BILL REQ. #:  H-3803.1 

Read first time 01/17/08.   Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

     AN ACT Relating to purchasing an increased benefit multiplier for past judicial service for judges in the public employees' retirement system; and amending RCW 41.40.124, 41.40.127, 41.40.870, and 41.40.873.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.40.124 and 2007 c 123 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, a member of plan 1 or plan 2 employed as a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge may make a one-time irrevocable election, filed in writing with the member's employer, the department, and the administrative office of the courts, to accrue an additional benefit equal to one and one-half percent of average final compensation for each year of future service credit from the date of the election in lieu of future employee and employer contributions to the judicial retirement account plan under chapter 2.14 RCW.
     (2)(a) A member who ((chooses to make)) made the election under subsection (1) of this section may apply, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, to the department to increase the member's benefit multiplier by an additional one and one-half percent per year of service for the period in which the member served as a justice or judge prior to the election. The member may purchase, beginning with the most recent judicial service, the higher benefit multiplier for ((up to seventy percent of)) that portion of the member's prior judicial service for which the higher benefit multiplier was not previously purchased, and that would ensure that the member has no more than a seventy-five percent of average final compensation benefit ((accrued by age sixty-four for members of plan 1, and age sixty-six for members of plan 2)). The member shall pay five percent of the salary earned for each month of service for which the higher benefit multiplier is being purchased, plus ((interest as determined by the director)) five and one-half percent interest applied from the dates that the service was earned. The purchase price shall not exceed the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier. This payment must be made prior to retirement ((and prior to December 31, 2007. After December 31, 2007, a member may purchase the higher benefit multiplier for any of the member's prior judicial service at the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier, as determined by the director)), subject to rules adopted by the department.
     (b) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member applying to increase the member's benefit multiplier under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.

Sec. 2   RCW 41.40.127 and 2007 c 123 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, a member of plan 1 or plan 2 employed as a district court judge or municipal court judge may make a one-time irrevocable election, filed in writing with the member's employer and the department, to accrue an additional benefit equal to one and one-half percent of average final compensation for each year of future service credit from the date of the election.
     (2)(a) A member who ((chooses to make)) made the election under subsection (1) of this section may apply, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, to the department to increase the member's benefit multiplier by one and one-half percent per year of service for the period in which the member served as a judge prior to the election. The member may purchase, beginning with the most recent judicial service, the higher benefit multiplier for ((up to seventy percent of)) that portion of the member's prior judicial service for which the higher benefit multiplier was not previously purchased, and that would ensure that the member has no more than a seventy-five percent of average final compensation benefit ((accrued by age sixty-four for members of plan 1, and age sixty-six for members of plan 2)). The member shall pay five percent of the salary earned for each month of service for which the higher benefit multiplier is being purchased, plus ((interest as determined by the director)) five and one-half percent interest applied from the dates that the service was earned. The purchase price shall not exceed the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier. This payment must be made prior to retirement ((and prior to December 31, 2007. After December 31, 2007, a member may purchase the higher benefit multiplier for any of the member's prior judicial service at the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier, as determined by the director)), subject to rules adopted by the department.
     (b) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member applying to increase the member's benefit multiplier under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.

Sec. 3   RCW 41.40.870 and 2007 c 123 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, a member of plan 3 employed as a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, or superior court judge may make a one-time irrevocable election, filed in writing with the member's employer, the department, and the administrative office of the courts, to accrue an additional plan 3 defined benefit equal to six-tenths percent of average final compensation for each year of future service credit from the date of the election in lieu of future employer contributions to the judicial retirement account plan under chapter 2.14 RCW.
     (2)(a) A member who ((chooses to make)) made the election under subsection (1) of this section may apply, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, to the department to increase the member's benefit multiplier by six-tenths percent per year of service for the period in which the member served as a justice or judge prior to the election. The member may purchase, beginning with the most recent judicial service, the higher benefit multiplier for ((up to seventy percent of)) that portion of the member's prior judicial service for which the higher benefit multiplier was not previously purchased, and that would ensure that the member has no more than a thirty-seven and one-half percent of average final compensation benefit ((accrued by age sixty-six)). The member shall pay two and one-half percent of the salary earned for each month of service for which the higher benefit multiplier is being purchased, plus ((interest as determined by the director)) five and one-half percent interest applied from the dates that the service was earned. The purchase price shall not exceed the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier. This payment must be made prior to retirement ((and prior to December 31, 2007. After December 31, 2007, a member may purchase the higher benefit multiplier for any of the member's prior judicial service at the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier, as determined by the director)), subject to rules adopted by the department.
     (b) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member applying to increase the member's benefit multiplier under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (3) A member who chooses to make the election under subsection (1) of this section shall contribute a minimum of seven and one-half percent of pay to the member's defined contribution account.

Sec. 4   RCW 41.40.873 and 2007 c 123 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, a member of plan 3 employed as a district court judge or municipal court judge may make a one-time irrevocable election, filed in writing with the member's employer and the department, to accrue an additional plan 3 defined benefit equal to six-tenths percent of average final compensation for each year of future service credit from the date of the election.
     (2)(a) A member who ((chooses to make)) made the election under subsection (1) of this section may apply, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, to the department to increase the member's benefit multiplier by six-tenths percent per year of service for the period in which the member served as a judge prior to the election. The member may purchase, beginning with the most recent judicial service, the higher benefit multiplier for ((up to seventy percent of)) that portion of the member's prior judicial service for which the higher benefit multiplier was not previously purchased, and that would ensure that the member has no more than a thirty-seven and one-half percent of average final compensation benefit ((accrued by age sixty-six)). The member shall pay two and one-half percent of the salary earned for each month of service for which the higher benefit multiplier is being purchased, plus ((interest as determined by the director)) five and one-half percent interest applied from the dates that the service was earned. The purchase price shall not exceed the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier. This payment must be made prior to retirement ((and prior to December 31, 2007. After December 31, 2007, a member may purchase the higher benefit multiplier for any of the member's prior judicial service at the actuarially equivalent value of the increase in the member's benefit resulting from the increase in the benefit multiplier, as determined by the director)), subject to rules adopted by the department.
     (b) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member applying to increase the member's benefit multiplier under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (3) A member who chooses to make the election under subsection (1) of this section shall contribute a minimum of seven and one-half percent of pay to the member's defined contribution account.