaving a child or children of the member under the age of majority, then such child or children shall continue to receive an allowance in an amount equal to that which was being received by the surviving spouse, share and share alike, until such child or children reach the age of majority; if there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive an allowance at the time of the member's death, such member's child or children under the age of majority shall receive an allowance share and share alike calculated as herein provided making the assumption that the ages of the spouse and member were equal at the time of the member's death; or (b) The member's accumulated contributions, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 . (3) If a member who is eligible for retirement or a member who has completed at least ten years of service dies after October 1, 1977, and is not survived by a spouse or an eligible child, then the accumulated contributions standing to the member's credit, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , shall be paid: (a) To an estate, a person or persons, trust, or organization as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or (b) If there is no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, then to the member's legal representatives. (4) A member who is killed in the course of employment, as determined by the director of the department of labor and industries, or a member who has left the employ of an employer due to service in the national guard or military reserves and dies while honorably serving in the national guard or military reserves during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 , is not subject to an actuarial reduction under RCW 41.32.765 . The member's retirement allowance is computed under RCW 41.32.760 .
RCW 41.56.501 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 501
RCW 41.56.501: Uniformed personnel—Legislative declaration.
Status: in_force

The intent and purpose of chapter 131, Laws of 1973 is to recognize that there exists a public policy in the state of Washington against strikes by uniformed personnel as a means of settling their labor disputes; that the uninterrupted and dedicated service of these classes of employees is vital to the welfare and public safety of the state of Washington; that to promote such dedicated and uninterrupted public service there should exist an effective and adequate alternative means of settling disputes.
RCW 41.18.015 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 015
RCW 41.18.015: Pension boards—Members—Terms—Vacancies—Officers—Quorum.
Status: in_force

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(1) There is hereby created in each fire protection district which qualifies under this chapter, a firefighters' pension board to consist of the following five members, the chairperson of the fire commissioners for said district who shall be chairperson of the board, the county auditor, county treasurer, and in addition, two regularly employed or retired firefighters elected by secret ballot of the employed and retired firefighters. Retired members who are subject to the jurisdiction of the pension board have both the right to elect and the right to be elected under this section. The first members to be elected by the firefighters shall be elected annually for a two-year term. The two firefighter elected members shall, in turn, select a third eligible member who shall serve in the event of an absence of one of the regularly elected members. In case a vacancy occurs in the membership of the firefighter or retired members, the members shall in the same manner elect a successor to serve the unexpired term. The board may select and appoint a secretary who may, but need not be a member of the board. In case of absence or inability of the chairperson to act, the board may select a chairperson pro tempore who shall during such absence or inability perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chairperson. A majority of the members of said board shall constitute a quorum and have power to transact business. (2) If no eligible regularly employed or retired firefighters are willing or able to be elected to the board under subsection (1) of this section, then the following individuals may be elected to the board under subsection (1) of this section: (a) Any active or retired firefighters who reside within the jurisdiction served by the board. This includes active and retired firefighters under this chapter and chapters 41.16 , 41.26, and 52.26 RCW; (b) The widow or widower of a firefighter subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
RCW 41.35.610 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 610
RCW 41.35.610: Choice of membership in plan 2 or plan 3.
Status: in_force

(1) All classified employees who first become employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after July 1, 2007, shall have a period of ninety days to make an irrevocable choice to become a member of plan 2 or plan 3. At the end of ninety days, if the member has not made a choice to become a member of plan 2, he or she becomes a member of plan 3 or plan 2 as follows: (a) Becomes a member of plan 3 if first employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after July 1, 2007, but prior to July 1, 2020; (b) Becomes a member of plan 2 if first employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after July 1, 2020. (2) For administrative efficiency, until a member elects to become a member of plan 3, or becomes a member of plan 3 by default under subsection (1) of this section, the member shall be reported to the department in plan 2, with member and employer contributions. Upon becoming a member of plan 3 by election or by default, all service credit shall be transferred to the member's plan 3 defined benefit, and all employee accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the member's plan 3 defined contribution account.
RCW 41.35.410 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 410
RCW 41.35.410: 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 the provisions of 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 41.35.400 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 the provisions of 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 the provisions of RCW 41.40.625 or 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 41.35.400 or an earned disability allowance under RCW 41.35.440 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.
RCW 41.44.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 160
RCW 41.44.160: Retirement for disability.
Status: in_force

Any member who has at least ten years of creditable service within the fifteen years immediately preceding retirement and has not attained the age of sixty-five years, or who attains or has attained the age of sixty-five years prior to two years after the effective date, may be retired by the board for permanent and total disability, either ordinary or accidental not incurred in line of duty, and any member, regardless of his or her age or years of service, may be retired by the board for any permanent and total disability incurred in line of duty, upon examination as follows: Any member while in service, or while physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty, if such incapacity has been continuous from discontinuance of city service, shall be examined by such medical authority as the board shall employ, upon the application of the head of the office or department in which the member is employed with approval of the legislative body, or upon application of said member, or a person acting in his or her behalf, stating that said member is permanently and totally incapacitated, either physically or mentally, for the performance of duty and ought to be retired. If examination shows, to the satisfaction of the board, that the member should be retired, he or she shall be retired forthwith: PROVIDED, That no such application shall be considered or granted upon the application of a member unless said member or someone in his or her behalf, in case of the incapacity of a member, shall have filed the application within a period of one year from and after the discontinuance of service of said member: PROVIDED, The board shall retire the said member for disability forthwith: PROVIDED, That the disability retirement allowance shall be effective on the first of the month following that in which the member last received salary or wages in city service. The board shall secure such medical services and advice as it may deem necessary to carry out the purpose of this section and RCW 41.44.180 .
RCW 41.37.900 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 900
RCW 41.37.900: Benefits not contractual right until July 1, 2006.
Status: in_force

The benefits provided pursuant to chapter 242, Laws of 2004 are not provided to employees as a matter of contractual right prior to July 1, 2006. The legislature retains the right to alter or abolish these benefits at any time prior to July 1, 2006.
RCW 41.08.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 170
RCW 41.08.170: 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 41.06.290 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 290
RCW 41.06.290: Personnel subject to chapter 47.64 RCW not affected.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted as changing the provisions of or affecting the conditions of employment for personnel covered by chapter 47.64 RCW.
RCW 41.06.176 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 176
RCW 41.06.176: Employee performance evaluations—Written notification of deficiencies.
Status: in_force

Each employee whose work is judged unsatisfactory shall be notified in writing of the areas in which the work is considered deficient. Unless the deficiency is extreme, the employee shall be given an opportunity to demonstrate improvement.
RCW 41.32.8401 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 8401
RCW 41.32.8401: Additional payment.
Status: in_force

(1) Anyone who requests to transfer under RCW 41.32.817 before January 1, 1998, and establishes service credit for January 1998, shall have their member account increased by forty percent of: (a) Plan 2 accumulated contributions as of January 1, 1996, less fifty percent of any payments made pursuant to RCW 41.50.165 (2); or (b) All amounts withdrawn after January 1, 1996, which are completely restored before January 1, 1998. (2) A further additional payment of twenty-five percent, for a total of sixty-five percent, shall be paid subject to the conditions contained in subsection (1) of this section on July 1, 1998. (3) Substitute teachers shall receive the additional payment provided in subsection (1) of this section if they: (a) Establish service credit for January 1998; and (b) Establish any service credit from July 1996 through December 1997; and (c) Elect to transfer on or before March 1, 1999. (4) If a member who requests to transfer dies before January 1, 1998, the additional payment provided by this section shall be paid to the member's estate, or the person or persons, trust, or organization the member nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department. (5) The legislature reserves the right to modify or discontinue the right to an incentive payment under this section for any plan 2 members who have not previously transferred to plan 3.
RCW 41.44.200 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 200
RCW 41.44.200: Withdrawal—Procedure as to city's contribution.
Status: in_force

Whenever a member withdraws his or her accumulated normal contributions the matching contributions of the city so released shall be transferred to a reserve account created for the purpose of showing the amount of credits due each city through such operation. Such credits may be used by the city to apply on any charges made against the city but only so much thereof as will insure leaving in such account an amount estimated to be sufficient to again match contributions redeposited by employees returning to service as contemplated in RCW 41.44.190 . The board may credit such reserve accounts with interest at such rate as the board deems equitable: PROVIDED, That as to any member city which has elected to and is making contributions in lieu of those required in RCW 41.44.090 (1)(a), there shall be no release of the city's matching contributions after the date of its commencement to make such lieu contributions: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any released contributions of any such city which have been credited to its reserve account prior to the date of such commencement, shall be available to it for the purposes hereinabove specified, unless the board shall determine that their immediate use for such purposes would result in a harmful effect upon the assets of the system, in which event the board shall have the right to defer their use for a reasonable time in which to permit it to make adjustments in the current assets of the system to prevent the same.
RCW 41.58.015 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 58 / Section 015
RCW 41.58.015: Compensation and travel expenses of members—Executive director—Employees.
Status: in_force

(1) Each member of the commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 . Members of the commission shall also be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties on the same basis as is provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 . (2) The commission shall appoint an executive director whose annual salary shall be determined under the provisions of RCW 43.03.028 . The executive director shall perform such duties and have such powers as the commission shall prescribe in order to implement and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the performance of administrative duties, the commission may delegate to the executive director authority with respect to, but not limited to, representation proceedings, unfair labor practice proceedings, mediation of labor disputes, arbitration of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of a collective bargaining agreement, and, in certain cases, fact-finding or arbitration of disputes concerning the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. Such delegation shall not eliminate a party's right of appeal to the commission. The executive director, with such assistance as may be provided by the attorney general and such additional legal assistance consistent with chapter 43.10 RCW, shall have authority on behalf of the commission, when necessary to carry out or enforce any action or decision of the commission, to petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an order requiring compliance with the action or decision. (3)(a) The commission shall employ such employees as it may from time to time find necessary for the proper performance of its duties, consistent with the provisions of this chapter. (b) The employees of the commission shall also provide staff support to the legislative commission in carrying out the legislative commission's duties under chapter 44.90 RCW until the legislative commission expires on December 31, 2027, under RCW 41.58.100 . (4) The payment of all of the expenses of the commission, including travel expenses incurred by the members or employees of the commission under its orders, shall be subject to the provisions of RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 .
RCW 41.56.908 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 908
RCW 41.56.908: Construction—Intent—Subchapter headings and captions not law—2025 c 290.
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the legislature to reorganize chapter 41.56 RCW into subchapters to simplify navigation of the statute. The legislature does not intend to make, and no provision of chapter 290, Laws of 2025 may be construed as making, a substantive change to the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW. Additionally, the subchapter headings and captions used in chapter 290, Laws of 2025 may not be construed as any part of the law.
RCW 41.32.032 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 032
RCW 41.32.032: Membership in system—Service credit of educational staff associates.
Status: in_force

(1) Any teacher, as defined under RCW 41.32.010 , who is first employed by a public school on or after June 7, 1984, shall become a member of the retirement system if otherwise eligible. (2) Any person who before June 7, 1984, has established service credit under chapter 41.40 RCW while employed in an educational staff associate position and who is employed in such a position on or after June 7, 1984, has the following options: (a) To remain a member of the public employees' retirement system notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 41.32.240 or 41.32.780 ; or (b) To irrevocably elect to join the retirement system under this chapter and to receive service credit for previous periods of employment in any position included under RCW 41.32.010 . This service credit and corresponding employee contribution shall be computed as though the person had then been a member of the retirement system under this chapter. All employee contributions credited to a member under chapter 41.40 RCW for service now to be credited to the retirement system under this chapter shall be transferred to the system and the member shall not receive any credit nor enjoy any rights under chapter 41.40 RCW for those periods of service. The member shall pay any difference between the employee contributions made under chapter 41.40 RCW and transferred under this subsection and what would have been required under this chapter, including interest as set by the director. The member shall be given until July 1, 1989, to make the irrevocable election permitted under this section. The election shall be made by submitting written notification as required by the department requesting credit under this section and by remitting any necessary proof of service or payments within the time set by the department. Any person, not employed as an educational staff associate on June 7, 1984, may, before June 30 of the fifth school year after that person's return to employment as a teacher, request and establish membership and credit under this subsection.
RCW 41.37.005 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 005
RCW 41.37.005: Intent.
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the legislature to establish a separate public safety employees' retirement system for certain public employees whose jobs contain a high degree of physical or psychological risk to their own personal safety and who provide public protection of lives and property, but who are not eligible for membership in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.
RCW 41.18.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 130
RCW 41.18.130: Payment on separation—With less than twenty-five years service or less than fifty years of age—Option to be classified as vested firefighter.
Status: in_force

Any firefighter who shall have served for a period of less than twenty-five years, or who shall be less than fifty years of age, and shall resign, or be dismissed from the fire department for a reason other than conviction for a felony, shall be paid the amount of his or her contributions to the fund plus earned interest: PROVIDED, That in the case of any firefighter who has completed twenty years of service, such firefighter, upon termination for any cause except for a conviction of a felony, shall have the option of electing, in lieu of recovery of his or her contributions as herein provided, to be classified as a vested firefighter in accordance with the following provisions: (1) Written notice of such election shall be filed with the board within thirty days after the effective date of such firefighter's termination; (2) During the period between the date of his or her termination and the date upon which he or she becomes a retired firefighter as hereinafter provided, such vested firefighter and his or her spouse or dependent children shall be entitled to all benefits available under chapter 41.18 RCW to a retired firefighter and his or her spouse or dependent children with the exception of the service retirement allowance as herein provided for: PROVIDED, That any claim for medical coverage under RCW 41.18.060 shall be attributable to service connected illness or injury; (3) Any firefighter electing to become a vested firefighter shall be entitled at such time as he or she otherwise would have completed twenty-five years of service had he or she not terminated, to receive a service retirement allowance computed on the following basis: Two percent of the amount of salary attached to the position held by the vested firefighter for the year preceding the date of his or her termination, for each year of service rendered prior to the date of his or her termination.
RCW 41.05.750 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 750
RCW 41.05.750: Problem gambling and gambling disorder treatment program.
Status: in_force

(1) A program for (a) year-round integrated problem gambling prevention efforts that include community engagement and the treatment of problem gambling and gambling disorder; and (b) the support, certification, and training of professionals in the identification and treatment of problem gambling and gambling disorder is established within the authority. The department of health may license or certify behavioral health agencies for problem gambling treatment. The authority may contract for any services provided under the program. The authority shall conduct a program evaluation, including tracking program participation and evaluating outcomes. (2) To receive treatment under subsection (1) of this section, a person must: (a) Need treatment for problem gambling or gambling disorder, or be impacted by a loved one experiencing problem gambling or gambling disorder; (b) Be identified by the authority as being most amenable to and likely to benefit from treatment; and (c) Be unable to afford treatment. (3) Treatment under this section is available only to the extent of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the authority for this purpose. The authority may solicit and accept for use any gift of money or property made by will or otherwise, and any grant of money, services, or property from the federal government, any tribal government, the state, or any political subdivision thereof or any private source, and do all things necessary to cooperate with the federal government or any of its agencies or any tribal government in making an application for any grant. (4)(a) The authority shall establish and facilitate an ongoing advisory committee that will hold quarterly meetings to: (i) Track progress of recommendations from the 2022 legislative problem gambling task force final report; (ii) Provide advice and feedback on the state problem gambling program upon request by the authority; and (iii) Discuss emerging issues related to problem gambling and identify possible strategies for improvement. (b) The advisory committee membership must include, at a minimum, at least one representative from each of the following: (i) The Washington state gambling commission; (ii) The Washington state lottery commission; (iii) The Washington state horse racing commission; (iv) The Washington state health care authority; (v) The tribal gaming industry; (vi) An established business primarily engaged in the selling of food or drink for consumption on the premises and that offers punchboards, pull-tabs, and social card games as a commercial stimulant; (vii) The gambling counselor certification committee; (viii) A nonprofit problem gambling organization; and (ix) The recovery community including at least one member with lived experience of problem gambling.
RCW 41.16.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 020
RCW 41.16.020: Pension board created—Members—Terms—Vacancies—Officers—Quorum.
Status: in_force

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(1) There is hereby created in each city and town a municipal firefighters' pension board to consist of the following five members, ex officio, the mayor, or in a city of the first class, the mayor or a designated representative who shall be an elected official of the city, who shall be chairperson of the board, the city comptroller or clerk, the chairperson of finance of the city council, or if there is no chairperson of finance, the city treasurer, and in addition, two regularly employed or retired firefighters elected by secret ballot of those employed and retired firefighters who are subject to the jurisdiction of the board. The members to be elected by the firefighters shall be elected annually for a two year term. The two firefighters elected as members shall, in turn, select a third eligible member who shall serve as an alternate in the event of an absence of one of the regularly elected members. In case a vacancy occurs in the membership of the firefighters or retired members, the members shall in the same manner elect a successor to serve the unexpired term. The board may select and appoint a secretary who may, but need not be, a member of the board. In case of absence or inability of the chairperson to act, the board may select a chairperson pro tempore who shall during such absence or inability perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chairperson. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum and have power to transact business. (2) If no eligible regularly employed or retired firefighters are willing or able to be elected to the board under subsection (1) of this section, then the following individuals may be elected to the board under subsection (1) of this section: (a) Any active or retired firefighters who reside within the jurisdiction served by the board. This includes active and retired firefighters under this chapter and chapters 41.18 , 41.26, and 52.26 RCW; (b) The widow or widower of a firefighter subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
RCW 41.35.710 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 710
RCW 41.35.710: Death benefits.
Status: in_force

(1) If a member dies prior to retirement, the surviving spouse or eligible child or children shall receive a retirement allowance computed as provided in RCW 41.35.620 actuarially reduced to reflect a joint and one hundred percent survivor option and, except under subsection (2) of this section, if the member was not eligible for normal retirement at the date of death a further reduction as described in RCW 41.35.680 . If the surviving spouse who is receiving the retirement allowance dies leaving a child or children under the age of majority, then such child or children shall continue to receive an allowance in an amount equal to that which was being received by the surviving spouse, share and share alike, until such child or children reach the age of majority. If there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive an allowance at the time of the member's death, such member's child or children under the age of majority shall receive an allowance, share and share alike. The allowance shall be calculated with the assumption that the age of the spouse and member were equal at the time of the member's death. (2) A member who is killed in the course of employment, as determined by the director of the department of labor and industries, or a member who has left the employ of an employer due to service in the national guard or military reserves and dies while honorably serving in the national guard or military reserves during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 , is not subject to an actuarial reduction under RCW 41.35.680 . The member's retirement allowance is computed under RCW 41.35.620 .
RCW 41.44.180 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 180
RCW 41.44.180: Examination of disability beneficiary—Reentry.
Status: in_force

(1) The board may, at its pleasure, require any disability beneficiary under age sixty-two in the miscellaneous personnel and under age fifty-five in the uniformed personnel to undergo medical examination by medical authority designated by the board. Upon the basis of such examination the board shall determine whether such disability beneficiary is still totally and permanently incapacitated, either physically or mentally, for service in the office or department of the city where he or she was employed or in any other position in that city, the duties of which he or she might reasonably be expected to carry out. (2) If the board shall determine that the beneficiary is not so incapacitated his or her retirement allowance shall be canceled and he or she shall be reinstated forthwith in city service. If the city is unable to find employment for a disability beneficiary found to be no longer totally and permanently disabled, the board shall continue the disability retirement allowance of the beneficiary until such time as employment is available, except as provided in paragraph (4) of this section. (3) Should a disability beneficiary reenter city service and be eligible for membership in the retirement system, his or her retirement allowance shall be canceled and he or she shall immediately become a member of the retirement system, his or her rate of contribution for future years being that established for his or her age at the time of such reentry. His or her individual account shall be credited with his or her accumulated contributions less the annuity payments made to him or her. An amount equal to the accumulated normal contributions so credited to him or her shall again be held for the benefit of said member and shall no longer be included in the amounts available to meet the obligations of the city on account of benefits that have been granted. Such member shall receive credit for prior service in the same manner as if he or she had never been retired for disability. (4) Should any disability beneficiary under age sixty-two in the miscellaneous personnel or under age fifty-five in the uniformed personnel, refuse to submit to medical examination, his or her retirement allowance may be discontinued until his or her withdrawal of such refusal, and should refusal continue for one year, his or her retirement allowance may be canceled. Should said disability beneficiary, prior to attaining age sixty-two or age fifty-five, as the case may be, engage in a gainful occupation the board shall reduce the amount of his or her retirement allowance to an amount, which when added to the compensation earned by him or her in such occupation, shall not exceed the amount of the final compensation on the basis of which his or her retirement allowance was determined. Should the earning capacity of such beneficiary be further altered, the board may further alter his or her retirement allowance as indicated above. When said disability beneficiary reaches age sixty-two, if included in the miscellaneous personnel, or age fifty-five, in the uniformed personnel, his or her retirement allowance shall be made equal to the amount upon which he or she was originally retired, and shall not again be modified for any cause except as provided in RCW 41.44.250 . (5) Should the retirement allowance of any disability beneficiary be canceled for any cause other than reentrance into city service, he or she shall be paid his or her accumulated contributions, less annuity payments made to him or her.
RCW 41.37.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 110
RCW 41.37.110: Death benefit—Course of employment—Occupational disease or infection.
Status: in_force

(1) A one hundred fifty thousand dollar death benefit shall be paid to the member's estate, or the person or persons, trust, or organization the member has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department. If the designated person or persons are not 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) The benefit under this section shall be paid only where death occurs as a result of (a) injuries sustained in the course of employment; 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 .
RCW 41.32.523 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 523
RCW 41.32.523: Death benefits—Members not qualified for benefits under RCW 41.32.522 and retired former members.
Status: in_force

Upon receipt of proper proof of death of a member who does not qualify for the death benefit of six hundred dollars under RCW 41.32.522 , or a former member who was retired for age, service, or disability, a death benefit of four hundred dollars shall be paid to the member's estate or to the persons, trust, or organization as he or she shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department or to the persons as may otherwise qualify as the beneficiary pursuant to RCW 41.32.520 : PROVIDED, That the member or the retired former member had established not less than ten years of credit with the retirement system for full time Washington membership service.
RCW 41.35.210 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 210
RCW 41.35.210: Post-retirement cost-of-living.
Status: in_force

Beginning July 1, 1979, and every year thereafter, the department shall determine the following information for each retired member or beneficiary whose retirement allowance has been in effect for at least one year: (1) The original dollar amount of the retirement allowance; (2) The index for the calendar year prior to the effective date of the retirement allowance, to be known as "index A"; (3) The index for the calendar year prior to the date of determination, to be known as "index B"; and (4) The ratio obtained when index B is divided by index A. The value of the ratio obtained shall be the annual adjustment to the original retirement allowance and shall be applied beginning with the July payment. In no event, however, shall the annual adjustment: (a) Produce a retirement allowance which is lower than the original retirement allowance; (b) Exceed three percent in the initial annual adjustment; or (c) Differ from the previous year's annual adjustment by more than three percent. For the purposes of this section, "index" means, for any calendar year, that year's 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.
RCW 41.35.400 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 400
RCW 41.35.400: Computation of retirement allowance.
Status: in_force

A member of the retirement system shall receive a retirement allowance equal to two percent of such member's average final compensation for each service credit year of service.
RCW 41.45.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 020
RCW 41.45.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

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As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Council" means the pension funding council created in RCW 41.45.100 . (2) "Department" means the department of retirement systems. (3) "Law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 1" and "law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2" means the benefits and funding provisions under chapter 41.26 RCW. (4) "Public employees' retirement system plan 1," "public employees' retirement system plan 2," and "public employees' retirement system plan 3" mean the benefits and funding provisions under chapter 41.40 RCW. (5) "Teachers' retirement system plan 1," "teachers' retirement system plan 2," and "teachers' retirement system plan 3" mean the benefits and funding provisions under chapter 41.32 RCW. (6) "School employees' retirement system plan 2" and "school employees' retirement system plan 3" mean the benefits and funding provisions under chapter 41.35 RCW. (7) "Washington state patrol retirement system" means the retirement benefits provided under chapter 43.43 RCW. (8) "Unfunded liability" means the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of a retirement system. (9) "Actuary" or "state actuary" means the state actuary employed under chapter 44.44 RCW. (10) "State retirement systems" means the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 . (11) "Classified employee" means a member of the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 or plan 3 as defined in RCW 41.35.010 . (12) "Teacher" means a member of the teachers' retirement system as defined in *RCW 41.32.010 (15). (13) "Select committee" means the select committee on pension policy created in RCW 41.04.276 . (14) "Actuarial value of assets" means the value of pension plan investments and other property used by the actuary for the purpose of an actuarial valuation. (15) "Public safety employees' retirement system plan 2" means the benefits and funding provisions established under chapter 41.37 RCW. (16) "Normal cost" means the portion of the actuarial present value of projected benefits and expenses that is allocated to a period, typically twelve months, under the actuarial cost method.
RCW 41.40.270 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 270
RCW 41.40.270: Death before retirement or within sixty days following application for disability retirement—Military service—Payment of contributions to nominee, surviving spouse, or legal representative—Waiver of payment, effect—Benefits.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as specified in subsection (4) of this section, should a member die before the date of retirement the amount of the accumulated contributions standing to the member's credit in the employees' savings fund, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , at the time of death: (a) Shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or (b) If there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, or if a member fails to file a new beneficiary designation subsequent to marriage, remarriage, dissolution of marriage, divorce, or reestablishment of membership following termination by withdrawal or retirement, such accumulated contributions, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , shall be paid to the surviving spouse as if in fact such spouse had been nominated by written designation as aforesaid, or if there be no such surviving spouse, then to the member's legal representatives. (2) Upon the death of any member who is qualified but has not applied for a service retirement allowance or has completed ten years of service at the time of death, the designated beneficiary, or the surviving spouse as provided in subsection (1) of this section, may elect to waive the payment provided by subsection (1) of this section. Upon such an election, a joint and one hundred percent survivor option under RCW 41.40.188 , calculated under the retirement allowance described in RCW 41.40.185 or 41.40.190 , whichever is greater, actuarially reduced, except under subsection (5) of this section, by the amount of any lump sum benefit identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 shall automatically be given effect as if selected for the benefit of the designated beneficiary. If the member is not then qualified for a service retirement allowance, such 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. (3) Subsection (1) of this section, unless elected, shall not apply to any member who has applied for service retirement in RCW 41.40.180 , as now or hereafter amended, and thereafter dies between the date of separation from service and the member's effective retirement date, where the member has selected a survivorship option under RCW 41.40.188 . In those cases the beneficiary named in the member's final application for service retirement may elect to receive either a cash refund, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 , or monthly payments according to the option selected by the member. (4) If a member dies within sixty days following application for disability retirement under RCW 41.40.230 , the beneficiary named in the application may elect to receive the benefit provided by: (a) This section; or (b) RCW 41.40.235 , according to the option chosen under RCW 41.40.188 in the disability application. (5) The retirement allowance of a member who is killed in the course of employment, as determined by the director of the department of labor and industries, or the retirement allowance of a member who has left the employ of an employer due to service in the national guard or military reserves and dies while honorably serving in the national guard or military reserves during a period of war as defined in RCW 41.04.005 , is not subject to an actuarial reduction. The member's retirement allowance is computed under RCW 41.40.185 .
RCW 41.56.151 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 151
RCW 41.56.151: Application of chapter to individual providers under chapter 74.39A RCW.
Status: in_force

In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to individual providers who have contracts with the department under chapter 74.39A RCW.
RCW 41.44.260 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 260
RCW 41.44.260: Merger of existing or new systems into statewide system—Contract.
Status: in_force

The council or other legislative body of any city or town in which there has been established or may hereafter be established by ordinance or pursuant to authority granted, or hereafter granted, by any of the laws of the state of Washington, any retirement system, pension, relief or disability system, excluding any system directly established by the legislature of the state of Washington and by its terms made compulsory, shall have the right by a legal contract in writing to merge or integrate its existing system with that of the statewide city employees' retirement system established by chapter 71, Laws of 1947 [chapter 41.44 RCW]. Any such contract shall contain appropriate provisions granting to any member of the systems integrated or merged the right to elect to withdraw his or her accumulated contributions accrued to the effective date of the merger or integration where the contract would result in a reduction or impairment of the benefits provided for in the existing system of which he or she is a member, and no such contracts shall be effective which shall reduce or impair the benefits which employees who are receiving benefits from either of the integrated systems would have received had the integration or merger not been effected.
RCW 41.56.065 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 065
RCW 41.56.065: Information to be provided to exclusive bargaining representative by employer.
Status: in_force

(1) If the employer has the information in the employer's records, the employer shall provide to the exclusive bargaining representative the following information for each employee in an appropriate bargaining unit: (a) The employee's name and date of hire; (b) The employee's contact information, including: (i) Cellular, home, and work telephone numbers; (ii) work and the most up-to-date personal email addresses; and (iii) home address or personal mailing address; and (c) Employment information, including the employee's job title, salary or rate of pay, and worksite location or duty station. (2) The employer must provide the information to the exclusive bargaining representative in an editable digital file format: (a) Within 21 business days from the date of hire for a newly hired employee in an appropriate bargaining unit; and (b) Every 120 business days for all employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. (3) When there is a state-level representative of the exclusive bargaining representative for a bargaining unit, the employer may provide the information to the state-level representative. (4) The exclusive bargaining representative may use the information provided under this section only for representation purposes. This section does not give authority to any exclusive bargaining representative to sell or provide access to lists of employees or the information provided to the exclusive bargaining representative pursuant to this section requested for commercial purposes. (5) If an employer fails to comply with this section, the exclusive bargaining representative may bring a court action to enforce compliance. The court may order the employer to pay costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the exclusive bargaining representative. (6)(a) This section does not apply to an employer specifically prohibited under its requirements as a cleared United States department of defense contractor from providing the employee information listed under subsection (1) of this section only for those employees covered by such requirements. The employer is required to provide the employee information under subsection (1) of this section for all employees not covered by the employer's requirements as a cleared United States department of defense contractor. (b) This subsection (6) does not limit the employee information an employer must provide an exclusive bargaining representative pursuant to its duty to bargain in good faith or any other duty or obligation under applicable collective bargaining law, nor does this subsection (6) prohibit bargaining over the provision of employee information under applicable collective bargaining law.
RCW 41.37.265 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 265
RCW 41.37.265: Purchase of additional service credit—Costs—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1) A member eligible to retire under RCW 41.37.210 may, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, apply to the department to make a one-time purchase of up to five years of additional service credit. (2) To purchase additional service credit under this section, a member shall pay the actuarial equivalent value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit. (3) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing additional service credit under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law. (4) Additional service credit purchased under this section is not membership service and shall be used exclusively to provide the member with a monthly annuity that is paid in addition to the member's retirement allowance.
RCW 41.32.054 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 054
RCW 41.32.054: Disability retirement—Criminal conduct.
Status: in_force

A member shall not receive a disability retirement benefit under RCW 41.32.540 , 41.32.550 , 41.32.790 , or 41.32.880 if the disability is the result of criminal conduct by the member committed after April 21, 1997.
RCW 41.26.410 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 410
RCW 41.26.410: Provisions applicable to plan 2.
Status: in_force

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RCW 41.26.420 through 41.26.550 shall apply only to plan 2 members.
RCW 41.24.801 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 801
RCW 41.24.801: Administration—2023 c 73.
Status: in_force

The state board is instructed to administer chapter 73, Laws of 2023 in a way that neither reduces benefits, nor grants additional benefits, for members or beneficiaries of the plan.
RCW 41.24.400 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 400
RCW 41.24.400: Reserve officers—Enrollment—Limitations.
Status: in_force

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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any municipality may make provision by appropriate legislation and payment of fees required by *RCW 41.24.030 (1) solely for the purpose of enabling any reserve officer to enroll under the retirement pension provisions of this chapter or fees required under *RCW 41.24.030 (1) to pay for the costs of extending the relief provisions of this chapter to its reserve officers. (2) A reserve officer is not eligible to receive a benefit under the retirement provisions of this chapter for service under chapter 41.26 , 41.32, 41.35, 41.37, or 41.40 RCW. (3) Every municipality shall make provisions for the collection and payment of the fees required under this chapter, and shall continue to make provisions for all reserve officers who come under this chapter as long as they continue to be employed as reserve officers. (4) Except as provided under RCW 41.24.450 , a reserve officer is not eligible to receive a benefit under the relief provisions of this chapter.(1) The secretary of health shall direct that all state or federal funds, excluding those from federal Title XIX for services or other activities authorized in this chapter, shall be allocated to the office on AIDS established in *RCW 70.24.250 . The secretary shall further direct that all funds for services and activities specified in subsection (4) of this section shall be provided by the department directly to public and private providers in the communities. (2) Efforts shall be made by both the counties and the department to use existing service delivery systems, where possible. (3) The University of Washington health science program, in cooperation with the office on AIDS, may, within available resources, establish a center for AIDS education. The center for AIDS education is not intended to engage in state-funded research related to HIV infection, AIDS, or HIV-related conditions. Its duties shall include providing the office on AIDS with the appropriate educational materials necessary to carry out that office's duties. (4) The department shall develop standards and criteria for awarding grants to support testing, counseling, education, case management, notification of sexual partners of infected persons, planning, coordination, and other services required by law. In addition, funds shall be allocated for intervention strategies specifically addressing groups that are at a high risk of being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. (5) The department shall reflect in its departmental biennial budget request the funds necessary to implement this section. (6) The use of appropriate materials may be authorized by the department in the prevention or control of HIV infection.
RCW 41.56.540 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 540
RCW 41.56.540: Uniformed personnel—Refusal to submit to procedures—Invoking jurisdiction of superior court—Contempt.
Status: in_force

If the representative of either or both the uniformed personnel and the public employer refuse to submit to the procedures set forth in *RCW 41.56.511 and 41.56.521 , the parties, or the commission on its own motion, may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court for the county in which the labor dispute exists and such court shall have jurisdiction to issue an appropriate order. A failure to obey such order may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. A decision of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding on the parties, and may be enforced at the instance of either party, the arbitration panel or the commission in the superior court for the county where the dispute arose.
RCW 41.35.612 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 612
RCW 41.35.612: Right to waive benefit—Irrevocable choice.
Status: in_force

Any member receiving or having received a distribution under chapter 41.34 RCW may make an irrevocable choice to waive all rights to a benefit under RCW 41.35.620 by notifying the department in writing of their intention.
RCW 41.16.922 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 922
RCW 41.16.922: 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 41.56.041 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 041
RCW 41.56.041: Right to strike not granted.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter shall permit or grant any public employee the right to strike or refuse to perform his or her official duties.
RCW 41.12.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 190
RCW 41.12.190: Cooperation of city officers and employees enjoined.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of all officers and employees of any such city to aid in all proper ways of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, and such rules and regulations as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the commission thereunder and to afford the commission, its members and employees, all reasonable facilities and assistance to inspect all books, papers, documents and accounts applying or in any way appertaining to any and all offices, places, positions and employments, subject to civil service, and also to produce said books, papers, documents and accounts, and attend and testify, whenever required so to do by the commission or any commissioner.
RCW 41.26.211 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 211
RCW 41.26.211: Notice for hearing required prior to petitioning for judicial review.
Status: in_force

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Any person aggrieved by any final decision of the director must, before petitioning for judicial review, file with the director of the retirement system by mail or personally within sixty days from the day such decision was communicated to such person, a notice for a hearing. The notice of hearing shall set forth in full detail the grounds upon which such person considers such decision unjust or unlawful and shall include every issue to be considered, and it must contain a detailed statement of facts upon which such person relies in support thereof. Such persons shall be deemed to have waived all objections or irregularities concerning the matter on which such appeal is taken other than those specifically set forth in the notice of hearing or appearing in the records of the retirement system.
RCW 41.40.052 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 052
RCW 41.40.052: Exemption from taxation and judicial process—Exceptions—Assignability—Deductions authorized.
Status: in_force

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(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or retirement allowance, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, the various funds created by this chapter, and all moneys and investments and income thereof, are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law whatsoever, whether the same be in actual possession of the person or be deposited or loaned and shall be unassignable. (2)(a) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of public employees of the state of Washington or its political subdivisions and which has been approved for deduction in accordance with rules that may be adopted by the state health care authority and/or the department, and this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of dues and other membership fees to any retirement association or organization the membership of which is composed of retired public employees, if a total of three hundred or more of such retired employees have authorized such deduction for payment to the same retirement association or organization. (b) This section does not prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions from that allowance for charitable purposes on the same terms as employees and public officers under RCW 41.04.035 and 41.04.036 . (3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to *RCW 26.23.060 , (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500 (3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700 , or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
RCW 41.06.099 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 099
RCW 41.06.099: Department of enterprise services—Certain personnel exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

In addition to the exemptions under RCW 41.06.070 , this chapter does not apply in the department of enterprise services to the director, the director's confidential secretary, deputy and assistant directors, and any other exempt staff members provided for in RCW 43.19.008 .
RCW 41.54.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 040
RCW 41.54.040: Payment of retirement allowance and postretirement adjustments—Death benefit.
Status: in_force

(1) The allowances calculated under RCW 41.54.030 , 41.54.032 , and 41.54.034 shall be paid separately by each respective current and prior system. Any deductions from such separate payments shall be according to the provisions of the respective systems. (2) Postretirement adjustments, if any, shall be applied by the respective systems based on the payments made under subsection (1) of this section. (3) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to ensure that where a dual member has service in a system established under chapter 41.32 , 41.40, 41.44, 41.35, 41.37, or 43.43 RCW; service in plan 2 of the system established under chapter 41.26 RCW; and service under the city employee retirement system for Seattle, Tacoma, or Spokane, the additional cost incurred as a result of the dual member receiving a benefit under this chapter shall be borne by the retirement system incurring the additional cost.
RCW 41.41.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 41 / Section 010
RCW 41.41.010: Plan for covering members under OASI approved.
Status: in_force

The plan for covering the state employee members of the state employees' retirement system under the old age and survivorship provisions of Title II of the federal social security act as amended, required by RCW 41.48.050 as amended by section 5, chapter 4, Laws of the extraordinary session of 1955, approved by the state employees' retirement board of the state employees' retirement system on the 1st day of August, 1955, and approved by the governor of the state of Washington on the 16th day of August, 1955, is hereby approved.
RCW 41.32.063 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 063
RCW 41.32.063: Benefit calculation—Limitation.
Status: in_force

(1) The annual compensation taken into account in calculating retiree benefits under this system shall not exceed the limits imposed by section 401(a)(17) of the federal internal revenue code for qualified trusts. (2) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
RCW 41.35.115 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 115
RCW 41.35.115: Death benefit—Course of employment—Occupational disease or infection.
Status: in_force

(1) A one hundred fifty thousand dollar death benefit 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 no such designated person or persons are 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) The benefit under this section shall be paid only where death occurs as a result of (a) injuries sustained in the course of employment; 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 .
RCW 41.05.744 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 744
RCW 41.05.744: School employee eligibility during COVID-19 state of emergency.
Status: in_force

(1) A school employee eligible as of February 29, 2020, for the employer contribution towards benefits offered by the school employees' benefits board shall maintain their eligibility for the employer contribution under the following circumstances directly related or in response to the governor's February 29, 2020, proclamation of a state of emergency existing in all counties in the state of Washington related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19): (a) During any school closures or changes in school operations for the school employee; (b) While the school employee is quarantined or required to care for a family member, as defined by RCW 49.46.210 (2), who is quarantined; and (c) In order to take care of a child as defined by RCW 49.46.210 (2), when the child's: (i) School is closed; (ii) Regular day care facility is closed; or (iii) Regular child care provider is unable to provide services. (2) Requirements in subsection (1) of this section expires when the governor's state of emergency related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) ends. (3) When regular school operations resume, school employees shall continue to maintain their eligibility for the employer contribution for the remainder of the school year so long as their work schedule returns to the schedule in place before February 29, 2020, or, if there is a change in schedule, so long as the new schedule, had it been in effect at the start of the school year, would have resulted in the employee being anticipated to work the minimum hours to meet benefits eligibility. (4) Quarantine, as used in subsection (1)(b) [of this section] includes only periods of isolation required by the federal government, a foreign national government, a state or local public health official, a health care provider, or an employer.
RCW 41.40.103 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 103
RCW 41.40.103: Benefit calculation—Limitation.
Status: in_force

(1) The annual compensation taken into account in calculating retiree benefits under this system shall not exceed the limits imposed by section 401(a)(17) of the federal internal revenue code for qualified trusts. (2) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
RCW 41.18.104 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 18 / Section 104
RCW 41.18.104: Annual increase in benefits payable on retirement for service or disability—Appeals.
Status: in_force

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

The amount of all benefits payable under the provisions of RCW 41.18.040 , 41.18.080 , 41.18.100 and 41.18.200 as now or hereafter amended, shall be increased annually as hereafter in this section provided. The local pension board shall meet subsequent to March 31st but prior to June 30th of each year for the purpose of adjusting benefit allowances payable pursuant to the aforementioned sections. The local board shall determine the increase in the consumer price index between January 1st and December 31st of the previous year and increase in dollar amount the benefits payable subsequent to July 1st of the year in which said board makes such determination by a dollar amount proportionate to the increase in the consumer price index: PROVIDED, That regardless of the change in the consumer price index, such increase shall be at least two percent each year such adjustment is made. Each year effective with the July payment all benefits specified herein, shall be increased as authorized by this section. This benefit increase shall be paid monthly as part of the regular pension payment and shall be cumulative. The increased benefits authorized by this section shall not affect any benefit payable under the provisions of chapter 41.18 RCW in which the benefit payment is attached to a current salary of the rank held at time of retirement. A beneficiary of benefit increases provided for pursuant to this section is hereby authorized to appeal a decision on such increases or the failure of the local pension board to order such increased benefits or the amount of such benefits to the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system retirement board provided for in *RCW 41.26.050 . For the purpose of this section the term "Consumer price index" shall mean, for any calendar year, the consumer price index for the Seattle, Washington area as compiled by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.
RCW 41.50.136 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 136
RCW 41.50.136: Collection of overpayments—Issuance of warrant—Lien.
Status: in_force

Whenever a notice of determination of liability becomes conclusive and final under RCW 41.50.135 , the director, upon giving at least twenty days notice by certified mail return receipt requested to the individual's last known address of the intended action, may file with the superior court clerk of any county within the state a warrant in the amount of the notice of determination of liability plus a filing fee under RCW 36.18.012 (10). The clerk of the county where the warrant is filed shall immediately designate a superior court cause number for the warrant, and the clerk shall cause to be entered in the judgment docket under the superior court cause number assigned to the warrant, the name of the person mentioned in the warrant, the amount of the notice of determination of liability, and the date when the warrant was filed. The amount of the warrant as docketed shall become a lien upon the title to, and any interest in, all real and personal property of the person against whom the warrant is issued, the same as a judgment in a civil case duly docketed in the office of such clerk. A copy of the warrant shall be mailed to the person mentioned in the warrant by certified mail to the person's last known address within five days of its filing with the clerk.
RCW 41.48.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 070
RCW 41.48.070: Employees may elect.
Status: in_force

The governing body of any political subdivision having any coverage group, as the term is defined in title II of the social security act, not covered by a state or municipal retirement system may submit for an advisory vote to the members of such coverage group the question of whether they prefer coverage by federal old-age and survivors insurance or coverage by a state or municipal retirement system.
RCW 41.26.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 080
RCW 41.26.080: Funding total liability of plan 1 system.
Status: in_force

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

(1) Except as set forth under subsection (2) of this section, the total liability of the plan 1 system shall be funded as follows: (a) Every plan 1 member shall have deducted from each payroll a sum equal to six percent of his or her basic salary for each pay period. (b) Every employer shall contribute monthly a sum equal to six percent of the basic salary of each plan 1 employee who is a member of this retirement system. The employer shall transmit the employee and employer contributions with a copy of the payroll to the retirement system monthly. (c) The remaining liabilities of the plan 1 system shall be funded as provided in chapter 41.45 RCW. (d) 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 complete discharge of all claims and demands whatsoever for the services rendered by such person during the period covered by such payments, except his or her claim to the benefits to which he or she may be entitled under the provisions of this chapter. (2) No employer or member contribution is required after June 30, 2000, unless the most recent valuation study for law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 1 indicates the plan has unfunded liabilities. The legislature clarifies the enactment of section 907, chapter 1, Laws of 2000 2nd sp. sess. and affirms the suspension of employer and member contributions to plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system, effective June 30, 2000, as provided in this subsection. The legislature intends this 2007 amendment of this subsection to be curative, remedial, and retrospectively applicable to June 30, 2000.
RCW 41.48.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 160
RCW 41.48.160: Political subdivisions—Sick leave payments—Adoption of accounting plan and payroll procedures.
Status: in_force

A political subdivision of the state may, pursuant to ordinance or resolution, adopt an accounting plan and payroll procedures sufficient to meet the requirements of federal statutes and regulations and the department of health, education, and welfare for the purpose of excluding payments made on account of sickness, from the meaning of "wages" under federal old age and survivors' insurance.
RCW 41.32.033 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 033
RCW 41.32.033: 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 41.35.200 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 200
RCW 41.35.200: Benefit calculation—Limitation.
Status: in_force

(1) The annual compensation taken into account in calculating retiree benefits under this system shall not exceed the limits imposed by section 401(a)(17) of the federal internal revenue code for qualified trusts. (2) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
RCW 41.40.230 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 230
RCW 41.40.230: Nonduty disability—Applicability to certain judges.
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the provisions of RCW 41.40.310 and 41.40.320 , upon application of a member, or his or her employer, a member who has been an employee at least five years, and who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as the result of causes occurring not in the performance of his or her duty, may be retired by the department, subject to the following conditions: (a) That the medical adviser, after a medical examination of the member made by or under the direction of the medical adviser, shall certify in writing that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that the member should be retired; and (b) That the department concurs in the recommendation of the medical adviser. (2) The retirement for disability of a judge, who is a member of the retirement system and who has been an employee at least five years, by the supreme court under Article IV, section 31 of the Constitution of the state of Washington (Amendment 71), with the concurrence of the department, shall be considered a retirement under subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 41.40.749 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 749
RCW 41.40.749: Certain commissioned officers—Limited optional transfer to Washington state patrol retirement system.
Status: in_force

(1) Active members of the Washington state patrol retirement system who have previously established service credit in the public employees' retirement system plan 2 while employed in the state patrol as either (a) a commercial vehicle enforcement officer who then became a commissioned officer on or before July 16, 2000, or (b) a communications officer who then became a commissioned officer, have the following options: (i) Remain a member of the public employees' retirement system; or (ii) Transfer service credit earned under the retirement system as a communications officer or commercial vehicle enforcement officer to the Washington state patrol retirement system by making an irrevocable choice filed in writing with the department of retirement systems within one year of the department's announcement of the ability to make such a transfer. (2)(a) Any commissioned officer choosing to transfer under this section shall have transferred from the retirement system to the Washington state patrol retirement system: (i) All the employee's applicable accumulated contributions plus interest, and an equal amount of employer contributions attributed to that employee; and (ii) All applicable months of service as a communications officer or commercial vehicle enforcement officer credited to the employee under this chapter as though that service was rendered as a member of the Washington state patrol retirement system. (b) For the applicable period of service, the employee shall pay: (i) The difference between the contributions the employee paid to the retirement system and the contributions that would have been paid by the employee had the employee been a member of the Washington state patrol retirement system, plus interest as determined by the director. This payment shall be made no later than December 31, 2019, or the date of retirement, whichever comes first; (ii) The difference between the employer contributions paid to the public employees' retirement system, and the employer contributions that would have been payable to the Washington state patrol retirement system; and (iii) An amount sufficient to ensure that the funding status of the Washington state patrol retirement system will not change due to this transfer. (c) If the payment required by this subsection is not paid in full by the deadline, the transferred service credit shall not be used to determine eligibility for benefits nor to calculate benefits under the Washington state patrol retirement system. In such a case, the employee's accumulated contributions plus interest transferred under this subsection, and any payments made under this subsection, shall be refunded to the employee. The employer shall be entitled to a credit for the employer contributions transferred under this subsection. (d) An individual who transfers service credit and contributions under this subsection is permanently excluded from the public employees' retirement system for all service as a communications officer or commercial vehicle enforcement officer.
RCW 41.04.350 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 350
RCW 41.04.350: Mandatory retirement prior to seventy years of age prohibited—Exceptions—Waiver of mandatory retirement.
Status: in_force

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

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no employee of the state of Washington or any of its political subdivisions or any institution supported in total or in part by the state or any of its political subdivisions, other than employees covered by chapters 41.26 and 43.43 RCW, shall be compelled to retire solely on the basis of age prior to attaining seventy years of age. (2) All compulsory retirement provisions relating to public employees, other than employees covered by chapters 41.26 and 43.43 RCW, may be waived for individuals attaining seventy years of age by the individual's employer.
RCW 41.56.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 010
RCW 41.56.010: Declaration of purpose.
Status: in_force

The intent and purpose of this chapter is to promote the continued improvement of the relationship between public employers and their employees by providing a uniform basis for implementing the right of public employees to join labor organizations of their own choosing and to be represented by such organizations in matters concerning their employment relations with public employers.
RCW 41.54.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 020
RCW 41.54.020: Benefits under prior retirement systems—Restoration of contributions.
Status: in_force

(1) Those persons who are dual members on or after July 1, 1988, shall not receive a retirement benefit from any prior system while dual members without the loss of all benefits under this chapter. Retroactive retirement in any prior system will cancel membership in any subsequent systems except as allowed under RCW 41.04.270 and will result in the refund of all employee and employer contributions made to such systems. (2) If a member has withdrawn contributions from a prior system, the member may restore the contributions, together with interest since the date of withdrawal as determined by the system, and recover the service represented by the contributions. Such restoration must be completed within two years of establishing dual membership or prior to retirement, whichever occurs first. (3) If a member does not meet the time limitation under subsection (2) of this section, the member, prior to retirement, may restore the service credit destroyed by the withdrawn contributions by paying the amount required under RCW 41.50.165 (2). (4) Any service accrued in one system by the member shall not accrue in any other system.
RCW 41.16.210 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 210
RCW 41.16.210: Transfer of assets to new fund—Assumption of obligations.
Status: in_force

(1) Funds or assets on hand in the firefighters' relief and pension fund of any municipality established under the provisions of chapter 50, Laws of 1909, as amended, after payment of warrants drawn upon and payable therefrom, shall, by the city treasurer, be transferred to and placed in the firefighters' pension fund created by this chapter; and the firefighters' pension fund created by this chapter shall be liable for and there shall be paid therefrom in the order of their issuance any and all unpaid warrants drawn upon said firefighters' relief and pension fund. (2) Any moneys loaned or advanced by a municipality from the general or any other fund of such municipality to the firefighters' relief and pension fund created under the provisions of chapter 50, Laws of 1909, as amended, and not repaid shall be an obligation of the firefighters' pension fund created under this chapter, and shall at such times and in such amounts as is directed by the board be repaid.
RCW 41.80.907 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 907
RCW 41.80.907: Short title—2002 c 354.
Status: in_force

This act may be known and cited as the personnel system reform act of 2002.
RCW 41.14.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 190
RCW 41.14.190: Political activities regulated.
Status: in_force

No person holding any office, place, position, or employment subject to civil service, shall contribute to any political fund or 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 service, or any other valuable thing, for any political purpose.
RCW 41.60.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 60 / Section 030
RCW 41.60.030: Employee suggestion program—Determination of award.
Status: in_force

The board, or [the] board's designee, shall make the final determination as to whether an employee suggestion award will be made and shall determine the nature and extent of the award based on the payment award scale. No employee suggestion award may normally be made to an employee for a suggestion which is within the scope of the employee's regularly assigned responsibilities.
RCW 41.14.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 050
RCW 41.14.050: Commission—Organization, meetings—Chief examiner, qualifications, duties.
Status: in_force

Immediately after appointment the commission shall organize by electing one of its members as chair and shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of its duties. The commission shall appoint a chief examiner who shall also serve as secretary of the commission and such assistants as may be necessary. The commission has supervisory responsibility over the chief examiner. The chief examiner shall keep the records for the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. The chief examiner shall be appointed as a result of competitive examination, which examination must be open to all properly qualified citizens of the county or of an adjacent county: PROVIDED, That no appointee of the commission, either as chief examiner or as an assistant to the chief examiner, shall be an employee of the sheriff's department. The chief examiner may be subject to suspension, reduction, or discharge in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as are provided in the case of members of the classified service.
RCW 41.45.158 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 158
RCW 41.45.158: Certain plans 2 and 3 normal costs—Minimum member contribution rates.
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning July 1, 2009, a minimum contribution rate is established for the plans 2 and 3 normal cost as part of the required contribution rate for members of plan 2 of the public employees' retirement system. The minimum contribution rate for the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund eighty percent of the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. (2) Beginning September 1, 2009, a minimum contribution rate is established for the plans 2 and 3 normal cost as part of the required contribution rate for members of plan 2 of the school employees' retirement system. The minimum contribution rate for the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund eighty percent of the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. (3) Beginning September 1, 2009, a minimum contribution rate is established for the plans 2 and 3 normal cost as part of the required contribution rate for members of plan 2 of the teachers' retirement system. The minimum contribution rate for the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund eighty percent of the plans 2 and 3 employee normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. (4) A minimum contribution rate is established for the plan 2 normal cost as part of the basic member contribution rate for the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system. The council may not adopt changes to the minimum contribution rate for plan 2 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system under subsection (5) of this section. On June 30th of each even-numbered year, if the funded status of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 as measured by the most recent completed actuarial valuation performed by the office of the state actuary is: (a) Less than 105 percent, then the minimum contribution rate for the member normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund 100 percent of the plan 2 member normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method; (b) Greater than or equal to 105 percent and less than 110 percent, then the minimum contribution rate for the member normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund 90 percent of the plan 2 member normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method; or (c) Greater than or equal to 110 percent, then the minimum contribution rate for the employer and state normal cost shall equal the total contribution rate required to fund 80 percent of the plan 2 employer normal cost as calculated under the entry age normal cost method. (5) Upon completion of each biennial actuarial valuation, the state actuary shall review the appropriateness of these minimum contribution rates and recommend to the legislature any adjustments as may be needed due to material changes in benefits or actuarial assumptions, methods, or experience.
RCW 41.40.930 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 930
RCW 41.40.930: Benefits not contractual right until March 1, 2002.
Status: in_force

The benefits provided pursuant to chapter 247, Laws of 2000 are not provided to employees as a matter of contractual right prior to March 1, 2002. The legislature retains the right to alter or abolish these benefits at any time prior to March 1, 2002.
RCW 41.28.930 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 28 / Section 930
RCW 41.28.930: 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 41.26.921 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 921
RCW 41.26.921: Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 294.
Status: in_force

This 1977 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect October 1, 1977.
RCW 41.26.476 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 476
RCW 41.26.476: Use of shared leave—Impact on calculation of service credit and final average salary.
Status: in_force

(1) A member in receipt of employer-authorized shared leave after June 10, 2010, shall receive the same treatment in respect to service credit and final average salary that the member would normally receive if using accrued annual leave or sick leave. (2) For purposes of this section shared leave includes, but is not limited to: (a) Direct transfers of annual leave, sick leave, or other leave from one employee to another; (b) Indirect transfers of annual leave, sick leave, or other leave via leave banks or a similar pool of donated leave; or (c) Shift trades or employees working shifts on behalf of a member. (3) Shared leave that has been reported to the department prior to June 10, 2010, and for which contributions have been made, remains creditable for service credit and final average salary.
RCW 41.08.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 010
RCW 41.08.010: Application of chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall have no application to cities and towns which at the present time have provided for civil service in the fire department or which shall subsequently provide for civil service in the fire department by local charter or other regulations which said local charter or regulations substantially accomplish the purpose of this chapter.
RCW 41.32.064 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 064
RCW 41.32.064: Establishing, restoring service credit.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, persons who fail to: (1) Establish allowable membership service not previously credited; (2) Restore all or a part of that previously credited membership service represented by withdrawn contributions; or (3) Restore service credit represented by a lump sum payment in lieu of benefits, before the deadline established by statute, may do so under the conditions set forth in RCW 41.50.165 .
RCW 41.37.210 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 210
RCW 41.37.210: Retirement eligibility.
Status: in_force

(1) NORMAL RETIREMENT. Any member with at least five service credit years who has attained at least age sixty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to RCW 41.37.190 . (2) UNREDUCED RETIREMENT. Any member who has completed at least ten service credit years in the public safety employees' retirement system and has attained age sixty shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to RCW 41.37.190 . (3) EARLY RETIREMENT. Any member who has completed at least twenty service credit years and has attained age fifty-three shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to RCW 41.37.190 , 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.
RCW 41.26.056 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 056
RCW 41.26.056: No bond required on appeal to court.
Status: in_force

No bond of any kind shall be required of a claimant appealing to the superior court, the court of appeals, or the supreme court from a decision of the director affecting such claimant's right to retirement or disability benefits.
RCW 41.40.363 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 363
RCW 41.40.363: Employer's contributions—Labor guild, association or organization.
Status: in_force

Any labor guild, association, or organization qualifying as an employer under this chapter and which is required to make contributions for an elective official qualifying for membership under RCW 41.40.023 (11) shall make contributions as any other employer within this chapter: PROVIDED, That the department shall cause an actuarial computation to be made of all prior service liability for which contributions are required from the employer to be computed on an actual dollar basis, and if the department determines that the contributions being made therefor under this chapter are insufficient to defray any cost to the state, the department shall require additional contributions from the employer in amounts and at times as will defray all costs to the state, the additional contributions to be completed within ten years from the date the elective official is accepted by the department.
RCW 41.28.140 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 28 / Section 140
RCW 41.28.140: Retirement for disability.
Status: in_force

Any member while in city service may be retired by the board of administration for permanent and total disability, either ordinary or accidental, upon examination, as follows: (1) Any member who has not attained the age of sixty-five years and who has at least ten years of city service as defined in this chapter, to his or her credit: PROVIDED, That the required ten years of city service shall have been credited to the member over a period of not to exceed fifteen years immediately preceding retirement, within three months after the discontinuance of city service, or while physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty, if such incapacity has been continuous from discontinuance of city service, shall be examined by a physician or surgeon, appointed by the board of administration upon the application of the head of the office or department in which said member is employed, or upon application of said member, or a person acting in his or her behalf, stating that said member is permanently and totally incapacitated, either physically or mentally, for the performance of duty and ought to be retired. If such medical examination shows, to the satisfaction of the board, that the said member is permanently and totally incapacitated either physically or mentally for the performance of duty and ought to be retired, the board shall retire the said member for disability forthwith. (2) The board shall secure such medical services and advice as it may deem necessary to carry out the purpose of this section and of RCW 41.28.160 , and shall pay for such medical services and advice such compensation as the board shall deem reasonable.
RCW 41.50.133 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 133
RCW 41.50.133: Recovery of certain overpayments to surviving beneficiaries under the teachers' retirement system.
Status: in_force

(1) The director of the department of retirement systems shall not recover from surviving beneficiaries of members who died in service any pension overpayment based on the application of section 2, chapter 96, Laws of 1979 ex. sess., nor shall such benefits be reduced. (2) The director of the department of retirement systems shall not recover from retirees any pension overpayments made between July 1, 1990, and February 1, 1992, based upon the application of *RCW 41.40.198 , 41.40.1981 , 41.40.325 , 41.32.485 , 41.32.487 , or 41.32.575 due to the incorrect calculation of the "age sixty-five allowance" as this term is defined in *RCW 41.32.575 (1)(a) and 41.40.325 (1)(a).
RCW 41.32.550 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 550
RCW 41.32.550: Options and allowances on report that disability will be permanent—Reexamination.
Status: in_force

(1) Should the director determine from the report of the medical director that a member employed under an annual contract with an employer has become permanently disabled for the performance of his or her duties or at any time while a member is receiving temporary disability benefits that a member's disability will be permanent, a member shall have the option of then receiving (a) all of the accumulated contributions in a lump sum payment and canceling his or her membership, or (b) of accepting a retirement allowance based on service or age, if eligible under RCW 41.32.480 , or (c) if the member had five or more years of Washington membership service credit established with the retirement system, a retirement allowance because of disability. (2) Any member applying for a retirement allowance who is eligible for benefits on the basis of service or age shall receive a retirement allowance based on the provision of law governing retirement for service or age. If the member qualifies to receive a retirement allowance because of disability he or she shall be paid the maximum annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the accumulated contributions at his or her age of retirement and a pension equal to the service pension to which he or she would be entitled under RCW 41.32.497 . If the member dies before he or she has received in annuity payments the present value of the accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, the unpaid balance shall be paid to the estate or to the persons, trust, or organization nominated by written designation executed and filed with the department. (3) A member retired for disability may be required at any time to submit to reexamination. If medical findings reveal that the individual is no longer disabled for the performance of public school service, the retirement allowance granted because of disability may be terminated by action of the director or upon written request of the member. In case of termination, the individual shall be restored to full membership in the retirement system.