S-743                 _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5347

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

 

By Senators Bottiger, Johnson, Vognild, Gaspard, von Reichbauer, Bender, Pullen, Talmadge and Conner

 

 

Read first time 1/23/87 and referred to Committee on  Ways & Means.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system; and amending RCW 41.26.030, 41.26.120, 41.26.125, 41.26.430, 41.26.450, 41.26.470, and 41.26.510.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 3, chapter 209, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 5, chapter 13, Laws of 1985 and RCW 41.26.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

          (1) "Retirement system" means the "Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system" provided herein.

          (2) (a) "Employer" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means the legislative authority of any city, town, county or district or the elected officials of any municipal corporation that employs any law enforcement officer and/or fire fighter, any authorized association of such municipalities, and, except for the purposes of RCW 41.26.150, any labor guild, association, or organization, which represents the fire fighters or law enforcement officers of at least seven cities of over 20,000 population and the membership of each local lodge or division of which is composed of at least sixty percent law enforcement officers or fire fighters as defined in this chapter.

          (b) "Employer" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means the legislative authority of any city, town, county, or district or the elected officials of any municipal corporation that employs any law enforcement officer and/or fire fighter.

          (3) "Law enforcement officer" means any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis as a county sheriff or deputy sheriff, including sheriffs or deputy sheriffs serving under a different title pursuant to a county charter, city police officer, or town marshal or deputy marshal, with the following qualifications:

          (a) No person who is serving in a position that is basically clerical or secretarial in nature, and who is not commissioned shall be considered a law enforcement officer;

          (b) Only those deputy sheriffs, including those serving under a different title pursuant to county charter, who have successfully completed a civil service examination for deputy sheriff or the equivalent position, where a different title is used, and those persons serving in unclassified positions authorized by RCW 41.14.070 except a private secretary will be considered law enforcement officers;

          (c) Only such full time commissioned law enforcement personnel as have been appointed to offices, positions, or ranks in the police department which have been specifically created or otherwise expressly provided for and designated by city charter provision or by ordinance enacted by the legislative body of the city shall be considered city police officers; and

          (d) The term "law enforcement officer" also includes the executive secretary of a labor guild, association  or organization (which is an employer under RCW 41.26.030(2) as now or hereafter amended) if such individual has five years previous membership in the retirement system established in chapter 41.20 RCW:  PROVIDED, That for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply.

          (4) "Fire fighter" means:

          (a) any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis as a member of a fire department of an employer and who is serving in a position which requires passing a civil service examination for fire fighter, or fireman if this title is used by the department, and who is actively employed as such;

          (b) anyone who is actively employed as a full time fire fighter where the fire department does not have a civil service examination;

          (c) supervisory fire fighter personnel;

          (d) any full time executive secretary of an association of fire protection districts authorized under RCW 52.12.031:  PROVIDED, That for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply;

          (e) the executive secretary of a labor guild, association or organization (which is an employer under RCW 41.26.030(2) as now or hereafter amended), if such individual has five years previous membership in a retirement system established in chapter 41.16 or 41.18 RCW:  PROVIDED, That for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply;

          (f) any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis for an employer, as a fire dispatcher, in a department in which, on March 1, 1970, a dispatcher was required to have passed a civil service examination for fireman or fire fighter; and

          (g) any person who on March 1, 1970, was employed on a full time, fully compensated basis by an employer, and who on May 21, 1971 was making retirement contributions under the provisions of chapter 41.16 or 41.18 RCW.

          (5) "Retirement board"  means the Washington public employees' retirement system board established in chapter 41.40 RCW, including two members of the retirement system and two employer representatives as provided for in RCW 41.26.050.  The retirement board shall be called the Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement board and may enter in legal relationships in that name.  Any legal relationships entered into in that name prior to the adoption of this 1972 amendatory act are hereby ratified.

          (6) "Surviving spouse" means the surviving widow or widower of a member.  The word shall not include the divorced spouse of a member.

          (7) "Child" or "children" whenever used in this chapter means every natural born child and stepchild where that relationship was in existence prior to the date benefits are payable under this chapter, posthumous child, child legally adopted or made a legal ward of a member prior to the date benefits are payable under this chapter, and illegitimate child legitimized prior to the date any benefits are payable under this chapter, all while unmarried, and either under the age of eighteen years or mentally or physically handicapped as determined by the retirement board except a handicapped person in the full time care of a state institution.  A person shall also be deemed to be a child up to and including the age of twenty years and eleven months while attending any high school, college, or vocational or other educational institution accredited, licensed, or approved by the state, in which it is located, including the summer vacation months and all other normal and regular vacation periods at the particular educational institution after which the child returns to school.

          (8) "Member" means any fire fighter, law enforcement officer, or other person as would apply under subsections    (3) or (4) of this section whose membership is transferred to the Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system on or after March 1, 1970, and every law enforcement officer and fire fighter who is employed in that capacity on or after such date.

          (9) "Retirement fund" means the "Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system fund" as provided for herein.

          (10) "Employee" means any law enforcement officer or fire fighter as defined in subsections (3) and (4) above.

          (11) (a) "Beneficiary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means any person in receipt of a retirement allowance, disability allowance, death benefit, or any other benefit described herein.

          (b) "Beneficiary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means any person in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer by another person.

          (12) (a) "Final average salary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means (i) for a member holding the same position or rank for a minimum of twelve months preceding the date of retirement, the basic salary attached to such same position or rank at time of retirement; (ii) for any other member, including a civil service member who has not served a minimum of twelve months in the same position or rank preceding the date of retirement, the average of the greatest basic salaries payable to such member during any consecutive twenty-four month period within such member's last ten years of service for which service credit is allowed, computed by dividing the total basic salaries payable to such member during the selected twenty-four month period by twenty-four; (iii) in the case of disability of any member, the basic salary payable to such member at the time of disability retirement; (iv) in the case of a member who hereafter vests pursuant to RCW 41.26.090, the basic salary payable to such member at the time of vesting.

          (b) "Final average salary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means the monthly average of the member's basic salary for the highest consecutive ((sixty)) twenty-four months of service prior to such member's retirement, termination, or death.  Periods constituting authorized unpaid leaves of absence may not be used in the calculation of final average salary.

          (13) (a) "Basic salary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means the basic monthly rate of salary or wages, including longevity pay but not including overtime earnings or special salary or wages, upon which pension or retirement benefits will be computed and upon which employer contributions and salary deductions will be based.

          (b) "Basic salary" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means salaries or wages earned by a member during a payroll period for personal services, including overtime payments, and shall include wages and salaries deferred under provisions established pursuant to sections 403(b), 414(h), and 457 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, but shall exclude lump sum payments for deferred annual sick leave, unused accumulated vacation, unused accumulated annual leave, or any form of severance pay:  PROVIDED, That in any year in which a member serves in the legislature the member shall have the option of having such member's basic salary be the greater of:

          (i) the basic salary the member would have received had such member not served in the legislature; or

          (ii) such member's actual basic salary received for nonlegislative public employment and legislative service combined.  Any additional contributions to the retirement system required because basic salary under subparagraph (i) of this subsection is greater than basic salary under subparagraph (ii) of this subsection shall be paid by the member for both member and employer contributions.

          (14) (a) "Service" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means all periods of employment for an employer as a fire fighter or law enforcement officer, for which compensation is paid, together with periods of suspension not exceeding thirty days in duration.  For the purposes of this chapter service shall also include service in the armed forces of the United States as provided in RCW 41.26.190.  Credit shall be allowed for all months of service rendered by a member from and after the member's initial commencement of employment as a fire fighter or law enforcement officer, during which the member worked for seventy or more hours, or was on disability leave or disability retirement.  Only months of service shall be counted in the computation of any retirement allowance or other benefit provided for in this chapter.  In addition to the foregoing, for members retiring after May 21, 1971 who were employed under the coverage of a prior pension act before March 1, 1970, "service" shall include (i) such military service not exceeding five years as was creditable to the member as of March 1, 1970, under the member's particular prior pension act, and (ii) such other periods of service as were then creditable to a particular member under the provisions of RCW 41.18.165, 41.20.160 or 41.20.170.  However, in no event shall credit be allowed for any service rendered prior to March 1, 1970, where the member at the time of rendition of such service was employed in a position covered by a prior pension act, unless such service, at the time credit is claimed therefor, is also creditable under the provisions of such prior act:  PROVIDED, That if such member's prior service is not creditable due to the withdrawal of his contributions plus accrued interest thereon from a prior pension system, such member shall be credited with such prior service, as a law enforcement officer or fire fighter, by paying to the Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, on or before March 1, 1975, an amount which is equal to that which was withdrawn from  the prior system by such member, as a law enforcement officer or fire fighter:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That if such member's prior service is not creditable because, although employed in a position covered by a prior pension act, such member had not yet become a member of the pension system governed by such act, such member shall be credited with such prior service as a law enforcement officer or fire fighter, by paying to the Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, on or before March 1, 1975, an amount which is equal to the employer's contributions which would have been required under the prior act when such service was rendered if the member had been a member of such system during such period:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That where a member is employed by two employers at the same time, he shall only be credited with service to one such employer for any month during which he rendered such dual service.

          (b) "Service" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means periods of employment by a member for one or more employers for which basic salary is earned for ninety or more hours per calendar month.

          Members of the retirement system who are elected or appointed to a state elective position may elect to continue to be members of this retirement system.

          Years of service shall be determined by dividing the total number of months of service by twelve.  Any fraction of a year of service as so determined shall be taken into account in the computation of such retirement allowance or benefits.

          If a member receives basic salary from two or more employers during any calendar month, the individual shall receive one month's service credit during any calendar month in which multiple service for ninety or more hours is rendered.

          (15) "Accumulated contributions" means the employee's contributions made by a member plus accrued interest credited thereon.

          (16) "Actuarial reserve" means a method of financing a pension or retirement plan wherein reserves are accumulated as the liabilities for benefit payments are incurred in order that sufficient funds will be available on the date of retirement of each member to pay the member's future benefits during the period of retirement.

          (17) "Actuarial valuation" means a mathematical determination of the financial condition of a retirement plan.  It includes the computation of the present monetary value of benefits payable to present members, and the present monetary value of future employer and employee contributions, giving effect to mortality among active and retired members and also to the rates of disability, retirement, withdrawal from service, salary and interest earned on investments.

          (18) "Disability board" means either the county disability board or the city disability board established in RCW 41.26.110 for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977.

          (19) "Disability leave" means the period of six months or any portion thereof during which a member is on leave at an allowance equal to the member's full salary prior to the commencement of disability retirement.  The definition contained in this subsection shall apply only to persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977.

          (20) "Disability retirement" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, means the period following termination of a member's disability leave, during which the member is in receipt of a disability retirement allowance.

          (21) "Position" means the employment held at any particular time, which may or may not be the same as civil service rank.

          (22) "Medical services" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or before September 30, 1977, shall include the following as minimum services to be provided.  Reasonable charges for these services shall be paid in accordance with RCW 41.26.150.

          (a) Hospital expenses:  These are the charges made by a hospital, in its own behalf, for

          (i) Board and room not to exceed semiprivate room rate unless private room is required by the attending physician due to the condition of the patient.

          (ii) Necessary hospital services, other than board and room, furnished by the hospital.

          (b) Other medical expenses:  The following charges are considered "other medical expenses", provided that they have not been considered as "hospital expenses".

          (i) The fees of the following:

          (A) A physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.71 RCW;

          (B) An osteopath licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.57 RCW;

          (C) A chiropractor licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.25 RCW.

          (ii) The charges of a registered graduate nurse other than a nurse who ordinarily resides in the member's home, or is a member of the family of either the member or the member's spouse.

          (iii) The charges for the following medical services and supplies:

          (A) Drugs and medicines upon a physician's prescription;

          (B) Diagnostic x-ray and laboratory examinations;

          (C) X-ray, radium, and radioactive isotopes therapy;

          (D) Anesthesia and oxygen;

          (E) Rental of iron lung and other durable medical and surgical equipment;

          (F) Artificial limbs and eyes, and casts, splints, and trusses;

          (G) Professional ambulance service when used to transport the member to or from a hospital when he is injured by an accident or stricken by a disease;

          (H) Dental charges incurred by a member who sustains an accidental injury to his teeth and who commences treatment by a legally licensed dentist within ninety days after the accident;

          (I) Nursing home confinement or hospital extended care facility;

          (J) Physical therapy by a registered physical therapist;

          (K) Blood transfusions, including the cost of blood and blood plasma not replaced by voluntary donors;

          (L) An optometrist licensed under the provisions of chapter 18.53 RCW.

          (23) "Regular interest" means such rate as the director may determine.

          (24) "Retiree" for persons who establish membership in the retirement system on or after October 1, 1977, means any member in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer by such member.

          (25) "Department" means the department of retirement systems created in chapter 41.50 RCW.

          (26) "Director" means the director of the department.

          (27) "State actuary" or "actuary" means the person appointed pursuant to RCW 44.44.010(2).

          (28) "State elective position" means any position held by any person elected or appointed to state-wide office or elected or appointed as a member of the legislature.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 12, chapter 209, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 5, chapter 176, Laws of 1986 and RCW 41.26.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any member, regardless of his age or years of service may be retired by the disability board, subject to approval by the director as hereinafter provided, for any disability incurred in the line of duty which has been continuous since his discontinuance of service and which renders him unable to continue his service.  No disability retirement allowance shall be paid until the expiration of a period of six months after the discontinuance of service during which period the member, if found to be physically or mentally unfit for duty by the disability board following receipt of his application for disability retirement, shall be granted a disability leave by the disability board and shall receive an allowance equal to his full monthly salary and shall continue to receive all other benefits provided to active employees from his employer for such period.  However, if, at any time during the initial six-month period, the disability board finds the beneficiary is no longer disabled, his disability leave allowance shall be canceled and he shall be restored to duty in the same rank or position, if any, held by the beneficiary at the time he became disabled.  Applications for disability retirement shall be processed in accordance with the following procedures:

          (1) Any member who believes he is or is believed to be physically or mentally disabled shall be examined by such medical authority as the disability board shall employ, upon application of said member, or a person acting in his behalf, stating that said member is disabled, either physically or mentally:  PROVIDED, That no such application shall be considered unless said member or someone in his behalf, in case of the incapacity of a member, shall have filed the application within a period of one year from and after the discontinuance of service of said member.

          (2) If the examination shows, to the satisfaction of the disability board, that the member is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability has been continuous from the discontinuance of service, the disability board shall enter its written decision and order, accompanied by appropriate findings of fact and by conclusions evidencing compliance with this chapter as now or hereafter amended, granting the member a disability retirement allowance; otherwise, if the member is not found by the disability board to be so disabled, the application shall be denied pursuant to a similar written decision and order, subject to appeal to the director in accordance with RCW 41.26.200:  PROVIDED, That in any order granting a duty disability retirement allowance, the disability board shall make a  finding that the disability was incurred in line of duty.

          (3) Every order of a disability board granting a duty disability retirement allowance shall forthwith be reviewed by the director except the finding that the disability was incurred in the line of duty.  The director may affirm the decision of the disability board or remand the case for further proceedings, or the director may reverse the decision of the disability board if the director finds the disability board's findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are:

          (a) In violation of constitutional provisions; or

          (b) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the disability board; or

          (c) Made upon unlawful procedure; or

          (d) Affected by other error of law; or

          (e) Clearly erroneous in view of the entire record as submitted and the public policy contained in this chapter; or

          (f) Arbitrary or capricious.

          (4) Every member who can establish, to the disability board, that he is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability will be in existence for a period of at least six months may waive the six-month period of disability leave and be immediately granted a duty disability retirement allowance, subject to the approval of the director as provided in subsection (3) above.

          (5) If an applicant is denied a retirement allowance for disability following completion of the six-month period of disability leave provided for in this section for the reason that the applicant is no longer disabled, the applicant shall be restored to duty.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 3, chapter 102, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 6, chapter 176, Laws of 1986 and RCW 41.26.125 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any member, regardless of age or years of service, may be retired by the disability board, subject to approval by the director as provided in this section, for any disability not incurred in the line of duty which has been continuous since discontinuance of service and which renders the member unable to continue service.  No disability retirement allowance may be paid until the expiration of a period of six months after the discontinuance of service during which period the member, if found to be physically or mentally unfit for duty by the disability board following receipt of the member's application for disability retirement, shall be granted a disability leave by the disability board and shall receive an allowance equal to the member's full monthly salary and shall continue to receive all other benefits provided to active employees from the member's employer for the period.  However, if, at any time during the initial six-month period, the disability board finds the beneficiary is no longer disabled, the disability leave allowance shall be canceled and the member shall be restored to duty in the same rank or position, if any, held by the member at the time the member became disabled.  Applications for disability retirement shall be processed in accordance with the following procedures:

          (1) Any member who believes he or she is, or is believed to be, physically or mentally disabled shall be examined by such medical authority as the disability board shall employ, upon application of the member, or a person acting in the member's behalf, stating that the member is disabled, either physically or mentally:  PROVIDED, That no such application shall be considered unless the member or someone acting in the member's behalf, in case of the incapacity of a member, has filed the application within a period of one year from and after the discontinuance of service of the member.

          (2) If the examination shows, to the satisfaction of the disability board, that the member is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was not incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability had been continuous from the discontinuance of service, the disability board shall enter its written decision and order, accompanied by appropriate findings of fact and by conclusions evidencing compliance with this chapter, granting the member a disability retirement allowance.  Otherwise, if the member is not found by the disability board to be so disabled, the application shall be denied pursuant to a similar written decision and order, subject to appeal to the director in accordance with RCW 41.26.200:  PROVIDED, That in any order granting a nonduty disability retirement allowance, the disability board shall make a finding that the disability was not incurred in the line of duty.

          (3) Every order of a disability board granting a nonduty disability retirement allowance shall forthwith be reviewed by the director except the finding that the disability was not incurred in the line of duty.  The director may affirm the decision of the disability board or remand the case for further proceedings, or the director may reverse the decision of the disability board if the director finds the disability board's findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are:

          (a) In violation of constitutional provisions; or

          (b) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the disability board; or

          (c) Made upon unlawful procedure; or

          (d) Affected by other error of law; or

          (e) Clearly erroneous in view of the entire record as submitted and the public policy contained in this chapter; or

          (f) Arbitrary or capricious.

          (4) Every member who can establish to the disability board that the member is physically or mentally disabled from the further performance of duty, that such disability was not incurred in the line of duty, and that such disability will be in existence for a period of at least six months, may waive the six-month period of disability leave and be immediately granted a nonduty disability retirement allowance, subject to the approval of the director as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

          (5) If an applicant is denied a retirement allowance for disability following completion of the six-month period of disability leave provided for in this section for the reason that the applicant is no longer disabled, the applicant shall be restored to duty.

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 4, chapter 294, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 41.26.430 are each amended to read as follows:

          (((1) NORMAL RETIREMENT.))      Any member with at least five years of service who has attained at least age ((fifty-eight)) fifty-four shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.26.420.

          (((2) EARLY RETIREMENT.  Any member who has completed at least twenty years of service and has attained age fifty shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.26.420, except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age fifty-eight.))

 

        Sec. 5.  Section 6, chapter 294, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 268, Laws of 1986 and RCW 41.26.450 are each amended to read as follows:

          The required contribution rates to the retirement system for members, employers, and the state of Washington shall be established by the director from time to time as may be necessary upon the advice of the state actuary.  The state actuary shall use the aggregate actuarial cost method to calculate contribution rates.

          The member, the employer and the state shall each contribute the following shares of the cost of the retirement system:

          !tn1Member !tl50%

Employer !tl30%

State!tl20%

          Effective January 1, 1987, however, no member or employer contributions are required for any calendar month in which the member is not granted service credit.

          Any adjustments in contribution rates required from time to time for future costs shall likewise be shared proportionally by the members, employers, and the state:  PROVIDED, That the costs of amortizing the unfunded supplemental present value of the retirement system for persons who established membership before September 30, 1977, shall be borne in full by the state:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That employers shall pay an additional rate of five percent of basic salary per member.

          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.

          The director shall notify all employers of any pending adjustment in the required contribution rate and such increase shall be announced at least thirty days prior to the effective date of the change.

          Members' contributions required by this section shall be deducted from the members basic salary each payroll period.  The ((members)) member's contribution and the ((employers)) employer's contribution shall be remitted directly to the department within fifteen days following the end of the calendar month during which the payroll period ends.

 

        Sec. 6.  Section 8, chapter 294, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 2, chapter 12, Laws of 1982 and RCW 41.26.470 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) A member of the retirement system who becomes totally incapacitated for continued employment by an employer as determined by the director shall be eligible to receive an allowance under the provisions of RCW 41.26.410 through 41.26.550.  Such member shall receive a monthly disability allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.26.420 and shall have such allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at disability and the attainment of age ((fifty-eight)) fifty-four.

          (2) Any member who receives an allowance under the provisions of this section shall be subject to such comprehensive medical examinations as required by the department.  If such medical examinations reveal that such a member has recovered from the incapacitating disability and the member is no longer entitled to benefits under Title 51 RCW, the retirement allowance shall be canceled and the member shall be restored to duty in the same civil service rank, if any, held by the member at the time of retirement or, if unable to perform the duties of the rank, then, at the member's request, in such other like or lesser rank as may be or become open and available, the duties of which the member is then able to perform.  In no event shall a member previously drawing a disability allowance be returned or be restored to duty at a salary or rate of pay less than the current salary attached to the rank or position held by the member at the date of the retirement for disability.  If the department determines that the member is able to return to service, the member is entitled to notice and a hearing.  Both the notice and the hearing shall comply with the requirements of chapter 34.04 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.

 

        Sec. 7.  Section 12, chapter 294, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 41.26.510 are each amended to read as follows:

           (1) If a member or a vested member who has not completed at least ten years of service dies, the amount of the accumulated contributions standing to such member's credit in the retirement system at the time of such member's death shall be paid to such person or persons having an insurable interest in such member's life as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the department.  If there be no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, such member's accumulated contributions standing to such member's credit in the retirement system shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse as if in fact such spouse had been nominated by written designation, or if there be no such surviving spouse, then to such member's legal representatives.

          (2) If a member who is eligible for retirement or a member who has completed at least ten years of service dies, the surviving spouse or eligible child or children shall elect to receive either:

          (a) A retirement allowance computed as provided for in RCW 41.26.430(((1))) actuarially adjusted to reflect Option 2 of RCW 41.26.460 and if the member was not eligible for normal retirement at the date of death a further reduction ((as described in RCW 41.26.430(2))) to reflect the difference in the number of years between the age of retirement and the attainment of age fifty-four; if a surviving spouse who is receiving a retirement allowance dies leaving a child or children of the member under the age of majority, then such child or children shall continue to receive an allowance in an amount equal to that which was being received by the surviving spouse, share and share alike, until such child or children reach the age of majority; if there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive an allowance at the time of the member's death, such member's child or children under the age of majority shall receive an allowance share and share alike calculated as herein provided making the assumption that the ages of the spouse and member were equal at the time of the member's death; or

          (b) The member's accumulated contributions.