RCW 41.44.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 44 / Section 030
RCW 41.44.030: Terms defined.
Status: in_force

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

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: (1) "Accumulated additional contributions" means the sum of all "additional contributions" made by a member standing to the credit of the individual account, together with regular interest thereon. (2) "Accumulated normal contributions" means the sum of all normal contributions, deducted from the compensation of a member, standing to the credit of his or her individual account, together with regular interest thereon. (3) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit of equal value when computed at regular interest upon the basis of such mortality tables as shall be adopted by the board of trustees. (4) "Additional contributions" means contributions made pursuant to subsection (6) of RCW 41.44.130 . (5) "Annuity" means payments derived from contributions made by a member as provided herein. (6) "Beneficiary" means any person in receipt of a pension, annuity, retirement allowance, disability allowance, or any other benefit herein. (7) "Board" means the "board of trustees" provided for herein. (8) "City" or "cities" includes town or towns. (9) "Compensation" means the compensation payable in cash, plus the monetary value, as determined by the board of trustees, of any allowance in lieu thereof (but for the purposes of this chapter such "compensation" shall not exceed three hundred dollars per month, except as to those employees of any member city the legislative body of which shall not later than July 1, 1953, have irrevocably elected by resolution or ordinance to increase the limitation herein contained, effective as to all of its employees, from three hundred dollars to four hundred dollars, commencing on said date, or which shall so elect prior to January 1st of any succeeding year, effective as of January 1st of any such succeeding year, and as to such employees shall, commencing on the specified date, not exceed four hundred dollars or an amount equal to such increased limitation established by such ordinance or resolution per month): PROVIDED HOWEVER, That the foregoing limitation shall not apply to uniformed personnel. (10) "Compensation earnable" means the full rate of compensation that would be payable to an employee if he or she worked the full normal working time (but for the purposes of this chapter, such "compensation earnable" shall not exceed three hundred dollars per month, except as to those employees of any member city the legislative body of which shall not later than July 1, 1953, have irrevocably elected by resolution or ordinance to increase the limitation herein contained, effective as to all of its employees, from three hundred dollars to four hundred dollars, commencing on said date, or which shall so elect prior to January 1st of any succeeding year, effective as of January 1st of any such succeeding year, and as to such employees shall, commencing on the specified date, not exceed four hundred dollars or an amount equal to such increased limitation established by such ordinance or resolution per month): PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the foregoing limitation shall not apply to uniformed personnel: PROVIDED FURTHER, That after January 1, 1968 this term shall mean the full rate of compensation payable to an employee if he or she worked the full normal working time. (11) "Creditable service" means such service as is evidenced by the record of normal contributions, plus prior service as evidenced by prior service certificate. (12) "Current service" means service after the employee has become a member of the system. (13) "Effective date" when used with regard to employees means the date on which any individual or group of employees became members of any retirement system and when used with regard to any city or town shall mean the date on which it became a participant. (14) "Employee" means any appointive officer or employee and shall include elective officials to the extent specified herein. (15) "Excess interest income" means that interest income earned and received from investments in excess of the interest income on investments required to meet actuarial funding requirements. (16) "Final compensation" means the highest average annual compensation earnable in any five consecutive years of actual service rendered during the ten years immediately preceding retirement, or where the employee has less than five consecutive years of actual service, the earnable compensation for the last five years preceding his or her retirement. (17) "Fiscal year" means any year commencing with January 1st and ending with December 31st next following. (18) "Matching contribution" means the contribution of the city deposited in an amount equal to the normal contributions of the employee. (19) "Member" means any person included in the membership of the retirement system as provided herein. (20) "Miscellaneous personnel" means officers and employees other than those in the uniformed police or fire service: PROVIDED, Those members of the fire department who are ineligible to the benefits of a firefighters' pension system established by or pursuant to any other state law, are also included in the miscellaneous personnel. (21) "Normal contributions" means the contributions at the rate provided for in RCW 41.44.130 , excluding those referred to in subsection (6). (22) "Part time employees" means those employees who, although regularly and continuously employed, do not regularly perform their duties the full number of hours required of other regular employees, including but not confined to such employees as police judges, city attorneys, and other officers and employees who are also engaged in outside employment or occupations. (23) "Pension" means payments derived from contributions made by the city as provided herein. (24) "Persons having an insurable interest in his or her life" means and includes only such persons who, because of relationship from ties of blood or marriage, have reason to expect some benefit from the continuation of the life of the member. (25) "Prior service" means the service of a member for compensation rendered a city prior to the effective date and shall include service in the armed forces of the United States to the extent specified herein and service specified in RCW 41.44.120 (5). (26) "Regular interest" means interest compounded annually at such rate as shall have been adopted by the board of trustees in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (27) "Released matching contributions" means such "matching contributions" as are no longer held for the benefit of the employee. (28) "Retirement allowance" means the pension plus annuity. (29) "Retirement fund" means "statewide city employees retirement fund" provided for herein. (30) "Retirement system" means the statewide city employees retirement system provided for herein. (31) "Service" means service rendered to a city for compensation; and for the purpose of this chapter a member shall be considered as being in service only while he or she is receiving compensation from the city for such service or is on leave granted for service in the armed forces of the United States as contemplated in RCW 41.44.120 . (32) "Uniformed personnel" means any employee who is a police officer in service or who is subject to call to active service or duty as such.
RCW 41.26.473 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 473
RCW 41.26.473: Disabled in the line of duty—Continuation of service credit—Conditions.
Status: in_force

Those members subject to this chapter who became disabled in the line of duty on or after July 1, 2002, and who received or are receiving benefits under Title 51 RCW or a similar federal workers' compensation program shall receive or continue to receive service credit subject to the following: (1) No member may receive more than one month's service credit in a calendar month. (2) No service credit under this section may be allowed after a member separates or is separated without leave of absence. (3) Employer contributions shall be paid by the employer at the rate in effect for the period of the service credited. (4) Employee contributions shall be collected by the employer and paid to the department at the rate in effect for the period of service credited. (5) State contribution shall be as provided in RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.067 . (6) Contributions shall be based on the regular compensation which the member would have received had the disability not occurred. If contribution payments are made retroactively, interest shall be charged at the rate set by the director on both employee and employer contributions. Service credit shall not be granted until the employee contribution has been paid. (7) The service and compensation credit shall not be granted for a period to exceed twenty-four consecutive months. (8) This section does not abridge service credit rights granted in RCW 41.26.470 (3). However, members receiving service credit under RCW 41.26.470 (3) may not receive service credit under this section. (9) Should the legislature revoke the service credit authorized under this section or repeal this section, no affected employee is entitled to receive the credit as a matter of contractual right.
RCW 41.50.152 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 152
RCW 41.50.152: Payment of excess compensation—Public notice requirements.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as limited by subsection (3) of this section, the governing body of an employer under chapter 41.32 , 41.35, 41.37, or 41.40 RCW shall comply with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section prior to executing a contract or collective bargaining agreement with members under chapter 41.32 , 41.35, 41.37, or 41.40 RCW which provides for: (a) A cash out of unused annual leave in excess of two hundred forty hours of such leave. "Cash out" for purposes of this subsection means any payment in lieu of an accrual of annual leave or any payment added to regular salary, concurrent with a reduction of annual leave; (b) A cash out of any other form of leave; (c) A payment for, or in lieu of, any personal expense or transportation allowance; (d) The portion of any payment, including overtime payments, that exceeds twice the regular rate of pay; or (e) Any other termination or severance payment. (2) Any governing body entering into a contract that includes a compensation provision listed in subsection (1) of this section shall do so only after public notice in compliance with the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW. This notification requirement may be accomplished as part of the approval process for adopting a contract in whole, and does not require separate or additional open public meetings. At the public meeting, full disclosure shall be made of the nature of the proposed compensation provision, and the employer's estimate of the excess compensation billings under RCW 41.50.150 that the employing entity would have to pay as a result of the proposed compensation provision. The employer shall notify the department of its compliance with this section at the time the department bills the employer under RCW 41.50.150 for the pension impact of compensation provisions listed in subsection (1) of this section that are adopted after July 23, 1995. (3) The requirements of subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to the adoption of a compensation provision listed in subsection (1) of this section if the compensation would not be includable in calculating benefits under chapter 41.32 , 41.35, 41.37, or 41.40 RCW for the employees covered by the compensation provision.
RCW 41.50.230 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 230
RCW 41.50.230: Employer reports to department.
Status: in_force

On or before a date specified by the department in each month every employer shall file a report with the department on a form provided, stating the name of the employer and with respect to each employee who is a member or who is required to become a member of the Washington state teachers' retirement system: (1) The full name, (2) the earnable compensation paid, (3) the employee's contribution to the retirement system, and (4) other information as the department shall require.
RCW 41.40.763 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 763
RCW 41.40.763: End of participation in chapter 41.28 RCW—Newly elected or appointed judges.
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning January 1, 2007, any newly elected or appointed district court judge or municipal court judge, who is not eligible for membership under chapter 41.28 RCW, shall be subject to the benefit and contribution provisions under chapter 189, Laws of 2006. (2) Beginning January 1, 2007, any newly elected or appointed district court judge, or municipal court judge, who has not previously established membership in this system, and who is not eligible for membership under chapter 41.28 RCW, shall become a member of plan 2 and shall be subject to the benefit and contribution provisions under chapter 189, Laws of 2006.
RCW 41.58.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 58 / Section 050
RCW 41.58.050: Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The commission shall have authority from time to time to make, amend, and rescind, in the manner prescribed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.20.120 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 120
RCW 41.20.120: Sick benefits.
Status: in_force

Whenever any active member of the police department, or any member *hereafter retired, on account of service, sickness or disability, not caused or brought on by dissipation or abuse, of which the board shall be judge, is confined in any hospital or in his or her home and, whether or not so confined, requires nursing, care, or attention, the board shall pay for the active member the necessary hospital, care, and nursing expenses of the member out of the fund; and the board may pay for the retired member hospital, care, and nursing expenses as are reasonable, in the board's discretion. The board may, at its discretion, elect, in lieu of paying some or all such expenses for the retired member, to reimburse the retired member for premiums the member has paid for medical insurance that supplements medicare, including premiums the member has paid for medicare part B coverage. The salary of the active member shall continue while he or she is necessarily confined to the hospital or home or elsewhere during the period of recuperation, as determined by the board, for a period not exceeding six months; after which period the other provisions of this chapter shall apply: PROVIDED, That the board in all cases may have the active or retired member suffering from such sickness or disability examined at any time by a licensed physician or physicians, to be appointed by the board, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature and extent of the sickness or disability, the physician or physicians to report to the board the result of the examination within three days thereafter. Any active or retired member who refuses to submit to such examination or examinations shall forfeit all his or her rights to benefits under this section: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the board shall designate the hospital and medical services available to the police officer who is sick or disabled.
RCW 41.05.083 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 083
RCW 41.05.083: Employer groups—Participation in insurance plans and contracts—Termination of agreement—Payment for retired or disabled employees.
Status: in_force

(1) Employer groups that enter into a contractual agreement with the authority after May 4, 2023, and whose contractual agreement with the authority is subsequently terminated, shall make a one-time payment as calculated in subsection (2) of this section to the authority for each of the employer group's retired or disabled employees who continue their participation in insurance plans and contracts under RCW 41.05.080 (1)(a)(ii). (2) For each of the employer group's retired or disabled employees who will be continuing their participation, the authority shall determine the one-time payment amount by calculating the difference in cost between the rate charged to retired or disabled employees under RCW 41.05.080 (2) and the actuarially determined value of the medical benefits for retired and disabled employees who are not eligible for parts A and B of medicare, and then multiplying that difference by the number of months until the retired or disabled employee would become eligible for medicare. (3) Employer groups shall not be entitled to any refund of the amount paid to the authority under this section.
RCW 41.26.802 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 802
RCW 41.26.802: Local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account—Transfers.
Status: in_force

(1) Prior to May 13, 2019, this section required certain transfers to be made to the local public safety enhancement account. After May 13, 2019, except for the transfer in subsection (2) of this section, no further transfers will be made to the local public safety enhancement account pursuant to this section. (2) On July 1, 2019, the state treasurer shall transfer the sum of three hundred million dollars from the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 retirement fund to the local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account. (3) By July 31, 2022, the Washington state investment board shall transfer the difference between the value of the benefit enhancements in chapter 125, Laws of 2022 as identified by the office of the state actuary and the value of the local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account, from the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 2 retirement fund to the local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account. (4) By August 31, 2022, the Washington state investment board shall transfer the total available balance of the local law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system benefits improvement account to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 2 retirement fund. The amount transferred under this subsection goes toward the benefit enhancements in chapter 125, Laws of 2022.
RCW 41.40.798 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 798
RCW 41.40.798: Higher education employees—Option to transfer to plan 3—Limitation on supplemental benefits under RCW 28B.10.400.
Status: in_force

(1) All employees who are not qualified under RCW 41.32.836 and who are first employed by an institution of higher education in a position eligible for participation in old age annuities or retirement income plans under RCW 28B.10.400 on or after July 1, 2011, have a period of thirty days to make an irrevocable choice to: (a) Become a member of the public employees' retirement system plan 3 under this chapter; or (b) Participate in the annuities or retirement income plan provided by the institution. (2) At the end of thirty days, if the member has not made a choice to become a member of the public employees' retirement system, he or she becomes a participant in the institution's plan under RCW 28B.10.400 , but does not become eligible for any supplemental benefit under RCW 28B.10.400 (1)(c).
RCW 41.08.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 110
RCW 41.08.110: Power to create offices, make appointments and fix salaries not infringed.
Status: in_force

All offices, places, positions and employments coming within the purview of this chapter, shall be created by the person or group of persons who, acting singly or in conjunction, as a mayor, city manager, chief, common council, commission or otherwise, is or are vested by law with power and authority to select, appoint, or employ any person coming within the purview of this chapter, and nothing herein contained shall infringe upon the power and authority of any such person or group of persons, or appointing power, to fix the salaries and compensation of all employees employed hereunder.
RCW 41.50.770 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 770
RCW 41.50.770: Deferred compensation plans.
Status: in_force

(1) "Employee" as used in this section and RCW 41.50.780 includes all full-time, part-time, and career seasonal employees of the state, a county, a municipality, or other political subdivision of the state, whether or not covered by civil service; elected and appointed officials of the executive branch of the government, including full-time members of boards, commissions, or committees; justices of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals and of the superior and district courts; volunteer firefighter participants under RCW 41.24.010 (8)(a); and members of the state legislature or of the legislative authority of any county, city, or town. (2) The state, through the department, and any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state acting through its principal supervising official or governing body is authorized to contract with an employee to defer a portion of that employee's income, which deferred portion shall in no event exceed the amount allowable under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 401(a) or 457, and deposit or invest such deferred portion in a credit union, savings and loan association, bank, or mutual savings bank or purchase life insurance, shares of an investment company, individual securities, or fixed and/or variable annuity contracts from any insurance company or any investment company licensed to contract business in this state. (3) Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, all persons newly employed by the state on a full-time basis who are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457 shall be enrolled in the state deferred compensation plan unless the employee affirmatively elects to waive participation in the plan. Persons who participate in the plan without having selected a deferral amount or investment option shall contribute three percent of taxable compensation to their plan account which shall be invested in a default option selected by the state investment board in consultation with the director. This subsection does not apply to higher education undergraduate and graduate student employees, or any county, municipality, or other political subdivision offering its own deferred compensation plan, and shall be administered consistent with the requirements of the federal internal revenue code. (4) Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, any county, municipality, or other political subdivision offering the state deferred compensation plan authorized under this section, may choose to administer the plan with an opt-out feature for new employees as described in subsection (3) of this section. Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision offering its own deferred compensation plan, may automatically enroll employees in accordance with their plan document all persons newly employed by the county, municipality, or other political subdivision who are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457 unless the employee affirmatively elects to waive participation in the plan as described in the plan document. (5) Beginning no later than December 1, 2023, the department must offer employees a Roth option in the deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457. (6) Employees participating in the state deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457 or money-purchase retirement savings plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 401(a) administered by the department shall self-direct the investment of the deferred portion of their income through the selection of investment options as set forth in subsection (7) of this section. (7) The department can provide such plans as it deems are in the interests of state employees. In addition to the types of investments described in this section, the state investment board, with respect to the state deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457 or money-purchase retirement savings plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 401(a), shall invest the deferred portion of an employee's income, without limitation as to amount, in accordance with RCW 43.84.150 , 43.33A.140 , and 41.50.780 , and pursuant to investment policy established by the state investment board for the state deferred compensation plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 457 or money-purchase retirement savings plan under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 401(a). The state investment board, after consultation with the director regarding any recommendations made pursuant to RCW 41.50.088 (2), shall provide a set of options for participants to choose from for investment of the deferred portion of their income. Any income deferred under these plans shall continue to be included as regular compensation, for the purpose of computing the state or local retirement and pension benefits earned by any employee. (8) Any retirement strategy fund asset mix may include investment in a state investment board commingled fund. Retirement strategy fund means one of several diversified asset allocation portfolios managed by investment advisors under contract to the state investment board. The state investment board shall declare unit values for its commingled funds no less than monthly for the funds or portions thereof requiring valuation. The declared values shall be an approximation of portfolio or fund values, and both the values and the frequency of the valuation shall be based on internal procedures of the state investment board. Such declared unit values, the frequency of their valuation, and internal procedures shall be in the sole discretion of the state investment board. The state investment board may delegate any of the powers and duties under this subsection, including discretion, pursuant to RCW 43.33A.030 . (9) Coverage of an employee or volunteer firefighter under optional salary deferral programs under this section shall not render such employee ineligible for simultaneous membership and participation in any pension system for public employees.
RCW 41.59.910 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 910
RCW 41.59.910: Construction of chapter—Effect on existing agreements—Collective bargaining agreement prevails where conflict.
Status: repealed

This chapter shall supersede existing statutes not expressly repealed to the extent that there is a conflict between a provision of this chapter and those other statutes. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to annul, modify or preclude the renewal or continuation of any lawful agreement entered into prior to January 1, 1976 between an employer and an employee organization covering wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. Where there is a conflict between any collective bargaining agreement and any resolution, rule, policy or regulation of the employer or its agents, the terms of the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail.
RCW 41.32.570 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 570
RCW 41.32.570: Postretirement employment—Reduction or suspension of pension payments.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) If a retiree enters employment with an employer sooner than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, the retiree's monthly retirement allowance will be reduced by five and one-half percent for every seven hours worked during that month. This reduction will be applied each month until the retiree remains absent from employment with an employer for one full calendar month. (b) The benefit reduction provided in (a) of this subsection will accrue for a maximum of one hundred forty hours per month. Any monthly benefit reduction over one hundred percent will be applied to the benefit the retiree is eligible to receive in subsequent months. (2) Any retired teacher or retired administrator who enters service in any public educational institution in Washington state at least one calendar month after his or her accrual date shall cease to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, after the retiree has rendered service for more than eight hundred sixty-seven hours in a school year. (3)(a) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retiree who reenters employment more than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a school year. (b) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retiree that retired before January 1, 2022, and who enters service in a second-class school district, as defined in RCW 28A.300.065 , as either a district superintendent or an in-school administrator shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a school year. (4) The department shall collect and provide the state actuary with information relevant to the use of this section for the select committee on pension policy. (5) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than five hundred twenty-five hours per year without a reduction of his or her pension.
RCW 41.05.405 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 405
RCW 41.05.405: Public option plans—Availability—Hospital contracts—Recommendations.
Status: in_force

(1) If a public option plan is not available in each county in the state during plan year 2022 or later, the following requirements apply for all subsequent plan years: (a) Upon an offer from a public option plan, a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW that receives payment for services provided to enrollees in the public employees' benefits program or school employees' benefits program, or through a medical assistance program under chapter 74.09 RCW, must contract with at least one public option plan to provide in-network services to enrollees of that plan. This subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a hospital owned and operated by a health maintenance organization licensed under chapter 48.46 RCW; and (b) The authority shall contract, under RCW 41.05.410 , with one or more health carriers to offer at least one standardized bronze, one standardized silver, and one standardized gold qualified health plan in every county in the state or in each county within a region of the state. (2) Health carriers and hospitals may not condition negotiations or participation of a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW in any health plan offered by the health carrier on the hospital's negotiations or participation in a public option plan. (3) By December 1st of the plan year during which enrollment in public option plans statewide is greater than 10,000 covered lives: (a) The health benefit exchange, in consultation with the insurance commissioner and the authority, shall analyze public option plan rates paid to hospitals for in-network services and whether they have impacted hospital financial sustainability. The analysis must include any impact on hospitals' operating margins during the years public option health plans have been offered in the state and the estimated impact on operating margins in future years if enrollment in public option plans increases. It must also examine the income levels of public option plan enrollees over time. The analysis may examine a sample of hospitals of various sizes and located in various counties. In conducting its analysis, the exchange must give substantial weight to any available reporting of health care provider and health system costs under RCW 70.390.050 ; (b) The health care cost transparency board established under chapter 70.390 RCW shall analyze the effect that enrollment in public option plans has had on consumers, including an analysis of the benefits provided to, and premiums and cost-sharing amounts paid by, consumers enrolled in public option plans compared to other standardized and nonstandardized qualified health plans; and (c) The health benefit exchange, in consultation with the insurance commissioner, the authority, and interested stakeholders, including, but not limited to, statewide associations representing hospitals, health insurers, and physicians, shall review the analyses completed under (a) and (b) of this subsection and develop recommendations to the legislature to address financial or other issues identified in the analyses. (4) The authority may adopt program rules, in consultation with the office of the insurance commissioner, to ensure compliance with this section, including levying fines and taking other contract actions it deems necessary to enforce compliance with this section. (5) For the purposes of this section, "public option plan" means a qualified health plan contracted by the authority under RCW 41.05.410 .
RCW 41.40.750 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 750
RCW 41.40.750: Transfer of membership and service credit—Restoration of contributions and service credit.
Status: in_force

(1) Effective September 1, 2000, the membership of all plan 2 members currently employed in eligible positions in a school district or educational service district and all plan 2 service credit for such members, is transferred to the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2. Plan 2 members who have withdrawn their member contributions for prior plan 2 service may restore contributions and service credit to the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 as provided under RCW 41.40.740 . (2)(a) The membership and previous service credit of a plan 2 member not employed in an eligible position on September 1, 2000, will be transferred to the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 when he or she becomes employed in an eligible position prior to August 1, 2009. Plan 2 members not employed in an eligible position on September 1, 2000, who have withdrawn their member contributions for prior plan 2 service may restore contributions and service credit to the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 as provided under RCW 41.40.740 , if they first establish eligibility in the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 prior to August 1, 2009. (b) The membership and previous service credit of a plan 2 member last employed by a school district or educational service district and retired prior to September 1, 2000, will be transferred to the Washington school employees' retirement system plan 2 if the member opts to reestablish membership prior to August 1, 2009. (3) Members who restore contributions and service credit under subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall have their contributions and service credit transferred to the Washington school employees' retirement system. (4) From September 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, upon written request to the department, active and inactive members transferred under subsection (2) of this section who did not establish membership and earn service credit for employment with a school district or educational service district prior to the transfer, and who have not transferred to plan 3 of the Washington school employees' retirement system or plan 3 of the public employees' retirement system, may restore their transferred membership and previous service credit to plan 2. All previously transferred contributions and interest, and additional interest as determined by the department, shall be returned to plan 2. An additional amount shall be transferred from the Washington school employees' retirement system sufficient to offset the liabilities returned to plan 2 under this subsection, as determined by the state actuary.
RCW 41.37.295 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 295
RCW 41.37.295: Purchase of life annuity benefit.
Status: in_force

(1) At the time of retirement, a plan 2 member may purchase an optional actuarially equivalent life annuity benefit from the public safety employees' retirement system plan 2 fund established in RCW 41.50.075 . A minimum payment of five thousand dollars is required. (2) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing an annuity under this section must pay all of the cost with an eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. (a) The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all eligible 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. (b) For the purposes of this subsection (2), "eligible retirement plan" means a tax qualified plan offered by a governmental employer. (3) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future.
RCW 41.16.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 16 / Section 040
RCW 41.16.040: Powers and duties.
Status: in_force

The board shall have such general powers as are vested in it by the provisions of this chapter, and in addition thereto, the power to: (1) Generally supervise and control the administration of this chapter and the firefighters' pension fund created hereby. (2) Pass upon and allow or disallow all applications for pensions or other benefits provided by this chapter. (3) Provide for payment from said fund of necessary expenses of maintenance and administration of said pension system and fund. (4) Invest the moneys of the fund in a manner consistent with the investment policies outlined in RCW 35.39.060 . Authorized investments shall include investment grade securities issued by the United States, state, municipal corporations, other public bodies, corporate bonds, and other investments authorized by RCW 35.39.030 , 35.58.510 , 35.81.070 , 35.82.070 , 36.29.020 , 39.58.020 , 39.58.080 , 39.58.130 , 39.60.010 , 39.60.020 , 68.52.060 , and 68.52.065 . (5) Employ such agents, employees and other personnel as the board may deem necessary for the proper administration of this chapter. (6) Compel witnesses to appear and testify before it, in the same manner as is or may be provided by law for the taking of depositions in the superior court. Any member of the board may administer oaths to witnesses who testify before the board of a nature and in a similar manner to oaths administered by superior courts of the state of Washington. (7) Issue vouchers approved by the chairperson and secretary and to cause warrants therefor to be issued and paid from said fund for the payment of claims allowed by it. (8) Keep a record of all its proceedings, which record shall be public; and prepare and file with the city treasurer and city clerk or comptroller prior to the date when any payments are to be made from the fund, a list of all persons entitled to payment from the fund, stating the amount and purpose of such payment, said list to be certified to and signed by the chairperson and secretary of the board and attested under oath. (9) Make rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter for the purpose of carrying out and effecting the same. (10) Appoint one or more duly licensed and practicing physicians who shall examine and report to the board upon all applications for relief and pension under this chapter. Such physicians shall visit and examine all sick firefighters and firefighters who are disabled when, in their judgment, the best interests of the relief and pension fund require it or when ordered by the board. They shall perform all operations on such sick and injured firefighters and render all medical aid and care necessary for the recovery of such firefighters on account of sickness or disability received while in the performance of duty as defined in this chapter. Such physicians shall be paid from said fund, the amount of said fees or salary to be set and agreed upon by the board and the physicians. No physician not regularly appointed or specially appointed and employed, as hereinafter provided, shall receive or be entitled to any fees or compensation from said fund as attending physician to a sick or injured firefighter. If any sick or injured firefighter refuses the services of the appointed physicians, or the specially appointed and employed physician, he or she shall be personally liable for the fees of any other physician employed by him or her. No person shall have a right of action against the board or the municipality for negligence of any physician employed by it. The board shall have the power and authority to select and employ, besides the regularly appointed physician, such other physician, surgeon or specialist for consultation with, or assistance to the regularly appointed physician, or for the purpose of performing operations or rendering services and treatment in particular cases, as it shall deem advisable, and to pay fees for such services from said fund. Said board shall hear and decide all applications for such relief or pensions under this chapter, and its decisions on such applications shall be final and conclusive and not subject to revision or reversal except by the board.
RCW 41.08.060 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 060
RCW 41.08.060: Existing firefighters blanketed under civil service.
Status: in_force

For the benefit of the public service and to prevent delay, injury, or interruption therein by reason of the enactment of this chapter, all persons holding a position in the fire department of any such city, including the chief thereof, when this chapter takes effect, who shall have served in such position for a period of at least six months last past continuously, are hereby declared eligible for permanent appointment under civil service to the offices, places, positions or employments which they shall then hold, respectively, without examination or other act on their part, and not on probation; and every such person is hereby automatically adopted and inducted permanently into civil service, into such office, place, position or employment which such person then holds as completely and effectually to all intents and purposes as if such person had been permanently appointed thereto under civil service after examination and investigation.
RCW 41.32.895 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 895
RCW 41.32.895: 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 41.32.851 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 41.32.875 . 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 41.32.875 . The member's retirement allowance is computed under RCW 41.32.840 .
RCW 41.80.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 010
RCW 41.80.010: Negotiation and ratification of collective bargaining agreements—Funding to implement modification of certain collective bargaining agreements.
Status: in_force

(1) For the purpose of negotiating collective bargaining agreements under this chapter, the employer shall be represented by the governor or governor's designee, except as provided for institutions of higher education in subsection (4) of this section. (2)(a)(i) Except as otherwise provided, if an exclusive bargaining representative represents more than one bargaining unit, the exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate with each employer representative as designated in subsection (1) of this section one master collective bargaining agreement on behalf of all the employees in bargaining units that the exclusive bargaining representative represents. (ii) For those exclusive bargaining representatives who represent fewer than a total of 500 employees each, negotiation shall be by a coalition of all those exclusive bargaining representatives. The coalition shall bargain for a master collective bargaining agreement covering all of the employees represented by the coalition. The governor's designee and the exclusive bargaining representative or representatives are authorized to enter into supplemental bargaining of agency-specific issues for inclusion in or as an addendum to the master collective bargaining agreement, subject to the parties' agreement regarding the issues and procedures for supplemental bargaining. Exclusive bargaining representatives that represent employees covered under chapter 41.06 RCW and exclusive bargaining representatives that represent employees exempt under chapter 41.06 RCW shall constitute separate coalitions and must negotiate separate master collective bargaining agreements. This subsection does not prohibit cooperation and coordination of bargaining between two or more exclusive bargaining representatives. (b) This subsection does not apply to exclusive bargaining representatives who represent employees of institutions of higher education, except when the institution of higher education has elected to exercise its option under subsection (4) of this section to have its negotiations conducted by the governor or governor's designee under the procedures provided for general government agencies in subsections (1) through (3) of this section. (c) If 500 or more employees of an independent state elected official listed in RCW 43.01.010 are organized in a bargaining unit or bargaining units under RCW 41.80.070 , the official shall be consulted by the governor or the governor's designee before any agreement is reached under (a) of this subsection concerning supplemental bargaining of agency specific issues affecting the employees in such bargaining unit. (d) For assistant attorneys general, the governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement. (e) Except for exclusive bargaining representatives that represent marine department employees at the department of corrections, this subsection does not apply to exclusive bargaining representatives who represent employees of the department of corrections that have interest arbitration rights under RCW 41.80.200 . For department of corrections employees, the governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement. (3) The governor shall submit a request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions in the master collective bargaining agreement or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement. Requests for funds necessary to implement the provisions of bargaining agreements shall not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless such requests: (a) Have been submitted to the director of the office of financial management by October 1 prior to the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered; and (b) Have been certified by the director of the office of financial management as being feasible financially for the state. The legislature shall approve or reject the submission of the request for funds as a whole. The legislature shall not consider a request for funds to implement a collective bargaining agreement unless the request is transmitted to the legislature as part of the governor's budget document submitted under RCW 43.88.030 and 43.88.060 . If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, either party may reopen all or part of the agreement or the exclusive bargaining representative may seek to implement the procedures provided for in RCW 41.80.090 . (4)(a)(i) For the purpose of negotiating agreements for institutions of higher education, the employer shall be the respective governing board of each of the universities, colleges, or community colleges or a designee chosen by the board to negotiate on its behalf. (ii) A governing board of a university or college may elect to have its negotiations conducted by the governor or governor's designee under the procedures provided for general government agencies in subsections (1) through (3) of this section, except that: (A) The governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement for all of the bargaining units of employees of a university or college that the representative represents; or (B) If the parties mutually agree, the governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement for all of the bargaining units of employees of more than one university or college that the representative represents. (iii) A governing board of a community college may elect to have its negotiations conducted by the governor or governor's designee under the procedures provided for general government agencies in subsections (1) through (3) of this section. (b) Prior to entering into negotiations under this chapter, the institutions of higher education or their designees shall consult with the director of the office of financial management regarding financial and budgetary issues that are likely to arise in the impending negotiations. (c)(i) In the case of bargaining agreements reached between institutions of higher education other than the University of Washington and exclusive bargaining representatives agreed to under the provisions of this chapter, if appropriations are necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the bargaining agreements, the governor shall submit a request for such funds to the legislature according to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, except as provided in (c)(iii) of this subsection. (ii) In the case of bargaining agreements reached between the University of Washington and exclusive bargaining representatives agreed to under the provisions of this chapter, if appropriations are necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of a bargaining agreement, the governor shall submit a request for such funds to the legislature according to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, except as provided in this subsection (4)(c)(ii) and as provided in (c)(iii) of this subsection. (A) If appropriations of less than $10,000 are necessary to implement the provisions of a bargaining agreement, a request for such funds shall not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless the request has been submitted to the director of the office of financial management by October 1 prior to the legislative session at which the request is to be considered. (B) If appropriations of $10,000 or more are necessary to implement the provisions of a bargaining agreement, a request for such funds shall not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless the request: (I) Has been submitted to the director of the office of financial management by October 1 prior to the legislative session at which the request is to be considered; and (II) Has been certified by the director of the office of financial management as being feasible financially for the state. (C) If the director of the office of financial management does not certify a request under (c)(ii)(B) of this subsection as being feasible financially for the state, the parties shall enter into collective bargaining solely for the purpose of reaching a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement necessary to address the absence of those requested funds. The legislature may act upon the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the modified collective bargaining agreement if those provisions are agreed upon and submitted to the office of financial management and legislative budget committees before final legislative action on the biennial or supplemental operating budget by the sitting legislature. (iii) In the case of a bargaining unit of employees of institutions of higher education in which the exclusive bargaining representative is certified during or after the conclusion of a legislative session, the legislature may act upon the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the unit's initial collective bargaining agreement if those provisions are agreed upon and submitted to the office of financial management and legislative budget committees before final legislative action on the biennial or supplemental operating budget by the sitting legislature. (5) If, after the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of an agreement are approved by the legislature, a significant revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations, as declared by proclamation of the governor or by resolution of the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into collective bargaining for a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement. (6) After the expiration date of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter, all of the terms and conditions specified in the collective bargaining agreement remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequently negotiated agreement, not to exceed one year from the expiration date stated in the agreement. Thereafter, the employer may unilaterally implement according to law. (7)(a) For the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may approve funding for a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by a higher education institution and the western Washington university fraternal order of police and ratified by the exclusive bargaining representative by October 5, 2024. (b) Subsection (3)(a) and (b) of this section do not apply to requests for funding made pursuant to this subsection.
RCW 41.45.203 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 203
RCW 41.45.203: Contribution rates for certain justices and judges—Teachers' retirement system.
Status: in_force

(1) The required employer contribution rate in support of teachers' retirement system members employed as supreme court justices, court of appeals judges, and superior court judges who elect to participate under RCW 41.32.584 (1), or who are newly elected or appointed after January 1, 2007, shall equal the teachers' retirement system employer contribution rate established under this chapter. (2) The required contribution rate for members of the teachers' retirement system plan 1 employed as supreme court justices, court of appeals judges, and superior court judges who elect to participate under RCW 41.32.584 (1), or who are newly elected or appointed after January 1, 2007, shall be the deductions established under RCW 41.50.235 plus three and seventy-six one-hundredths percent of pay.
RCW 41.40.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 160
RCW 41.40.160: Creditable service.
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the provisions of RCW 41.40.150 , at retirement the total service credited to a member shall consist of all membership service and, if he or she is an original member, all of the certified prior service. (2) Employees of a public utility or other private enterprise all or any portion of which has been heretofore or may be hereafter acquired by a public agency as a matter of public convenience and necessity, where it is in the public interest to retain the trained personnel of such enterprise, all service to that enterprise shall, upon the acquiring public agency becoming an employer as defined in *RCW 41.40.010 (4) be credited on the same basis as if rendered to the said employer: PROVIDED, That this shall apply only to those employees who were in the service of the enterprise at or prior to the time of acquisition by the public agency and who remain in the service of the acquiring agency until they attain membership in the state employees' retirement system; and to those employees who were in the service of the enterprise at the time of acquisition by the public agency and subsequently attain membership through employment with any participating agency: PROVIDED FURTHER, In the event that the acquiring agency is an employer at the time of the acquisition, employer's contributions in connection with members achieving service credit hereunder shall be made on the same basis as set forth in RCW ** 41.40.045 and 41.40.048 for an employer admitted after April 1, 1949, and before July 23, 1995, and on the same basis as set forth in RCW 41.40.057 for an employer admitted after July 23, 1995.
RCW 41.04.835 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 835
RCW 41.04.835: Employment of deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient—Liability for breach of contract limited.
Status: in_force

Any agency that employs a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient under RCW 41.08.070 , 41.12.070 , 41.14.100 , or 77.15.075 may not be held liable for any breach of contract resulting from changes in federal law that would prohibit the agency from employing a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient.
RCW 41.32.4945 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 4945
RCW 41.32.4945: Limitation as to earnable compensation of member as member of the legislature.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 41.32.010 , 41.32.260 , 41.32.497 , 41.32.498 and this section, when the salary of any member as a member of the legislature is increased beyond the amount provided for in Initiative Measure No. 282 then earnable compensation for the purposes of this chapter shall be based solely on the sum of (1) the compensation actually received from the salary for the job from which such leave of absence may have been taken and (2) such member's salary as a legislator during the two highest compensated consecutive years.
RCW 41.14.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 010
RCW 41.14.010: Declaration of purpose.
Status: in_force

The general purpose of this chapter is to establish a merit system of employment for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office of county sheriff, thereby raising the standards and efficiency of such offices and law enforcement in general.
RCW 41.06.087 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 087
RCW 41.06.087: Economic and revenue forecast supervisor and staff—Caseload forecast supervisor and staff—Exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

In addition to the exemptions set forth in RCW 41.06.070 , this chapter does not apply to the economic and revenue forecast supervisor and staff employed under RCW 82.33.010 or the caseload forecast supervisor and staff employed under RCW 43.88C.010 .
RCW 41.40.048 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 048
RCW 41.40.048: Employer's contribution—Computation—Billing.
Status: in_force

(1) The director shall report to each employer the contribution rates required for the ensuing biennium or fiscal year, whichever is applicable. (2) Beginning September 1, 1990, the amount to be collected as the employer's contribution shall be computed by applying the applicable rates established in chapter 41.45 RCW to the total compensation earnable of employer's members as shown on the current payrolls of the said employer. In addition, the director shall determine and collect the additional employer contribution rate necessary to fund the benefits granted officials holding office pursuant to Articles II and III of the Constitution of the state of Washington and RCW 48.02.010 . Each said employer shall compute at the end of each month the amount due for that month and the same shall be paid as are its other obligations. Effective January 1, 1987, however, no contributions are required for any calendar month in which the member is not granted service credit. (3) In the event of failure, for any reason, of an employer other than a political subdivision of the state to have remitted amounts due for membership service of any of the employer's members rendered during a prior biennium, the director shall bill such employer for such employer's contribution together with such charges as the director deems appropriate in accordance with RCW 41.50.120 . Such billing shall be paid by the employer as, and the same shall be, a proper charge against any moneys available or appropriated to such employer for payment of current biennial payrolls.
RCW 41.50.255 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 255
RCW 41.50.255: Payment of legal and medical expenses of retirement systems.
Status: in_force

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

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5834-S.SL ) ***

The director is authorized to pay from the interest earnings of the trust funds of the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, the Washington state patrol retirement system, the Washington judicial retirement system, the judges' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, the public safety employees' retirement system, or the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system lawful obligations of the appropriate system for legal, medical, and, during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, administrative expenses, which expenses are primarily incurred for the purpose of protecting or preventing losses from the appropriate trust fund or are incurred in compliance with statutes governing such funds. The term "legal expense" includes, but is not limited to, legal services provided through the legal services revolving fund, fees for expert witnesses, travel expenses, fees for court reporters, cost of transcript preparation, and reproduction of documents. The term "medical expense" includes, but is not limited to, expenses for the medical examination or reexamination of members or retirees, the costs of preparation of medical reports, and fees charged by medical professionals for attendance at discovery proceedings or hearings. The term "administrative expenses" includes, but is not limited to, expenses incurred to prevent losses to the trust funds such as audits, cybersecurity, petition decisions, departmental liaison work with the attorney general's office, and other similar expenses incurred by the department to ensure that trust funds are protected against risks that might lead to losses from the trust funds. The director may also pay from the interest earnings of the trust funds specified in this section costs incurred in investigating fraud and collecting overpayments, including expenses incurred to review and investigate cases of possible fraud against the trust funds and collection agency fees and other costs incurred in recovering overpayments. Recovered funds must be returned to the appropriate trust funds.
RCW 41.08.090 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 08 / Section 090
RCW 41.08.090: Procedure for removal, suspension, demotion or discharge—Investigation—Hearing—Appeal.
Status: in_force

No person in the classified civil service who shall have been permanently appointed or inducted into civil service under provisions of this chapter, shall be removed, suspended, demoted or discharged except for cause, and only upon the written accusation of the appointing power, or any citizen or taxpayer, a written statement of which accusation, in general terms, shall be served upon the accused, and a duplicate filed with the commission. Any person so removed, suspended, demoted or discharged may within ten days from the time of his or her removal, suspension, demotion or discharge, file with the commission a written demand for an investigation, whereupon the commission shall conduct such investigation. The investigation shall be confined to the determination of the question of whether such removal, suspension, demotion or discharge was or was not made for political or religious reasons and was or was not made in good faith for cause. After such investigation the commission may affirm the removal, or if it shall find that the removal, suspension, or demotion was made for political or religious reasons, or was not made in good faith for cause, shall order the immediate reinstatement or reemployment of such person in the office, place, position or employment from which such person was removed, suspended, demoted or discharged, which reinstatement shall, if the commission so provides in its discretion, be retroactive, and entitle such person to pay or compensation from the time of such removal, suspension, demotion or discharge. The commission upon such investigation, in lieu of affirming the removal, suspension, demotion or discharge may modify the order of removal, suspension, demotion or discharge by directing a suspension, without pay, for a given period, and subsequent restoration to duty, or demotion in classification, grade, or pay; the findings of the commission shall be certified, in writing to the appointing power, and shall be forthwith enforced by such officer. All investigations made by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be by public hearing, after reasonable notice to the accused of the time and place of such hearing, at which hearing the accused shall be afforded an opportunity of appearing in person and by counsel, and presenting his or her defense. If such judgment or order be concurred in by the commission or a majority thereof, the accused may appeal therefrom to the court of original and unlimited jurisdiction in civil suits of the county wherein he or she resides. Such appeal shall be taken by serving the commission, within thirty days after the entry of such judgment or order, a written notice of appeal, stating the grounds thereof, and demanding that a certified transcript of the record and of all papers on file in the office of the commission affecting or relating to such judgment or order, be filed by the commission with such court. The commission shall, within ten days after the filing of such notice, make, certify and file such transcript with such court. The court of original and unlimited jurisdiction in civil suits shall thereupon proceed to hear and determine such appeal in a summary manner: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such hearing shall be confined to the determination of whether the judgment or order of removal, discharge, demotion or suspension made by the commission, was or was not made in good faith for cause, and no appeal to such court shall be taken except upon such ground or grounds.
RCW 41.40.102 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 102
RCW 41.40.102: Effect of certain accumulated vacation leave on retirement benefits.
Status: in_force

RCW 43.01.044 shall not result in any increase in retirement benefits. The rights extended to state officers and employees under RCW 43.01.044 are not intended to and shall not have any effect on retirement benefits under this chapter.
RCW 41.68.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 68 / Section 020
RCW 41.68.020: Eligibility for reparation.
Status: in_force

Any state employee or the living surviving spouse of a state employee who, due to the promulgation of federal Executive Order 9066, was dismissed, terminated from a temporary position, or rejected during the person's probationary period, or who voluntarily resigned in lieu of dismissal from state government employment, and who incurred salary losses as a result thereof, is eligible to file a claim with the state for the reparation of those losses.
RCW 41.40.760 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 760
RCW 41.40.760: End of participation in judicial retirement account plan—Newly elected or appointed judges or justices.
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning January 1, 2007, any newly elected or appointed supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge shall not participate in the judicial retirement account plan under chapter 2.14 RCW and shall be subject to the benefit and contribution provisions under chapter 189, Laws of 2006. (2) Beginning January 1, 2007, any newly elected or appointed supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge, who has not previously established membership in this system, shall become a member of plan 2 and shall be subject to the benefit and contribution provisions under chapter 189, Laws of 2006.
RCW 41.32.868 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 868
RCW 41.32.868: One-time purchase of service credit—Conditions—Payment—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1) An active member who has completed a minimum of two years of creditable service in the teachers' retirement system may, upon written application to the department, make a one-time purchase of up to seven years of service credit for public education experience outside the Washington state retirement system, subject to the following limitations: (a) The public education experience being claimed must have been performed as a teacher in a public school in another state or with the federal government; (b) The public education experience being claimed must have been covered by a retirement or pension plan provided by a state or political subdivision of a state, or by the federal government; and (c) The member is not currently receiving a benefit or currently eligible to receive an unreduced retirement benefit from a retirement or pension plan of a state or political subdivision of a state or the federal government that includes the service credit to be purchased. (2) The service credit purchased shall be membership service, and may be used to qualify the member for retirement. (3) The member shall pay the actuarial value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit calculated in a manner consistent with the department's method for calculating payments for reestablishing service credit under RCW 41.50.165 . (4) The member may pay all or part of the cost of the service credit to be purchased 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. (5) The employer also may pay all or a portion of the member's cost of the service credit purchased under this section.
RCW 41.50.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 010
RCW 41.50.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Actuarial value" means the present value of a change in actuarial liability; (2) "Department" means the department of retirement systems; and (3) "Director" means the director of the department of retirement systems.
RCW 41.50.560 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 560
RCW 41.50.560: Mandatory assignment of retirement benefits—Petition for order.
Status: in_force

(1) A petition or motion seeking a mandatory benefits assignment order in an action under RCW 41.50.530 may be filed by an obligee if the obligor is more than fifteen days past due in spousal maintenance payments and the total of such past due payments is equal to or greater than one hundred dollars or if the obligor requests a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from the department of retirement systems. The petition or motion shall include a sworn statement by the obligee, stating the facts authorizing the issuance of the mandatory benefits assignment order, including: (a) That the obligor, stating his or her name, residence, and social security number, (i) is more than fifteen days past due in spousal maintenance payments and that the total of such past due payments is equal to or greater than one hundred dollars, or (ii) has requested a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from the department of retirement systems; (b) A description of the terms of the dissolution order requiring payment of spousal maintenance and the amount, if any, past due; (c) The name of the public retirement system or systems from which the obligor is currently receiving periodic retirement benefits or from which the obligor has requested a withdrawal of accumulated contributions; and (d) That notice has been provided to the obligor as required by RCW 41.50.540 . (2) If the court in which a mandatory benefits assignment order is sought does not already have a copy of the dissolution order in the court file, then the obligee shall attach a copy of the dissolution order to the petition or motion seeking the mandatory benefits assignment order.
RCW 41.40.660 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 660
RCW 41.40.660: Options for payment of retirement allowances—Retirement allowance adjustment—Court-approved property settlement.
Status: in_force

(1) Upon retirement for service as prescribed in RCW 41.40.630 or retirement for disability under RCW 41.40.670 , a member shall elect to have the retirement allowance paid pursuant to one of the following options, calculated so as to be actuarially equivalent to each other. (a) Standard allowance. A member electing this option shall receive a retirement allowance payable throughout such member's life. However, if the retiree dies before the total of the retirement allowance paid to such retiree equals the amount of such retiree's accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, then the balance shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the retiree shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or if there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the retiree's death, then to the surviving spouse; or if there be neither such designated person or persons still living at the time of death nor a surviving spouse, then to the retiree's legal representative. (b) The department shall adopt rules that allow a member to select a retirement option that pays the member a reduced retirement allowance and upon death, such portion of the member's reduced retirement allowance as the department by rule designates shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to a person nominated by the member by written designation duly executed and filed with the department at the time of retirement. The options adopted by the department shall include, but are not limited to, a joint and one hundred percent survivor option and a joint and fifty percent survivor option. (2)(a) A member, if married, must provide the written consent of his or her spouse to the option selected under this section, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. If a member is married and both the member and the member's spouse do not give written consent to an option under this section, the department shall pay a joint and fifty percent survivor benefit calculated to be actuarially equivalent to the benefit options available under subsection (1) of this section unless spousal consent is not required as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. (b) Written consent from a spouse or domestic partner is not required if a member who is married or a domestic partner selects a joint and survivor option under subsection (1)(b) of this section and names the member's spouse or domestic partner as the survivor beneficiary. (c) If a copy of a dissolution order designating a survivor beneficiary under RCW 41.50.790 has been filed with the department at least thirty days prior to a member's retirement: (i) The department shall honor the designation as if made by the member under subsection (1) of this section; and (ii) The spousal consent provisions of (a) of this subsection do not apply. (3)(a) Any member who retired before January 1, 1996, and who elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance under subsection (1)(b) or (2) of this section is entitled to receive a retirement allowance adjusted in accordance with (b) of this subsection, if they meet the following conditions: (i) The retiree's designated beneficiary predeceases or has predeceased the retiree; and (ii) The retiree provides to the department proper proof of the designated beneficiary's death. (b) The retirement allowance payable to the retiree, as of July 1, 1998, or the date of the designated beneficiary's death, whichever comes last, shall be increased by the percentage derived in (c) of this subsection. (c) The percentage increase shall be derived by the following: (i) One hundred percent multiplied by the result of (c)(ii) of this subsection converted to a percent; (ii) Subtract one from the reciprocal of the appropriate joint and survivor option factor; (iii) The joint and survivor option factor shall be from the table in effect as of July 1, 1998. (d) The adjustment under (b) of this subsection shall accrue from the beginning of the month following the date of the designated beneficiary's death or from July 1, 1998, whichever comes last. (4) No later than July 1, 2001, the department shall adopt rules that allow a member additional actuarially equivalent survivor benefit options, and shall include, but are not limited to: (a)(i) A retired member who retired without designating a survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to designate their spouse from a postretirement marriage as a survivor during a one-year period beginning one year after the date of the postretirement marriage provided the retirement allowance payable to the retiree is not subject to periodic payments pursuant to a property division obligation as provided for in RCW 41.50.670 . (ii) A member who entered into a postretirement marriage prior to the effective date of the rules adopted pursuant to this subsection and satisfies the conditions of (a)(i) of this subsection shall have one year to designate their spouse as a survivor beneficiary following the adoption of the rules. (b) A retired member who elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance under this section and designated a nonspouse as survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to remove the survivor designation and have their future benefit adjusted. (c) The department may make an additional charge, if necessary, to ensure that the benefits provided under this subsection remain actuarially equivalent. (5) No later than July 1, 2003, the department shall adopt rules to permit: (a) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made before retirement to provide that benefits payable to a member who meets the length of service requirements of RCW 41.40.720 and the member's divorcing spouse be divided into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse. The member shall have available the benefit options of subsection (1) of this section upon retirement, and if remarried at the time of retirement remains subject to the spousal consent requirements of subsection (2) of this section. Any reductions of the member's benefit subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. The nonmember ex spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefit upon reaching the age provided in RCW 41.40.630 (1) and after filing a written application with the department. (b) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made after retirement may only divide the benefit into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse if the nonmember ex spouse was selected as a survivor beneficiary at retirement. The retired member may later choose the survivor benefit options available in subsection (4) of this section. Any actuarial reductions subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. Both the retired member and the nonmember divorced spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefits upon filing a copy of the dissolution order with the department in accordance with RCW 41.50.670 . (c) The department may make an additional charge or adjustment if necessary to ensure that the separate benefits provided under this subsection are actuarially equivalent to the benefits payable prior to the decree of dissolution. (6) Beginning on the date that the state receives a determination from the federal internal revenue service that this subsection (6) conforms with federal law, retirees have up to ninety calendar days after the receipt of their first retirement allowance to change their survivor election under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. If a member changes the member's survivor election under this subsection the change is effective the first of the following month and is prospective only.
RCW 41.50.120 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 120
RCW 41.50.120: Payment of moneys due department by employers—Interest.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all employers of members of retirement systems administered by the department shall transmit by a warrant or check to the department within fifteen days following the end of each calendar month the moneys due the department as determined by the statutes governing each system together with such reports as the department may require. The director may collect interest on any employer's overdue payments at the rate of one percent per month on the outstanding balance where necessary to secure adherence to timeliness requirements.
RCW 41.06.196 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 196
RCW 41.06.196: Employee performance evaluations—Termination of supervisors tolerating inadequate employee performance.
Status: in_force

The director shall adopt rules designed to remove from supervisory positions those supervisors who in violation of the rules adopted under RCW 41.06.186 have tolerated the continued employment of employees under their supervision whose performance has warranted termination from state employment.
RCW 41.45.067 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 45 / Section 067
RCW 41.45.067: Failure of state or employer to make required contribution—Resulting increase in contribution rate borne in full by state or employer—Members' contribution deducted each payroll period.
Status: in_force

(1) Any increase in the contribution rate required as the result of a failure of the state or of an employer to make any contribution required by this section shall be borne in full by the state or by that employer not making the contribution. (2) The director shall notify all employers of any pending adjustment in the required contribution rate and such pending adjustment in the required contribution rate and any increase shall be announced at least thirty days prior to the effective date of the change. (3) Members' contributions required by RCW 41.45.060 and 41.45.061 shall be deducted from the members' compensation each payroll period. The members' contribution and the employers' contribution shall be remitted directly to the department within fifteen days following the end of the calendar month during which the payroll period ends. (4) The state's contribution required for the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 shall be transferred to the appropriate fund from the total contributions transferred by the state treasurer under RCW 41.45.050 .
RCW 41.48.065 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 48 / Section 065
RCW 41.48.065: OASI revolving fund.
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established a separate fund in the custody of the state treasurer to be known as the OASI revolving fund. The fund shall consist of all moneys designated for deposit in the fund. The OASI revolving fund shall be used exclusively for the purpose of this section, including the costs of program administration. Withdrawals from the fund may be made for the payment of amounts the state may be obligated to pay or forfeit by reason of any failure of any public agency to pay assessments on contributions or interest assessments required under the federal-state agreement under this chapter or federal regulations. (2) All costs allocable to the administration of this chapter shall be charged to and paid to the OASI revolving fund by the participating divisions and instrumentalities of the state pro rata according to their respective contributions. (3) The treasurer of the state shall be ex officio treasurer and custodian of the fund and shall administer the fund in accordance with this chapter and the directions of the governor and shall pay all amounts drawn upon it in accordance with this section and with the regulations the governor may prescribe under this section.
RCW 41.54.901 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 54 / Section 901
RCW 41.54.901: Effective date—1988 c 195.
Status: in_force

This act shall take effect July 1, 1988.
RCW 41.14.220 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 220
RCW 41.14.220: Penalty—Jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

Any person who wilfully violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and by imprisonment in the county jail for not longer than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment. The superior court shall have jurisdiction of all such offenses.
RCW 41.05.951 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 951
RCW 41.05.951: Retired or disabled employees of employer groups—Return following termination of employer's agreement—2023 c 312.
Status: in_force

Any retired or disabled employee whose participation in insurance plans or contracts under RCW 41.05.080 (1)(a)(i) ended due to the termination of the contractual agreement between the authority and an employer group on or before January 1, 2023, must be allowed to return and participate in insurance plans and contracts as described in RCW 41.05.080 (1)(a)(ii) so long as the retired or disabled employee notifies the health care authority in writing by December 31, 2023, after which participation will begin on the first day of the month following the date the authority receives the retired or disabled employee's written notice.
RCW 41.59.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 130
RCW 41.59.130: Binding arbitration procedures authorized.
Status: in_force

An employer and an exclusive bargaining representative who enter into a collective bargaining agreement may include in such agreement procedures for binding arbitration of such disputes as may arise involving the interpretation or application of such agreement.
RCW 41.58.110 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 58 / Section 110
RCW 41.58.110: Hearing dates—Refusal to comply with subpoena.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission or presiding officer may: (a) Set a hearing date without consent from the involved parties so long as the involved parties may submit motions to move the hearing date; and (b) Draw an adverse inference from the refusal of a party to comply with subpoenas issued by the commission or presiding officer, subject to subsection (2) of this section. (2) If a union invokes privilege under RCW 5.60.060 (11) and 49.36.040 when refusing to comply with a subpoena request, the commission or presiding officer may not draw an adverse inference from the union's refusal to comply. When a union invokes such privilege, the commission or presiding officer must conduct an in camera review to determine if the records are privileged.
RCW 41.34.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 34 / Section 050
RCW 41.34.050: Legislature may contribute to members' accounts.
Status: in_force

The legislature may authorize contributions to the members' accounts for a biennium through budget appropriation.
RCW 41.05.350 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 350
RCW 41.05.350: Salary reduction plan—Rules.
Status: in_force

The authority shall adopt rules necessary to implement RCW 41.05.123 , 41.05.300 through 41.05.340 , and 41.05.295 .
RCW 41.76.045 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 045
RCW 41.76.045: Employee authorization of membership dues and other payments—Revocation.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Upon authorization of an employee within the bargaining unit and after the certification or recognition of the bargaining unit's exclusive bargaining representative, the employer must deduct from the payments to the employee the monthly amount of dues as certified by the secretary of the exclusive bargaining representative and must transmit the same to the treasurer of the exclusive bargaining representative. (b) An employee's written, electronic, or recorded voice authorization to have the employer deduct membership dues from the employee's salary must be made by the employee to the exclusive bargaining representative. If the employer receives a request for authorization of deductions, the employer shall as soon as practicable forward the request to the exclusive bargaining representative. (c) Upon receiving notice of the employee's authorization from the exclusive bargaining representative, the employer shall deduct from the employee's salary membership dues and remit the amounts to the exclusive bargaining representative. (d) The employee's authorization remains in effect until expressly revoked by the employee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the authorization. (e) An employee's request to revoke authorization for payroll deductions must be in writing and submitted by the employee to the exclusive bargaining representative in accordance with the terms and conditions of the authorization. (f) After the employer receives confirmation from the exclusive bargaining representative that the employee has revoked authorization for deductions, the employer shall end the deduction no later than the second payroll after receipt of the confirmation. (g) The employer shall rely on information provided by the exclusive bargaining representative regarding the authorization and revocation of deductions. (2) If the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit enter into a collective bargaining agreement that includes requirements for deductions of other payments, the employer must make such deductions upon authorization of the employee.
RCW 41.04.590 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 590
RCW 41.04.590: Dismissal of municipal employees during World War II—Redress—Limitations.
Status: in_force

Under the system of redress authorized under RCW 41.04.580 through 41.04.595 : (1) A municipality may determine in its sole discretion the monetary amount of redress for salary and other employment related losses, which may not exceed five thousand dollars for any undivided claim. (2) If a municipality adopts an ordinance or resolution providing for redress of salary and other employment related losses, it has no obligation to notify directly any person of possible eligibility for redress of salary and other employment related losses.
RCW 41.50.135 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 135
RCW 41.50.135: Collection of overpayments—Determination of liability—Administrative process created.
Status: in_force

(1) If the department finds that any member, beneficiary, or other person or entity has been paid an amount of retirement benefits to which that person or entity is not entitled, and the person is not entitled to a continuing benefit from any of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 , the department may issue an order and notice of assessment specifying the amount due, including interest, to be remitted to the department. The order and notice of assessment shall be served upon any person or entity who may have received benefits to which the person or entity is not entitled. The order and notice of assessment shall be served by the department in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action, or by certified mail to the last known address of the obligor as shown by the records of the department. (2) Any notice of assessment under subsection (1) of this section shall constitute a determination of liability from which the member, beneficiary, or other person or entity served may appeal by filing a petition for adjudicative proceedings with the director personally or by mail within sixty days from the date the assessment was served. If a petition for adjudicative proceedings is not filed within sixty days of the delivery of the notice of assessment, the determination that was the basis for establishing the overpayment debt and the assessment is conclusive and final. (3) This section creates an administrative process for the collection of overpayments from persons who are not entitled to a continuing benefit from one of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 . The collection of overpayments from persons entitled to a continuing benefit from one of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 is governed by RCW 41.50.130 .
RCW 41.40.180 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 180
RCW 41.40.180: Retirement—Length of service.
Status: in_force

(1) Any member with five years of creditable service who has attained age sixty and any original member who has attained age sixty may retire on written application to the director, setting forth at what time the member desires to be retired: PROVIDED, That in the national interest, during time of war engaged in by the United States, the director may extend beyond age sixty, subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the age at which any member may be eligible to retire. (2) Any member who has completed thirty years of service may retire on written application to the director setting forth at what time the member desires to be retired, subject to war measures. (3) Any member who has completed twenty-five years of service and attained age fifty-five may retire on written application to the director setting forth at what time the member desires to be retired, subject to war measures. (4) Any individual who is eligible to retire pursuant to subsections (1) through (3) of this section shall be allowed to retire while on any authorized leave of absence not in excess of one hundred and twenty days.
RCW 41.12.075 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 075
RCW 41.12.075: Residency as condition of employment—Discrimination because of lack of residency—Prohibited.
Status: in_force

No city, town, or municipality shall require any person applying for or holding an office, place, position, or employment under the provisions of this chapter or under any local charter or other regulations described in RCW 41.12.010 to reside within the limits of such municipal corporation as a condition of employment or to discriminate in any manner against any such person because of his or her residence outside of the limits of such city, town, or municipality.
RCW 41.50.640 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 640
RCW 41.50.640: Mandatory assignment of retirement benefits—Award of costs to prevailing party.
Status: in_force

In any action to enforce a dissolution order by means of a mandatory benefits assignment order pursuant to RCW 41.50.530 through 41.50.630 and 26.09.138 , the court may award costs to the prevailing party, including an award for reasonable attorneys' fees consistent with RCW 26.09.140 . An obligor shall not be considered a prevailing party under this section unless the obligee has acted in bad faith in connection with the proceeding in question. This section does not authorize an award of attorneys' fees against the department of retirement systems or any of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 .
RCW 41.05.735 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 735
RCW 41.05.735: Ground emergency medical transportation services—Medicaid reimbursement—Intergovernmental transfer program—Federal approval—Authority's duties.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall design and implement, in consultation with eligible providers as described in subsection (2) of this section, an intergovernmental transfer program relating to medicaid managed care, ground emergency medical transport services including those services provided by emergency medical technicians at the basic, advanced, and paramedic levels in the prestabilization and preparation for transport in order to increase capitation payments for the purpose of increasing reimbursement to eligible providers. (2) A provider is eligible for increased reimbursement pursuant to this section only if the provider meets both of the following conditions in an applicable state fiscal year: (a) Provides ground emergency medical transport services to medicaid managed care enrollees pursuant to a contract or other arrangement with a medicaid managed care plan. (b) Is owned or operated by the state, a city, county, fire protection district, special district, community services district, health care district, federally recognized Indian tribe or unit of government as defined in 42 C.F.R. Sec. 433.50. (3) To the extent intergovernmental transfers are voluntarily made by, and accepted from, an eligible provider described in subsection (2) of this section, or a governmental entity affiliated with an eligible provider, the department shall make increased capitation payments to applicable medicaid managed care plans for covered ground emergency medical transportation services. (a) The increased capitation payments made pursuant to this section must be in amounts at least actuarially equivalent to the supplemental fee-for-service payments available for eligible providers to the extent permissible under federal law. (b) Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section, all funds associated with intergovernmental transfers made and accepted pursuant to this section must be used to fund additional payments to eligible providers. (c) Medicaid managed care plans shall pay one hundred percent of any amount of increased capitation payments made pursuant to this section to eligible providers for providing and making available ground emergency medical transportation and paramedical services pursuant to a contract or other arrangement with a medicaid managed care plan. (4) The intergovernmental transfer program developed pursuant to this section must be implemented on the date federal approval was obtained, and only to the extent intergovernmental transfers from the eligible provider, or the governmental entity with which it is affiliated, are provided for this purpose. To the extent permitted by federal law, the department may implement the intergovernmental transfer program and increased capitation payments pursuant to this section on a retroactive basis as needed. (5) Participation in the intergovernmental transfers under this section is voluntary on the part of the transferring entities for purposes of all applicable federal laws. (6) This section must be implemented without any additional expenditure from the state general fund. As a condition of participation under this section, each eligible provider as described in subsection (2) of this section, or the governmental entity affiliated with an eligible provider, shall agree to reimburse the department for any costs associated with implementing this section. Intergovernmental transfers described in this section are subject to a twenty percent administration fee of the nonfederal share paid to the department and is allowed to count as a cost of providing the services. (7) As a condition of participation under this section, medicaid managed care plans, eligible providers as described in subsection (2) of this section, and governmental entities affiliated with eligible providers shall agree to comply with any requests for information or similar data requirements imposed by the department for purposes of obtaining supporting documentation necessary to claim federal funds or to obtain federal approvals. (8) This section must be implemented only if and to the extent federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized, and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained. (9) To the extent that the director determines that the payments made pursuant to this section do not comply with federal medicaid requirements, the director retains the discretion to return or not accept an intergovernmental transfer, and may adjust payments pursuant to this section as necessary to comply with federal medicaid requirements. (10) To the extent federal approval is obtained, the increased capitation payments under this section may commence for dates of service on or after January 1, 2015.
RCW 41.40.092 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 092
RCW 41.40.092: Transfer of cadet service credit 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 1 or plan 2 while employed by the state patrol as a cadet as defined in *RCW 43.43.120 (6)(b) may have such service credit transferred to the state patrol retirement system subject to the terms and conditions specified in chapter 43.43 RCW, including reestablishment of such service for the sole purpose of transfer. Service reestablishment shall be subject to the interest requirements of RCW 41.40.150 (2). (2) Service credit established for employment other than that specified in subsection (1) of this section is not eligible for transfer.
RCW 41.76.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 76 / Section 040
RCW 41.76.040: Procedures for grievance arbitration—Subpoenas—Commission—Superior courts.
Status: reserved

A collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter may include procedures for final and binding grievance arbitration of the disputes arising about the interpretation or application of the agreement. (1) 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 dispute resolution panel maintained 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. 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. 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. 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 such 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 a date fixed by the collective bargaining agreement for making the award. The arbitrator has the power to administer oaths. The arbitration award shall be in writing and signed by the arbitrator or a majority of the members of the arbitration panel. The arbitrator shall, promptly upon its rendition, serve a true copy of the award on each of the parties or their attorneys. (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 for any county in which the labor dispute exists, and such court has jurisdiction to issue an order compelling arbitration. The commission, on its own motion, may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court where a strike or lockout is in existence. Arbitration shall be ordered if the grievance states a claim which on its face is covered by the collective bargaining agreement, and doubts as to the coverage of the arbitration clause shall be resolved in favor of arbitration. Disputes concerning compliance with grievance procedures shall be reserved for determination by the arbitrator. (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 such collective bargaining agreement, the other party to the collective bargaining agreement, or any affected employee, may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court for any county in which the labor dispute exists, and such court has jurisdiction to issue an order enforcing the arbitration award. The commission, on its own motion, may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court where a strike or lockout is in existence. The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the arbitrator and shall enforce any arbitration award which is based on the collective bargaining agreement, except that an arbitration award shall not be enforced and a new arbitration proceeding may be ordered: (a) If the arbitration award was procured by corruption, fraud, or undue means; (b) If there was evident partiality or corruption in the arbitrator or arbitrators; (c) If the arbitrator or arbitrators were guilty of misconduct, in refusing to postpone a hearing upon sufficient cause shown, or in refusing to hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy, or of any other misbehavior by which the rights of any party have been prejudiced; or (d) If the arbitrator or arbitrators have exceeded their powers, or so imperfectly executed them that a final and definite award on the subject matter was not made, in which event the court also has discretion to remand the matter to the arbitrator or arbitrators who issued the defective award.
RCW 41.06.082 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 082
RCW 41.06.082: Office of minority and women's business enterprises—Certain personnel exempted from chapter.
Status: in_force

In addition to the exemptions set forth in RCW 41.06.070 , this chapter shall not apply in the office of minority and women's business enterprises to the director, the director's confidential secretary, and the deputy director.
RCW 41.14.080 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 080
RCW 41.14.080: Classified service—Appointment, promotion, transfer, suspension, discharge.
Status: in_force

All appointments to and promotions to positions in the classified civil service of the office of county sheriff shall be made solely on merit, efficiency, and fitness, which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and impartial investigation: PROVIDED, That before June 30, 1981, employees in an existing county personnel system may be transferred to newly created and classified positions within such county's sheriff's office, in order to permanently transfer the functions of these positions, without meeting the open competitive examination requirements of this section if the transfer is approved by the civil service commission created in RCW 41.14.030 . No person in the classified civil service shall be reinstated in or transferred, suspended, or discharged from any such place, position, or employment contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
RCW 41.05.340 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 340
RCW 41.05.340: Salary reduction plan—Termination—Amendment.
Status: in_force

(1) The state may terminate the salary reduction plan at the end of the plan year or upon notification of federal action affecting the status of the plan. (2) The authority may amend the salary reduction plan at any time if the amendment does not affect the rights of the participants to receive eligible reimbursement from the participants' accounts.
RCW 41.12.130 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 130
RCW 41.12.130: Leaves of absence—Notice—Filling vacancy.
Status: in_force

Leave of absence, without pay, may be granted by any appointing power to any person under civil service: PROVIDED, That such appointing power shall give notice of such leave to the commission. All temporary employment caused by leaves of absence shall be made from the eligible list of the classified civil service.
RCW 41.37.015 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 015
RCW 41.37.015: System created—Administration.
Status: in_force

A retirement system is hereby created for public safety employees of the Washington state department of corrections, the Washington state parks and recreation commission, the Washington state gambling commission, the Washington state patrol, the Washington *state liquor control board, county corrections departments, and city corrections departments not covered under chapter 41.28 RCW. The administration and management of the retirement system, the responsibility for making effective the provisions of this chapter, and the authority to make all rules necessary therefor are hereby vested in the department. All rules shall be governed by chapter 34.05 RCW. This retirement system shall be known as the Washington public safety employees' retirement system.
RCW 41.32.780 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 780
RCW 41.32.780: Teachers required to be members.
Status: in_force

All teachers who become employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after October 1, 1977, shall be members of the retirement system and shall be governed by the provisions of RCW 41.32.755 through 41.32.825 .
RCW 41.04.235 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 235
RCW 41.04.235: Retirement allowance deductions for health care benefit plans.
Status: in_force

Participants in a health care benefit plan approved pursuant to RCW 41.04.180 , 41.05.065 , or 28A.400.350 , whichever is applicable, who are retired public employees, may authorize the deduction from their retirement allowances, of the amount or amounts of their subscription payments, premiums, or contributions to any person, firm, or corporation furnishing or providing medical, surgical, and hospital care or other health care insurance upon the approval by the retirement board of an application for such deduction on the prescribed form, and the treasurer of the state shall duly and timely draw and issue proper warrants directly to and in favor of the person, firm, or corporation, or organization named in the authorization for the amount authorized to be deducted.
RCW 41.06.475 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 475
RCW 41.06.475: Employees with unsupervised access to children—Rules for background investigation.
Status: in_force

The director shall adopt rules, in cooperation with the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families, for the background investigation of current employees and of persons being actively considered for positions with the department who will or may have unsupervised access to children. The director shall also adopt rules, in cooperation with the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families, for background investigation of positions otherwise required by federal law to meet employment standards. "Considered for positions" includes decisions about (1) initial hiring, layoffs, reallocations, transfers, promotions, or demotions, or (2) other decisions that result in an individual being in a position that will or may have unsupervised access to children as an employee, an intern, or a volunteer.
RCW 41.05.526 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 526
RCW 41.05.526: Withdrawal management services—Substance use disorder treatment services—Prior authorization—Utilization review—Medical necessity review.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a health plan offered to employees and their covered dependents under this chapter issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, may not require an enrollee to obtain prior authorization for withdrawal management services or inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment services in a behavioral health agency licensed or certified under RCW 71.24.037 . (2)(a) A health plan offered to employees and their covered dependents under this chapter issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, must: (i) Provide coverage for no less than two business days, excluding weekends and holidays, in a behavioral health agency that provides inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment prior to conducting a utilization review; and (ii) Provide coverage for no less than three days in a behavioral health agency that provides withdrawal management services prior to conducting a utilization review. (b)(i) The health plan may not require an enrollee to obtain prior authorization for the services specified in (a) of this subsection as a condition for payment of services prior to the times specified in (a) of this subsection. (ii) Once the times specified in (a) of this subsection have passed, the health plan may initiate utilization management review procedures if the behavioral health agency continues to provide services or is in the process of arranging for a seamless transfer to an appropriate facility or lower level of care under subsection (6) of this section. For a health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, if a health plan authorizes inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment services pursuant to (a)(i) of this subsection following the initial medical necessity review process under (c)(iii) of this subsection, the length of the initial authorization may not be less than 14 days from the date that the patient was admitted to the behavioral health agency. Any subsequent reauthorization that the health plan approves after the first 14 days must continue for no less than seven days prior to requiring further reauthorization. Nothing prohibits a health plan from requesting information to assist with a seamless transfer under this subsection. (c)(i) The behavioral health agency under (a) of this subsection must notify an enrollee's health plan as soon as practicable after admitting the enrollee, but not later than twenty-four hours after admitting the enrollee. The time of notification does not reduce the requirements established in (a) of this subsection. (ii) The behavioral health agency under (a) of this subsection must provide the health plan with its initial assessment and initial treatment plan for the enrollee within two business days of admission, excluding weekends and holidays, or within three days in the case of a behavioral health agency that provides withdrawal management services. (iii) After the time period in (a) of this subsection and receipt of the material provided under (c)(ii) of this subsection, the plan may initiate a medical necessity review process. Medical necessity review must be based on the standard set of criteria established under RCW 41.05.528 . In a review for inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment services, a health plan may not make a determination that a patient does not meet medical necessity criteria based primarily on the patient's length of abstinence. If the patient's abstinence from substance use was due to incarceration, hospitalization, or inpatient treatment, a health plan may not consider the patient's length of abstinence in determining medical necessity. If the health plan determines within one business day from the start of the medical necessity review period and receipt of the material provided under (c)(ii) of this subsection that the admission to the facility was not medically necessary and advises the agency of the decision in writing, the health plan is not required to pay the facility for services delivered after the start of the medical necessity review period, subject to the conclusion of a filed appeal of the adverse benefit determination. If the health plan's medical necessity review is completed more than one business day after the start of the medical necessity review period and receipt of the material provided under (c)(ii) of this subsection, the health plan must pay for the services delivered from the time of admission until the time at which the medical necessity review is completed and the agency is advised of the decision in writing. (3)(a) The behavioral health agency shall document to the health plan the patient's need for continuing care and justification for level of care placement following the current treatment period, based on the standard set of criteria established under RCW 41.05.528 , with documentation recorded in the patient's medical record. (b) For a health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, for inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment services, the health plan may not consider the patient's length of stay at the behavioral health agency when making decisions regarding the authorization to continue care at the behavioral health agency. (4) Nothing in this section prevents a health carrier from denying coverage based on insurance fraud. (5) If the behavioral health agency under subsection (2)(a) of this section is not in the enrollee's network: (a) The health plan is not responsible for reimbursing the behavioral health agency at a greater rate than would be paid had the agency been in the enrollee's network; and (b) The behavioral health agency may not balance bill, as defined in RCW 48.43.005 . (6) When the treatment plan approved by the health plan involves transfer of the enrollee to a different facility or to a lower level of care, the care coordination unit of the health plan shall work with the current agency to make arrangements for a seamless transfer as soon as possible to an appropriate and available facility or level of care. The health plan shall pay the agency for the cost of care at the current facility until the seamless transfer to the different facility or lower level of care is complete. A seamless transfer to a lower level of care may include same day or next day appointments for outpatient care, and does not include payment for nontreatment services, such as housing services. If placement with an agency in the health plan's network is not available, the health plan shall pay the current agency until a seamless transfer arrangement is made. (7) The requirements of this section do not apply to treatment provided in out-of-state facilities. (8) For the purposes of this section "withdrawal management services" means twenty-four hour medically managed or medically monitored detoxification and assessment and treatment referral for adults or adolescents withdrawing from alcohol or drugs, which may include induction on medications for addiction recovery.
RCW 41.26.450 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 450
RCW 41.26.450: Port districts, institutions of higher education, and tribal governments—Employer and state contributions—Recovery of contributions.
Status: in_force

(1) Port districts established under Title 53 RCW, institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 , and tribal governments participating through a state-tribal compact as defined in RCW 41.26.565 shall contribute both the employer and state shares of the cost of the retirement system for any of their employees who are law enforcement officers. (2) Institutions of higher education shall contribute both the employer and the state shares of the cost of the retirement system for any of their employees who are firefighters. (3) During fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and during the 2019-2021, 2021-2023, 2023-2025, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia: When an employer charges a fee or recovers costs for work performed by a plan member where: (a) The member receives compensation that is includable as basic salary under RCW 41.26.030 (4)(b); and (b) The service is provided, whether directly or indirectly, to an entity that is not an "employer" under RCW 41.26.030 (14)(b); the employer shall contribute both the employer and state shares of the cost of the retirement system contributions for that compensation. Nothing in this subsection prevents an employer from recovering the cost of the contribution from the entity receiving services from the member.
RCW 41.04.730 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 730
RCW 41.04.730: Employee assistance program—Information confidential—Exceptions.
Status: in_force

Individual employees' participation in the employee assistance program and all individually identifiable information gathered in the process of conducting the program shall be held in strict confidence; except that agency management may be provided with the following information about employees referred by that agency management due to poor job performance: (1) Whether or not the referred employee made an appointment; (2) The date and time the employee arrived and departed; (3) Whether the employee agreed to follow the advice of counselors; and (4) Whether further appointments were scheduled. Participation or nonparticipation by any employee in the employee assistance program shall not be a factor in any decision affecting an employee's job security, promotional opportunities, corrective or disciplinary action, or other employment rights.
RCW 41.50.165 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 165
RCW 41.50.165: Establishing, restoring service credit—Conditions.
Status: in_force

(1) Except for those affected by subsection (4) of this section, a member of a retirement system specified by RCW 41.50.030 or, one previously established by the state but closed to new membership, may, as provided in each retirement system: (a) Establish allowable membership service not previously credited; (b) Restore all or a part of that previously credited membership service represented by withdrawn contributions; or (c) Restore service credit represented by a lump sum payment in lieu of benefits. (2) Persons who previously have failed to: (a) Establish service credit for service previously earned; or (b) Reestablish service credit by the restoration of withdrawn contributions or repayment of a lump sum payment in lieu of a benefit, may now establish or reestablish such service credit by paying the actuarial value of the resulting increase in their benefit in a manner defined by the department. (3) Any establishment of service credit for service previously rendered, restoration of service credit destroyed, or repayment of a lump sum received in lieu of benefit must be completed prior to retirement. (4) Service credit is established for or restored to the period in which the service credit is earned.
RCW 41.34.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 34 / Section 030
RCW 41.34.030: Application of chapter—Plan 3 elements.
Status: in_force

(1) This chapter applies only to members of plan 3 retirement systems created under chapters 41.32 , 41.35, and 41.40 RCW. (2) Plan 3 consists of two separate elements: (a) A defined benefit portion covered under: (i) Sections 101 through 117, chapter 239, Laws of 1995; or (ii) Sections 1 through 25 and 201 through 213, chapter 341, Laws of 1998; or (iii) Sections 101 through 316, chapter 247, Laws of 2000; and (b) A defined contribution portion covered under this chapter. Unless specified otherwise, all references to "plan 3" in this chapter refer to the defined contribution portion of plan 3.
RCW 41.06.340 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 340
RCW 41.06.340: Determination of appropriate bargaining units—Unfair labor practices provisions applicable to chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) With respect to collective bargaining as authorized by RCW 41.80.001 and 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 , the public employment relations commission created by chapter 41.58 RCW shall have authority to adopt rules, on and after June 13, 2002, relating to determination of appropriate bargaining units within any agency. In making such determination the commission shall consider the duties, skills, and working conditions of the employees, the history of collective bargaining by the employees and their bargaining representatives, the extent of organization among the employees, and the desires of the employees. The public employment relations commission created in chapter 41.58 RCW shall adopt rules and make determinations relating to the certification and decertification of exclusive bargaining representatives. (2) Each and every provision of *RCW 41.56.045 through 41.56.051 shall be applicable to this chapter as it relates to state civil service employees. (3) A collective bargaining agreement entered into under RCW 41.06.150 before July 1, 2004, covering employees subject to RCW 41.80.001 and 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 that expires after July 1, 2004, shall remain in full force during its duration, or until superseded by a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the parties under RCW 41.80.001 and 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 . However, an agreement entered into before July 1, 2004, may not be renewed or extended beyond July 1, 2005, or until superseded by a collective bargaining agreement entered into under RCW 41.80.001 and 41.80.010 through 41.80.130 , whichever is later.
RCW 41.06.088 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 088
RCW 41.06.088: State internship program—Positions exempt from chapter.
Status: in_force

This chapter does not apply to positions under the state internship program established under RCW 43.06.410 .
RCW 41.06.186 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 186
RCW 41.06.186: Employee performance evaluations—Termination of employment—Rules.
Status: in_force

The director shall adopt rules designed to terminate the state employment of any employee whose performance is so inadequate as to warrant termination.
RCW 41.40.189 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 189
RCW 41.40.189: Retirement allowance—Adjustment eligibility.
Status: reserved

(1) A retiree who receives state-funded long-term care services on or after June 1, 1998, is not eligible for the increase provided by section 8, chapter 340, Laws of 1998, if the increase would make the retiree ineligible for state-funded long-term care services. For the purposes of this section "state-funded long-term care services" means a state-funded adult family home, adult residential care, assisted living, enhanced adult residential care, in-home care, or nursing home service, as defined in RCW 74.39A.009 , for which the retiree is required to contribute all income other than a specified amount reserved for the retiree's personal maintenance needs. Retirees who are subject to this section shall notify the department in writing. The department has no affirmative duty to identify retirees who are subject to this subsection. (2) This section applies to all payments under section 8, chapter 340, Laws of 1998, made on or after May 17, 1999, regardless of the date of retirement.
RCW 41.06.270 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 270
RCW 41.06.270: Salary withheld unless employment is in accord with chapter—Certification of payrolls, procedures.
Status: in_force

A disbursing officer shall not pay any employee holding a position covered by this chapter unless the employment is in accordance with this chapter or the rules, regulations and orders issued hereunder. The directors of enterprise services and financial management shall jointly establish procedures for the certification of payrolls.
RCW 41.37.170 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 37 / Section 170
RCW 41.37.170: Options for payment of retirement allowances—Court-approved property settlement.
Status: in_force

(1) Upon retirement for service as prescribed in RCW 41.37.210 or retirement for disability under RCW 41.37.230 , a member shall elect to have the retirement allowance paid pursuant to one of the following options, calculated so as to be actuarially equivalent to each other. (a) Standard allowance. A member electing this option shall receive a retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life. If the retiree dies before the total of the retirement allowance paid to the retiree equals the amount of the retiree's accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, then the balance shall be paid to the member's estate, or the person or persons, trust, or organization the retiree nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or if there is no designated person or persons still living at the time of the retiree's death, then to the surviving spouse; or if there is neither a designated person or persons still living at the time of death nor a surviving spouse, then to the retiree's legal representative. (b) The department shall adopt rules that allow a member to select a retirement option that pays the member a reduced retirement allowance and upon death, the portion of the member's reduced retirement allowance as the department by rule designates shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to a person nominated by the member by written designation duly executed and filed with the department at the time of retirement. The options adopted by the department shall include, but are not limited to, a joint and one hundred percent survivor option and a joint and fifty percent survivor option. (2)(a) A member, if married, must provide the written consent of his or her spouse to the option selected under this section, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. If a member is married and both the member and the member's spouse do not give written consent to an option under this section, the department shall pay a joint and fifty percent survivor benefit calculated to be actuarially equivalent to the benefit options available under subsection (1) of this section unless spousal consent is not required as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection. (b) Written consent from a spouse or domestic partner is not required if a member who is married or a domestic partner selects a joint and survivor option under subsection (1)(b) of this section and names the member's spouse or domestic partner as the survivor beneficiary. (c) If a copy of a dissolution order designating a survivor beneficiary under RCW 41.50.790 has been filed with the department at least thirty days prior to a member's retirement: (i) The department shall honor the designation as if made by the member under subsection (1) of this section; and (ii) The spousal consent provisions of (a) of this subsection do not apply. (3) The department shall adopt rules that allow a member additional actuarially equivalent survivor benefit options, and shall include, but are not limited to: (a)(i) A retired member who retired without designating a survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to designate their spouse from a postretirement marriage as a survivor during a one-year period beginning one year after the date of the postretirement marriage provided the retirement allowance payable to the retiree is not subject to periodic payments pursuant to a property division obligation as provided for in RCW 41.50.670 . (ii) A member who entered into a postretirement marriage prior to the effective date of the rules adopted pursuant to this subsection and satisfies the conditions of (a)(i) of this subsection shall have one year to designate their spouse as a survivor beneficiary following the adoption of the rules. (b) A retired member who elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance under this section and designated a nonspouse as survivor beneficiary shall have the opportunity to remove the survivor designation and have their future benefit adjusted. (c) The department may make an additional charge, if necessary, to ensure that the benefits provided under this subsection remain actuarially equivalent. (4) The department shall adopt rules to permit: (a) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made before retirement to provide that benefits payable to a member who meets the length of service requirements of RCW 41.37.210 and the member's divorcing spouse be divided into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse. The member shall have available the benefit options of subsection (1) of this section upon retirement, and if remarried at the time of retirement remains subject to the spousal consent requirements of subsection (2) of this section. Any reductions of the member's benefit subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. The nonmember ex spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefit upon reaching the age provided in RCW 41.37.210 (1) and after filing a written application with the department. (b) A court-approved property settlement incident to a court decree of dissolution made after retirement may only divide the benefit into two separate benefits payable over the life of each spouse if the nonmember ex spouse was selected as a survivor beneficiary at retirement. The retired member may later choose the survivor benefit options available in subsection (3) of this section. Any actuarial reductions subsequent to the division into two separate benefits shall be made solely to the separate benefit of the member. Both the retired member and the nonmember divorced spouse shall be eligible to commence receiving their separate benefits upon filing a copy of the dissolution order with the department in accordance with RCW 41.50.670 . (c) The department may make an additional charge or adjustment if necessary to ensure that the separate benefits provided under this subsection are actuarially equivalent to the benefits payable prior to the decree of dissolution. (5) Beginning on the date that the state receives a determination from the federal internal revenue service that this subsection (5) conforms with federal law, retirees have up to ninety calendar days after the receipt of their first retirement allowance to change their survivor election under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. If a member changes the member's survivor election under this subsection the change is effective the first of the following month and is prospective only.
RCW 41.20.020 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 020
RCW 41.20.020: Officers of board—Annual report.
Status: in_force

The mayor, or his or her designated representative, shall be ex officio chair, the clerk shall be ex officio secretary, and the treasurer shall be ex officio treasurer of said board. The secretary of said board, at the time of making his or her annual reports as said city clerk, shall annually report the condition of said fund, the receipts and disbursements on account of the same, together with a complete list of the beneficiaries of said fund, and the amounts paid to each of them.
RCW 41.06.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 070
RCW 41.06.070: Exemptions to chapter—Right of reversion.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2249.SL ) ***

(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to: (a) The members of the legislature or to any employee of, or position in, the legislative branch of the state government including members, officers, and employees of the legislative council, joint legislative audit and review committee, statute law committee, and any interim committee of the legislature; (b) The justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the superior courts or of the inferior courts, or to any employee of, or position in the judicial branch of state government; (c) Officers, academic personnel, and employees of technical colleges; (d) The officers of the Washington state patrol; (e) Elective officers of the state; (f) The chief executive officer of each agency; (g) In the departments of employment security and social and health services, the director and the director's confidential secretary; in all other departments, the executive head of which is an individual appointed by the governor, the director, his or her confidential secretary, and his or her statutory assistant directors; (h) In the case of a multimember board, commission, or committee, whether the members thereof are elected, appointed by the governor or other authority, serve ex officio, or are otherwise chosen: (i) All members of such boards, commissions, or committees; (ii) If the members of the board, commission, or committee serve on a part-time basis and there is a statutory executive officer: The secretary of the board, commission, or committee; the chief executive officer of the board, commission, or committee; and the confidential secretary of the chief executive officer of the board, commission, or committee; (iii) If the members of the board, commission, or committee serve on a full-time basis: The chief executive officer or administrative officer as designated by the board, commission, or committee; and a confidential secretary to the chair of the board, commission, or committee; (iv) If all members of the board, commission, or committee serve ex officio: The chief executive officer; and the confidential secretary of such chief executive officer; (i) The confidential secretaries and administrative assistants in the immediate offices of the elective officers of the state; (j) Assistant attorneys general; (k) Commissioned and enlisted personnel in the military service of the state; (l) Inmate, student, and temporary employees, and part-time professional consultants, as defined by the director; (m) Officers and employees of the Washington state fruit commission; (n) Officers and employees of the Washington apple commission; (o) Officers and employees of the Washington state dairy products commission; (p) Officers and employees of the Washington tree fruit research commission; (q) Officers and employees of the Washington state beef commission; (r) Officers and employees of the Washington grain commission; (s) Officers and employees of any commission formed under chapter 15.66 RCW; (t) Officers and employees of agricultural commissions formed under chapter 15.65 RCW; (u) Executive assistants for personnel administration and labor relations in all state agencies employing such executive assistants including but not limited to all departments, offices, commissions, committees, boards, or other bodies subject to the provisions of this chapter and this subsection shall prevail over any provision of law inconsistent herewith unless specific exception is made in such law; (v) In each agency with fifty or more employees: Deputy agency heads, assistant directors or division directors, and not more than three principal policy assistants who report directly to the agency head or deputy agency heads; (w) Staff employed by the department of commerce to administer energy policy functions; (x) The manager of the energy facility site evaluation council; (y) A maximum of ten staff employed by the department of commerce to administer innovation and policy functions, including the three principal policy assistants exempted under (v) of this subsection; (z) Staff employed by Washington State University to administer energy education, applied research, and technology transfer programs under RCW 43.21F.045 as provided in RCW 28B.30.900 (5); (aa) Officers and employees of Washington technology solutions created in RCW 43.105.006 that perform the following functions or duties: Systems integration; data center engineering and management; network systems engineering and management; information technology contracting; information technology customer relations management; and network and systems security; (bb) The executive director of the Washington statewide reentry council. (2) The following classifications, positions, and employees of institutions of higher education and related boards are hereby exempted from coverage of this chapter: (a) Members of the governing board of each institution of higher education and related boards, all presidents, vice presidents, and their confidential secretaries, administrative, and personal assistants; deans, directors, and chairs; academic personnel; and executive heads of major administrative or academic divisions employed by institutions of higher education; principal assistants to executive heads of major administrative or academic divisions; other managerial or professional employees in an institution or related board having substantial responsibility for directing or controlling program operations and accountable for allocation of resources and program results, or for the formulation of institutional policy, or for carrying out personnel administration or labor relations functions, legislative relations, public information, development, senior computer systems and network programming, or internal audits and investigations; and any employee of a community college district whose place of work is one which is physically located outside the state of Washington and who is employed pursuant to RCW 28B.50.092 and assigned to an educational program operating outside of the state of Washington; (b) The governing board of each institution, and related boards, may also exempt from this chapter classifications involving research activities, counseling of students, extension or continuing education activities, graphic arts or publications activities requiring prescribed academic preparation or special training as determined by the board: PROVIDED, That no nonacademic employee engaged in office, clerical, maintenance, or food and trade services may be exempted by the board under this provision; (c) Printing craft employees in the department of printing at the University of Washington. (3) In addition to the exemptions specifically provided by this chapter, the director may provide for further exemptions pursuant to the following procedures. The governor or other appropriate elected official may submit requests for exemption to the office of financial management stating the reasons for requesting such exemptions. The director shall hold a public hearing, after proper notice, on requests submitted pursuant to this subsection. If the director determines that the position for which exemption is requested is one involving substantial responsibility for the formulation of basic agency or executive policy or one involving directing and controlling program operations of an agency or a major administrative division thereof, or is a senior expert in enterprise information technology infrastructure, engineering, or systems, the director shall grant the request. The total number of additional exemptions permitted under this subsection shall not exceed one percent of the number of employees in the classified service not including employees of institutions of higher education and related boards for those agencies not directly under the authority of any elected public official other than the governor, and shall not exceed a total of twenty-five for all agencies under the authority of elected public officials other than the governor. (4) The salary and fringe benefits of all positions presently or hereafter exempted except for the chief executive officer of each agency, full-time members of boards and commissions, administrative assistants and confidential secretaries in the immediate office of an elected state official, and the personnel listed in subsections (1)(j) through (t) and (2) of this section, shall be determined by the director. Changes to the classification plan affecting exempt salaries must meet the same provisions for classified salary increases resulting from adjustments to the classification plan as outlined in RCW 41.06.152 . (5)(a) Any person holding a classified position subject to the provisions of this chapter shall, when and if such position is subsequently exempted from the application of this chapter, be afforded the following rights: If such person previously held permanent status in another classified position, such person shall have a right of reversion to the highest class of position previously held, or to a position of similar nature and salary. (b) Any classified employee having civil service status in a classified position who accepts an appointment in an exempt position shall have the right of reversion to the highest class of position previously held, or to a position of similar nature and salary. (c) A person occupying an exempt position who is terminated from the position for gross misconduct or malfeasance does not have the right of reversion to a classified position as provided for in this section. (6)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (5) of this section, a person cannot exercise the right of reversion to a classified position if the employee has been given written notice that they are the subject of an active workplace investigation in which the allegations being investigated, if founded, could result in a finding of gross misconduct or malfeasance. The right of reversion is suspended during the pendency of the investigation. For the purposes of this subsection, written notice includes notice sent by email to the employee's work email address. (b) The office of financial management must adopt rules implementing this section.
RCW 41.04.685 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 685
RCW 41.04.685: Uniformed service shared leave pool—Creation—Administration—Restrictions—Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) The uniformed service shared leave pool is created to allow employees to donate leave to be used as shared leave for any employee who has been called to service in the uniformed services and who meets the requirements of RCW 41.04.665 . Participation in the pool shall, at all times, be voluntary on the part of the employee. The military department, in consultation with the office of financial management, shall administer the uniformed service shared leave pool. (2) Employees as defined in subsection (10) of this section who are eligible to donate leave under RCW 41.04.665 may donate leave to the uniformed service shared leave pool. (3) An employee as defined in subsection (10) of this section who has been called to service in the uniformed services and is eligible for shared leave under RCW 41.04.665 may request shared leave from the uniformed service shared leave pool. (4) It shall be the responsibility of the employee who has been called to service to provide an earnings statement verifying military salary, orders of service, and notification of a change in orders of service or military salary. (5) Shared leave under this section may not be granted unless the pool has a sufficient balance to fund the requested shared leave for the expected term of service. (6) Shared leave paid under this section, in combination with military salary, shall not exceed the level of the employee's state monthly salary. (7) Any leave donated shall be removed from the personally accumulated leave balance of the employee donating the leave. (8) An employee who receives shared leave from the pool is not required to recontribute such leave to the pool, except as otherwise provided in this section. (9) Leave that may be donated or received by any one employee shall be calculated as in RCW 41.04.665 . (10) As used in this section: (a) "Employee" has the meaning provided in RCW 41.04.655 , except that "employee" as used in this section does not include employees of school districts and educational service districts. (b) "Service in the uniformed services" has the meaning provided in RCW 41.04.655 . (c) "Military salary" includes base, specialty, and other pay, but does not include allowances such as the basic allowance for housing. (d) "Monthly salary" includes monthly salary and special pay and shift differential, or the monthly equivalent for hourly employees. "Monthly salary" does not include: (i) Overtime pay; (ii) Call back pay; (iii) Standby pay; or (iv) Performance bonuses. (11) The office of financial management, in consultation with the military department, shall adopt rules and policies governing the donation and use of shared leave from the uniformed service shared leave pool, including definitions of pay and allowances and guidelines for agencies to use in recordkeeping concerning shared leave. (12) Agencies shall investigate any alleged abuse of the uniformed service shared leave pool and on a finding of wrongdoing, the employee may be required to repay all of the shared leave received from the uniformed service shared leave pool. (13) Higher education institutions shall adopt policies consistent with the needs of the employees under their respective jurisdictions.
RCW 41.24.100 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 100
RCW 41.24.100: Compelling attendance of witnesses—Oaths—Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The board of trustees herein, in addition to other powers herein granted, shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses to testify before it on all matters connected with the operation of this chapter, and its chair or any member of said board may administer oaths to such witnesses; to make all necessary rules and regulations for its guidance in conformity with the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no compensation or emoluments shall be paid to any member of said board of trustees for any duties performed under this chapter as such trustees.
RCW 41.50.155 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 155
RCW 41.50.155: Erroneous withdrawals of contributions—Restoration.
Status: in_force

(1) If a person receives a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from any of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 in contravention of the restrictions on withdrawal for the particular system, the member shall no longer be entitled to credit for the period of service represented by the withdrawn contributions. The erroneous withdrawal shall be treated as an authorized withdrawal, subject to all conditions imposed by the member's system for restoration of withdrawn contributions. Failure to restore the contributions within the time permitted by the system shall constitute a waiver by the member of any right to receive a retirement allowance based upon the period of service represented by the withdrawn contributions. (2) All erroneous withdrawals occurring prior to June 9, 1994, shall be subject to the provisions of this section. The deadline for restoring the prior erroneous withdrawals shall be five years from June 9, 1994, for members who are currently active members of a system.
RCW 41.22.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 010
RCW 41.22.010: Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The career of a police officer is highly stressful, resulting in unacceptable rates of divorce, alcoholism, low morale and suicide. The nature of law enforcement work requires that much information be kept confidential, unfairly burdening the emotional capacity of law enforcement personnel. Police officers may become the hidden victims of society because of their daily work with crisis. The legislature finds that law enforcement chaplains can provide emotional support for law enforcement personnel, including counseling, stress management, and family life counseling. The legislature also finds that law enforcement chaplains can serve as a crisis intervention resource for personnel of police, fire, and corrections departments, and medical examiners or coroners.
RCW 41.40.035 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 035
RCW 41.40.035: Service credit prohibited for certain members of committees, boards, and commissions and for certain appointive and elective officials.
Status: in_force

(1) No person appointed to membership on any committee, board, or commission on or after July 1, 1976, who is compensated for service on such committee, board, or commission for fewer than ten days or seventy hours in any month, whichever amount is less, shall receive service credit for such service for that month: PROVIDED, That on and after October 1, 1977, appointive and elective officials who receive monthly compensation earnable from an employer in an amount equal to or less than ninety times the state minimum hourly wage shall not receive any service credit for such employment. (2) No person appointed on or after June 9, 2022, to membership on any committee, board, or commission described in RCW 43.03.220 may receive service credit for service on such committee, board, or commission due to the payment of a stipend or allowance as authorized under RCW 43.03.220 . (3) This section does not apply to any person serving on a committee, board, or commission on June 30, 1976, who continued such service until subsequently appointed by the governor to a different committee, board, or commission.
RCW 41.56.905 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 905
RCW 41.56.905: Uniformed personnel—Provisions additional—Liberal construction.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter are intended to be additional to other remedies and shall be liberally construed to accomplish their purpose. Except as provided in RCW 53.18.015 , 41.58.070 , 43.101.095 , and 43.101.135 , if any provision of this chapter conflicts with any other statute, ordinance, rule or regulation of any public employer, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
RCW 41.40.1986 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 1986
RCW 41.40.1986: Permanent increase for specified beneficiaries age seventy or over.
Status: in_force

(1) The amount of the July 1, 1993, increase to the retirement allowance of beneficiaries under this chapter as a result of the temporary adjustment authorized by section 3, chapter 519, Laws of 1993, shall be made a permanent adjustment on July 1, 1995. (2) Beneficiaries receiving a benefit under *RCW 41.40.198 who are at least age seventy-nine shall receive on July 1, 1995, a permanent adjustment of one dollar and eighteen cents per month per year of service. (3) Beneficiaries under this chapter who are not subject to subsection (1) of this section and are not receiving a benefit under *RCW 41.40.198 shall receive the following permanent adjustment to their retirement allowance on July 1, 1995: (a) Those who are age seventy, thirty-nine cents per month per year of service; (b) Those who are age seventy-one, seventy-nine cents per month per year of service; and (c) Those who are at least age seventy-two, one dollar and eighteen cents per month per year of service.
RCW 41.56.145 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 145
RCW 41.56.145: Application of chapter to charter schools.
Status: in_force

In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to any charter school established under chapter 28A.710 RCW. Any charter school established under chapter 28A.710 RCW is a separate employer from any school district, including the school district in which it is located.
RCW 41.06.040 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 040
RCW 41.06.040: Scope of chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter apply to: (1) Each board, commission or other multimember body, including, but not limited to, those consisting in whole or in part of elective officers; (2) Each agency, and each employee and position therein, not expressly excluded or exempted under the provisions of RCW 41.06.070 or otherwise excluded or exempted in this chapter.
RCW 41.05A.250 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05A / Section 250
RCW 41.05A.250: Duties of director of labor and industries.
Status: in_force

The director of labor and industries or the director's designee, or a self-insurer as defined in chapter 51.08 RCW, following receipt of the lien and notice to withhold and deliver, shall deliver to the director of the authority or the director's designee any temporary total disability compensation payable to the recipient named in the lien and notice to withhold and deliver up to the amount claimed. The director of labor and industries or self-insurer shall withhold and deliver from funds currently in the director's or self-insurer's possession or from any funds that may at any time come into the director's or self-insurer's possession on account of temporary total disability compensation payable to the recipient named in the lien and notice to withhold and deliver.
RCW 41.24.200 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 200
RCW 41.24.200: Service need not be continuous nor in a single department or agency.
Status: in_force

The aggregate term of service of any participant need not be continuous nor need it be confined to a single fire department or law enforcement agency nor a single municipality in this state to entitle such participant to a retirement pension if the participant has been duly enrolled in a fire department or law enforcement agency of a municipality which has elected to extend the retirement pension provisions of this chapter to its firefighters or reserve officers at the time he or she becomes eligible for the retirement pension and has paid all fees prescribed. To be eligible to the full pension a participant must have an aggregate of twenty-five years service, have made twenty-five annual payments into the fund, and be sixty-five years of age at the time the participant commences drawing the pension provided for by this chapter, all of which twenty-five years service must have been in the fire department or law enforcement agency of a municipality or municipalities which have elected to extend the retirement pension provisions of this chapter to its firefighters or reserve officers. Nothing in this chapter shall require any participant having twenty-five years active service to continue as a firefighter or reserve officer and no participant who has completed twenty-five years of active service for which annual retirement pension fees have been paid and who continues as a firefighter or reserve officer shall be required to pay any additional annual pension fees.
RCW 41.32.862 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 32 / Section 862
RCW 41.32.862: Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by a plan under RCW 28B.10.400—Reestablishment of membership.
Status: in_force

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(1)(a) If a retiree enters employment with an employer sooner than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, the retiree's monthly retirement allowance will be reduced by five and one-half percent for every seven hours worked during that month. This reduction will be applied each month until the retiree remains absent from employment with an employer for one full calendar month. (b) The benefit reduction provided in (a) of this subsection will accrue for a maximum of one hundred forty hours per month. Any benefit reduction over one hundred percent will be applied to the benefit the retiree is eligible to receive in subsequent months. (2)(a) A retiree who has satisfied the break in employment requirement of subsection (1) of this section, may work up to eight hundred sixty-seven hours per calendar year in an eligible position, as defined in RCW 41.32.010 , 41.35.010 , 41.37.010 , or 41.40.010 , or as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, as defined in RCW 41.26.030 , or in a position covered by annuity and retirement income plans offered by institutions of higher education pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400 , without suspension of his or her benefit. (b)(i) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retired teacher or retired administrator who reenters employment more than one month after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year. (ii) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retiree that retired before January 1, 2022, and who enters service in a second-class school district, as defined in RCW 28A.300.065 , as either a district superintendent or an in-school administrator shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year. (iii) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this subsection (2)(b) in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than 867 hours in a calendar year without a reduction of his or her pension. (3) If the retiree opts to reestablish membership under RCW 41.32.044 , he or she terminates his or her retirement status and immediately becomes a member. Retirement benefits shall not accrue during the period of membership and the individual shall make contributions and receive membership credit. Such a member shall have the right to again retire if eligible.
RCW 41.50.235 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 235
RCW 41.50.235: Teachers' retirement system salary deductions.
Status: in_force

Every officer authorized to issue salary warrants to teachers shall deduct from the salary payments to any member of the Washington state teachers' retirement system plan 1 regularly employed an amount which will result in total deductions of six percent of the amount of earnable compensation paid in any fiscal year. These deductions shall be transmitted and reported to the retirement system as directed by the department.
RCW 41.34.070 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 34 / Section 070
RCW 41.34.070: Distribution options.
Status: in_force

(1) If the member retires, becomes disabled, or otherwise terminates employment, the balance in the member's account may be distributed in accordance with an option selected by the member either as a lump sum or pursuant to other options authorized by the department. (2) If the member dies while in service, the balance of the member's account may be distributed in accordance with an option selected by the member either as a lump sum or pursuant to other options authorized by the department. The distribution is as follows: (a) The distribution shall be made to such person or persons as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; (b) If there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, the balance of the member's account in the retirement system, less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal of such account balance 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; (c) If there is no surviving spouse, then to such person or persons, trust, or organization as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department; or (d) 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. (3) If a member has a terminal illness and terminates from employment, the member may choose to have the balance in the member's account distributed as a lump sum payment based on the most recent valuation in order to expedite the distribution. The department shall make this payment within ten working days after receipt of notice of termination of employment, documentation verifying the terminal illness, and an application for payment. (4) The distribution under subsections (1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be less any amount identified as owing to an obligee upon withdrawal pursuant to a court order filed under RCW 41.50.670 .
RCW 41.14.120 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 120
RCW 41.14.120: Removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge—Procedure—Appeal.
Status: in_force

No person in the classified civil service who has been permanently appointed or inducted into civil service under provisions of this chapter, shall be removed, suspended, demoted, or discharged except for cause, and only upon written accusation of the appointing power or any citizen or taxpayer; a written statement of which accusation, in general terms, shall be served upon the accused, and a duplicate filed with the commission. Any person so removed, suspended, discharged, or demoted may within ten days from the time of his or her removal, suspension, discharge, or demotion file with the commission a written demand for an investigation, whereupon the commission shall conduct such investigation. Upon receipt of the written demand for an investigation, the commission shall within ten days set a date for a public hearing which will be held within thirty days from the date of receipt. The investigation shall be confined to the determination of the question of whether the removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge was made in good faith for cause. After such investigation the commission shall render a written decision within ten days and may affirm the removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge, or if it finds that removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge was not made in good faith for cause, shall order the immediate reinstatement or reemployment of such person in the office, place, position, or employment from which he or she was removed, suspended, demoted, or discharged, which reinstatement shall, if the commission so provides, be retroactive, and entitle such person to pay or compensation from the time of the removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge. The commission upon such investigation, in lieu of affirming a removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge, may modify the order by directing the removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge without pay, for a given period, and subsequent restoration to duty, or demotion in classification, grade, or pay. The findings of the commission shall be certified, in writing to the appointing power, and shall be forthwith enforced by such officer. All investigations made by the commission pursuant to this section shall be by public hearing, after reasonable notice to the accused of the time and place thereof, at which hearing the accused shall be afforded an opportunity of appearing in person and by counsel, and presenting his or her defense. If order of removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge is concurred in by the commission or a majority thereof, the accused may appeal therefrom to the superior court of the county wherein he or she resides. Such appeal shall be taken by serving the commission, within thirty days after the entry of its order, a written notice of appeal, stating the grounds thereof, and demanding that a certified transcript of the record and of all papers on file in the office of the commission affecting or relating to its order, be filed by the commission with the court. The commission shall, within ten days after the filing of the notice, make, certify, and file such transcript with the court. The court shall thereupon proceed to hear and determine the appeal in a summary manner. Such hearing shall be confined to the determination of whether the order of removal, suspension, demotion, or discharge made by the commission, was or was not made in good faith for cause, and no appeal shall be taken except upon such ground or grounds. The decision of the superior court may be appealed to the supreme court or the court of appeals.
RCW 41.56.105 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 105
RCW 41.56.105: Fish and wildlife officers—Application of chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to the state with respect to fish and wildlife officers except the state may not negotiate any matters relating to retirement benefits or health care benefits or other employee insurance benefits. (2) For the purposes of negotiating wages, wage-related matters, and nonwage matters, the state shall be represented by the governor or the governor's designee who is appointed under RCW 41.80.010 , and costs of the negotiations under this section shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 41.80.140 . (3) Fish and wildlife officers shall be excluded from the coalition bargaining for a master agreement of all exclusive bargaining representatives of fewer than five hundred employees under chapter 41.80 RCW. (4) The governor or the governor's designee shall consult with the director of fish and wildlife regarding collective bargaining. (5) The negotiation of provisions pertaining to wages and wage-related matters in a collective bargaining agreement between the state and the bargaining representatives of the fish and wildlife officers is subject to the following: (a) The state's bargaining representative must periodically consult with the committee of the joint committee on employment relations created in RCW 41.80.007 or any such successor committee for the joint committee on employment relations; and (b) Provisions that are entered into before the legislature approves the funds necessary to implement the provisions are conditioned upon the legislature's subsequent approval of the funds. (6) The governor shall submit a request for funds necessary to implement the wage and wage-related matters in the collective bargaining agreement or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement. Requests for funds necessary to implement the provisions of bargaining agreements may not be submitted to the legislature by the governor unless such requests: (a) Have been submitted to the director of financial management by October 1st before the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered; and (b) Have been certified by the director of financial management as being feasible financially for the state or reflects the decision of an arbitration panel reached under *RCW 41.56.562 .
RCW 41.72.050 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 72 / Section 050
RCW 41.72.050: Law enforcement medal of honor—Design.
Status: in_force

The decoration of the state law enforcement medal of honor shall be bronze and shall consist of a police shield overlaid by a sheriff's star with the seal of the state of Washington in the center and the words "law enforcement medal of honor" within the design and suspended from a ring attached by either a navy blue ribbon with a gold edge or a green ribbon with a gold edge. Such color choice shall be the recipient's. The reverse of the decoration shall be inscribed with the words "For exceptionally honorable and meritorious conduct in performing services as a law enforcement officer."
RCW 41.06.160 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 06 / Section 160
RCW 41.06.160: Classification and salary schedules to consider rates in other public and private employment—Wage and fringe benefits surveys—Limited public disclosure exemption.
Status: in_force

In preparing classification and salary schedules as set forth in RCW 41.06.150 the office of financial management shall give full consideration to prevailing rates in other public employment and in private employment in this state. For this purpose the department shall undertake comprehensive salary and fringe benefit surveys. Salary and fringe benefit survey information collected from private employers which identifies a specific employer with the salary and fringe benefit rates which that employer pays to its employees shall not be subject to public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
RCW 41.59.010 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 59 / Section 010
RCW 41.59.010: Purpose.
Status: in_force

It is the purpose of this chapter to prescribe certain rights and obligations of the educational employees of the school districts of the state of Washington, and to establish procedures governing the relationship between such employees and their employers which are designed to meet the special requirements and needs of public employment in education.
RCW 41.58.803 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 58 / Section 803
RCW 41.58.803: Continuation and savings.
Status: in_force

On January 1, 1976, all rules and regulations, and all business pending before the agencies or divisions thereof from whom functions are transferred pursuant to chapter 296, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and which pertain to such functions shall be continued and acted upon by the commission. All existing contracts and obligations pertaining to such functions shall remain in full force and effect, but shall be performed by the commission in lieu of the agency from whom the functions are transferred. The transfer of any functions shall not affect the validity of any act performed by such agency or division thereof or any officer or employee thereof prior to the effective date of the transferral of such functions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of *this act, contracts or agreements are authorized between the commission and other agencies with respect to functions transferred from other agencies pursuant to chapter 296, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. Such contract or agreement may provide for an employee or employees of such other agencies or other person or persons to continue to provide services relating to pending business which is transferred to the commission as of January 1, 1976, until such pending business is completed.
RCW 41.22.030 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 030
RCW 41.22.030: Local law enforcement agencies—Volunteer chaplains authorized.
Status: in_force

The legislature authorizes local law enforcement agencies to use the services of volunteer chaplains associated with an agency.
RCW 41.56.575 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 56 / Section 575
RCW 41.56.575: Commercial nuclear plants—Application of chapter to certain employees.
Status: in_force

(1) In order to assure the uninterrupted and dedicated service of employees employed by employees of operators of certain commercial nuclear plants, the provisions of *RCW 41.56.501 through 41.56.535 , 41.56.540 , and 41.56.545 shall apply to the operating and maintenance employees of a joint operating agency as defined in RCW 43.52.250 who are employed at a commercial nuclear power plant operating under a site certificate issued under chapter 80.50 RCW, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. (2) In making its determination, the arbitration panel shall take into consideration the following factors: (a) The constitutional and statutory authority of the employer; (b) Stipulations of the parties; (c) A comparison of the wages, benefits, hours of work, and working conditions of the personnel involved in the proceeding with those of like personnel in relevant Washington labor markets. For classifications not found in Washington, the comparison shall be made with similar personnel in the states of California and Arizona, taking into account the relative differences in the cost of living; (d) Economic indices, fiscal constraints, relative differences in the cost of living, and similar factors determined by the arbitration panel to be pertinent to the case; (e) Other factors, not confined to the factors under (a) through (d) of this subsection, that are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of wages, benefits, hours of work, and working conditions.
RCW 41.50.205 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 50 / Section 205
RCW 41.50.205: Records—Teachers' retirement system annual report.
Status: in_force

The department shall keep a record of all its proceedings, which shall be open to public inspection. It shall publish annually a report showing the fiscal transactions of the Washington state teachers' retirement system for the preceding school year; the amount of the accumulated cash and securities of the system, and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of the system by means of an actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of the retirement system.
RCW 41.26.490 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 26 / Section 490
RCW 41.26.490: Application for and effective date of retirement allowances.
Status: in_force

Any member or beneficiary eligible to receive a retirement allowance under the provisions of RCW 41.26.430 , 41.26.470 , or 41.26.510 shall be eligible to commence receiving a retirement allowance after having filed written application with the department. (1) Retirement allowances paid to members under the provisions of RCW 41.26.430 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such member's separation from service. (2) Retirement allowances paid to vested members no longer in service, but qualifying for such an allowance pursuant to RCW 41.26.430 , shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such qualification. (3) Disability allowances paid to disabled members under the provisions of RCW 41.26.470 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following such member's separation from service for disability. (4) Retirement allowances paid as death benefits under the provisions of RCW 41.26.510 shall accrue from the first day of the calendar month immediately following the member's death. (5) A person is separated from service on the date a person has terminated all employment with an employer.
RCW 41.05.320 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 05 / Section 320
RCW 41.05.320: Salary reduction plan—Eligibility—Participation, withdrawal.
Status: in_force

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(1) Elected officials and permanent employees and school employees are eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan and reduce their salary by agreement with the authority. The authority may adopt rules to: (a) Limit the participation of employing agencies and their employees in the plan; and (b) permit participation in the plan by temporary employees and school employees. (2) Persons eligible under subsection (1) of this section may enter into salary reduction agreements with the state. (3)(a) An eligible person may become a participant of the salary reduction plan for a full plan year with annual benefit plan selection for each new plan year made before the beginning of the plan year, as determined by the authority, or upon becoming eligible. (b) Once an eligible person elects to participate in the salary reduction plan and determines the amount his or her gross salary shall be reduced and the benefit plan for which the funds are to be used during the plan year, the agreement shall be irrevocable and may not be amended during the plan year except as provided in (c) of this subsection. Prior to making an election to participate in the salary reduction plan, the eligible person shall be informed in writing of all the benefits and reductions that will occur as a result of such election. (c) The authority shall provide in the salary reduction plan that a participant may enroll, terminate, or change his or her election after the plan year has begun if there is a significant change in a participant's status, as provided by 26 U.S.C. Sec. 125 and the regulations adopted under that section and defined by the authority. (4) The authority shall establish as part of the salary reduction plan the procedures for and effect of withdrawal from the plan by reason of retirement, death, leave of absence, or termination of employment. To the extent possible under federal law, the authority shall protect participants from forfeiture of rights under the plan. (5) Any reduction of salary under the salary reduction plan shall not reduce the reportable compensation for the purpose of computing the state retirement and pension benefits earned by the public employee pursuant to chapters 41.26 , 41.32, 41.35, 41.37, 41.40, and 43.43 RCW.
RCW 41.04.510 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 510
RCW 41.04.510: Disability leave supplement for law enforcement officers and firefighters—Payment.
Status: in_force

The disability leave supplement shall be paid as follows: (1) The disability leave supplement shall begin on the sixth calendar day from the date of the injury or illness which entitles the employee to benefits under RCW 51.32.090 . For the purposes of this section, the day of injury shall constitute the first calendar day. (2) One-half of the amount of the supplement as defined in RCW 41.04.505 shall be charged against the accrued paid leave of the employee. In computing such charge, the employer shall convert accumulated days, or other time units as the case may be, to a money equivalent based on the base monthly salary of the employee at the time of the injury or illness. "Base monthly salary" for the purposes of this section means the amount earned by the employee before any voluntary or involuntary payroll deductions, and not including overtime pay. (3) One-half of the amount of the supplement as defined in RCW 41.04.505 shall be paid by the employer. If an employee has no accrued paid leave at the time of an injury or illness which entitles him or her to benefits under RCW 51.32.090 , or if accrued paid leave is exhausted during the period of disability, the employee shall receive only that portion of the disability leave supplement prescribed by subsection (3) of this section.
RCW 41.24.280 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 280
RCW 41.24.280: State board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers—Attorney general is legal advisor.
Status: in_force

The attorney general shall be the legal advisor for the state board.
RCW 41.40.057 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 057
RCW 41.40.057: Establishment of service credit—Current and former employees—Employers admitted after July 23, 1995.
Status: in_force

(1) This section applies to the establishment of membership service with employers admitted to the retirement system after July 23, 1995. (2) For current employees, membership service may be established for periods of employment with an employer prior to the employer's admission into the retirement system by making the payments required by this section. The employer must select one of the options in this subsection and apply it uniformly, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section. The required payment shall include the total member and employer contributions that would have been required from the date of each current member's hire. (a) Option A: The employer makes all the required payments within fifteen years from the date of the employer's admission. (b) Option B: The employer makes a portion of the required payments and the member pays the balance. The employer shall not be required to make its payments until the member has made his or her payments. Each member shall have the option to purchase the membership service. (c) Option C: The member makes all of the required payments. Each member shall have the option to purchase the membership service. All payments under options B and C of this subsection must be completed within five years from the date of the employer's admission, or prior to the retirement of the member, whichever occurs sooner. A member may not receive membership service credit under option B or C of this subsection until all required payments have been made. (3) An employer shall not be required to purchase membership service under option A or B for periods of employment for which the employer made contributions to a qualified retirement plan as defined by 26 U.S.C. Sec. 401(a), if the contributions plus interest accrued cannot be transferred to the retirement system. If the employer does not purchase the membership credit under this subsection, the member may purchase the membership service under subsection (2)(c) of this section. (4) A former employee who is an active member of the system and is not covered by subsection (2) of this section may establish membership service by making the required payments under subsection (2)(c) of this section prior to the retirement of the member. (5) All payments made by the member under this section shall be placed in the member's individual account in the members' savings fund or the member's account for those members entering plan 3.
RCW 41.24.250 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 250
RCW 41.24.250: State board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers—Composition—Terms—Vacancies—Oath.
Status: in_force

The state board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers is created to consist of five members who are participants under this chapter, at least three of whom are not receiving relief or retirement pension payments under this chapter, no two of whom shall be from the same congressional district. The members are appointed by the governor to serve overlapping terms of six years. Of members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of six years, one for five years, one for four years, one for three years, and one for two years. The governor may consider participants who are recommended for appointment by the appropriate state associations. Upon the expiration of a term, a successor shall be appointed by the governor for a term of six years. Any vacancy shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term. Each member of the state board, before entering on the performance of his or her duties, shall take an oath that he or she will not knowingly violate or willingly permit the violation of any provision of law applicable to this chapter, which oath shall be filed with the secretary of state. The state board is not unlawfully constituted and a member of the board is not ineligible to serve the remainder of the member's unexpired term on the board solely by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts.
RCW 41.35.190 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 35 / Section 190
RCW 41.35.190: Effect of certain accumulated vacation leave on retirement benefits.
Status: in_force

RCW 43.01.044 shall not result in any increase in retirement benefits. The rights extended to state officers and employees under RCW 43.01.044 are not intended to and shall not have any effect on retirement benefits under this chapter.
RCW 41.04.540 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 04 / Section 540
RCW 41.04.540: Disability leave supplement for law enforcement officers and firefighters—Supplement not required in smaller cities, towns, and counties.
Status: in_force

Cities and towns with a population of less than twenty-five hundred and counties with a population of less than ten thousand shall not be required to provide a disability leave supplement to their commissioned law enforcement officers and full-time paid firefighters who qualify for payments pursuant to RCW 51.32.090 , due to temporary total disability.
RCW 41.40.037 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 40 / Section 037
RCW 41.40.037: Service by retirees—Break in employment requirement—Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment—Reestablishment of membership.
Status: in_force

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

(1)(a) If a retiree enters employment with an employer sooner than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, the retiree's monthly retirement allowance will be reduced by five and one-half percent for every eight hours worked during that month. This reduction will be applied each month until the retiree remains absent from employment with an employer for one full calendar month. (b) The benefit reduction provided in (a) of this subsection will accrue for a maximum of one hundred sixty hours per month. Any benefit reduction over one hundred percent will be applied to the benefit the retiree is eligible to receive in subsequent months. (2)(a) A retiree from plan 1, plan 2, or plan 3 who has satisfied the break in employment requirement of subsection (1) of this section may work up to eight hundred sixty-seven hours per calendar year in an eligible position, as defined in RCW 41.32.010 , 41.35.010 , 41.37.010 , or 41.40.010 , or as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, as defined in RCW 41.26.030 , or in a position covered by annuity and retirement income plans offered by institutions of higher education pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400 , without suspension of his or her benefit. (b) Between March 23, 2022, and January 1, 2030, a retiree, including a retiree who has retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.40.630 (3)(b) or 41.40.820 (3)(b), who reenters employment more than 100 days after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year. (c) Between April 14, 2023, and July 1, 2026, a retiree, including a retiree who has retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.40.630 (3)(b) or 41.40.820 (3)(b), and who enters service in a nonadministrative position as a licensed nurse for a state agency, shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year. (3) If the retiree opts to reestablish membership under RCW 41.40.023 (12), he or she terminates his or her retirement status and becomes a member. Retirement benefits shall not accrue during the period of membership and the individual shall make contributions and receive membership credit. Such a member shall have the right to again retire if eligible in accordance with RCW 41.40.180 . However, if the right to retire is exercised to become effective before the member has rendered two uninterrupted years of service, the retirement formula and survivor options the member had at the time of the member's previous retirement shall be reinstated. (4) The department shall collect and provide the state actuary with information relevant to the use of this section for the select committee on pension policy. (5) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than five months in a calendar year without a reduction of his or her pension.
RCW 41.07.901 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 07 / Section 901
RCW 41.07.901: Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 239.
Status: in_force

This 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 July 1, 1975.
RCW 41.80.320 — Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 80 / Section 320
RCW 41.80.320: Interest arbitration panel—Appointment—Hearing—Written determination.
Status: reserved

(1) Within ten working days after the first Monday in September of every odd-numbered year, the state's bargaining representative and the exclusive bargaining representative for the appropriate bargaining unit shall attempt to agree on an interest arbitration panel consisting of three members to be used if the parties are not successful in negotiating a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement. Each party shall name one person to serve as its arbitrator on the arbitration panel. The two members so appointed shall meet within seven days following the appointment of the later appointed member to attempt to choose a third member to act as the neutral chair of the arbitration panel. Upon the failure of the arbitrators to select a neutral chair within seven days, the two appointed members shall use one of the two following options in the appointment of the third member, who shall act as chair of the panel: (a) By mutual consent, the two appointed members may jointly request the commission to, and the commission shall, appoint a third member within two days of such a request. Costs of each party's appointee shall be borne by each party respectively; other costs of the arbitration proceedings shall be borne by the commission; or (b) either party may apply to the commission, the federal mediation and conciliation service, or the American arbitration association to provide a list of five qualified arbitrators from which the neutral chair shall be chosen. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its arbitrator, and the fees and expenses of the neutral chair shall be shared equally between the parties. (2) Immediately upon selecting an interest arbitration panel, the parties shall cooperate to reserve dates with the arbitration panel for potential arbitration between August 1st and September 15th of the following even-numbered year. The parties shall also prepare a schedule of at least five negotiation dates for the following year, absent an agreement to the contrary. The parties shall execute a written agreement before November 1st of each odd-numbered year setting forth the names of the members of the arbitration panel and the dates reserved for bargaining and arbitration. This subsection imposes minimum obligations only and is not intended to define or limit a party's full, good faith bargaining obligation under other sections of this chapter. (3) If the parties are not successful in negotiating a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement, a hearing shall be held. The hearing shall be informal and each party shall have the opportunity to present evidence and make argument. No member of the arbitration panel may present the case for a party to the proceedings. The rules of evidence prevailing in judicial proceedings may be considered, but are not binding, and any oral testimony or documentary evidence or other data deemed relevant by the chair of the arbitration panel may be received in evidence. A recording of the proceedings shall be taken. The arbitration panel has the power to administer oaths, require the attendance of witnesses, and require the production of such books, papers, contracts, agreements, and documents as may be deemed by the panel to be material to a just determination of the issues in dispute. If any person refuses to obey a subpoena issued by the arbitration panel, or refuses to be sworn or to make an affirmation to testify, or any witness, party, or attorney for a party is guilty of any contempt while in attendance at any hearing held under this section, the arbitration panel may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court in the county where the labor dispute exists, and the court has jurisdiction to issue an appropriate order. Any failure to obey the order may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. The hearing conducted by the arbitration panel shall be concluded within twenty-five days following the selection or designation of the neutral chair of the arbitration panel, unless the parties agree to a longer period. (4) The neutral chair shall consult with the other members of the arbitration panel, and, within thirty days following the conclusion of the hearing, the neutral chair shall make written findings of fact and a written determination of the issues in dispute, based on the evidence presented. A copy thereof shall be served on the commission, on each of the other members of the arbitration panel, and on each of the parties to the dispute. (5) Except as provided in this subsection, the written determination shall be final and binding upon both parties. (a) The written determination is subject to review by the superior court upon the application of either party solely upon the question of whether the decision of the panel was arbitrary or capricious. (b) The written determination is not binding on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the funds necessary to implement provisions pertaining to compensation and fringe benefits of an arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, is not binding on the state. (6) The arbitration panel may consider only matters that are subject to bargaining under this chapter.