BILL REQ. #:  S-2897.1 

READ FIRST TIME 04/19/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to annual increase amounts in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1; amending RCW 41.32.483, 41.32.489, 41.32.4851, 41.40.183, 41.40.197, 41.40.1984, and 41.45.150; creating a new section; declaring an emergency; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Chapter 561, Laws of 2009 made necessary changes to the funding plan for the fiscal integrity of the teachers' retirement system, plan 1 and the public employees' retirement system, plan 1, and provides a basis for improvements in the financial soundness of the pension plans. The legislature now finds that changing economic conditions have also made necessary the amendatory provisions contained in this act. Due to the current extraordinary economic recession and due to the financial demands of other core responsibilities of government, it is not feasible for public employers of this state to fund the annual increase amount and continue to ensure the fiscal integrity of these pension funds. The legislature further clarifies and affirms that the intent of the legislature in section 5, chapter 345, Laws of 1995 and this act is to not create any contractual rights to the annual increase amount on the part of the public employees' retirement system, plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system, plan 1 members or retirees. Having reserved the right to amend or repeal these provisions in RCW 41.32.489(6) and 41.40.197(5), the legislature is now exercising that right through this act.

Sec. 2   RCW 41.32.483 and 2007 c 491 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 2009, the annual increase amount as defined in RCW 41.32.010(((46))) (4) shall be increased by an amount equal to $0.40 per month per year of service minus the 2008 gain-sharing increase amount under RCW 41.31.010 as it exists on July 22, 2007. This adjustment shall not decrease the annual increase amount, and is not to exceed $0.20 per month per year of service. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future and no member or beneficiary has the contractual right to receive this adjustment to the annual increase amount not granted prior to that time.
     (2) The adjustment to the annual increase amount as set forth in section 5, chapter 491, Laws of 2007 was intended by the legislature as a replacement benefit for gain-sharing. If the repeal of chapter 41.31 RCW is held to be invalid in a final determination of a court of law, and the court orders reinstatement of gain-sharing or other alternate benefits as a remedy, then this adjustment to the annual increase amount shall not be included in future annual increase amounts paid on or after the date of such reinstatement.
     (3) No additional annual increase under this section shall be provided after June 30, 2011.

Sec. 3   RCW 41.32.489 and 2007 c 89 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 1995, and annually thereafter through July 1, 2010, the retirement allowance of a person meeting the requirements of this section shall be increased by the annual increase amount.
     (a) After July 1, 2010, those currently receiving benefits under this section will receive no additional annual increase amounts above the amount in effect on July 1, 2010, except for those who qualify under subsections (2)(b) and (3)(a) of this section. This subsection shall not reduce retirement allowances below the amounts in effect on the effective date of this section.
     (b) After July 1, 2010, no annual increase amounts may be provided to any beneficiaries who are not already receiving benefits under this section, except for those who qualify under subsections (2)(b) and (3)(a) of this section.
     (2) The following persons shall be eligible for the benefit provided in subsection (1) of this section:
     (a) A beneficiary who has received a retirement allowance for at least one year by July 1st in the calendar year in which the annual increase is given and has attained at least age sixty-six by December 31st in the calendar year in which the annual increase is given; or
     (b) A beneficiary whose retirement allowance is lower than the minimum benefit provided under RCW 41.32.4851.
     (3) The following persons shall also be eligible for the benefit provided in subsection (1) of this section:
     (a) A beneficiary receiving the minimum benefit on June 30, 1995, under RCW 41.32.485; or
     (b) A recipient of a survivor benefit on June 30, 1995, which has been increased by RCW 41.32.575.
     (4) If otherwise eligible, those receiving an annual adjustment under RCW 41.32.530(1)(d) shall be eligible for the annual increase adjustment in addition to the benefit that would have been received absent this section.
     (5) Those receiving a temporary disability benefit under RCW 41.32.540 shall not be eligible for the benefit provided by this section.
     (6) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to receive this postretirement adjustment not granted prior to that time.

Sec. 4   RCW 41.32.4851 and 2006 c 244 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No one who becomes a beneficiary after June 30, 1995, shall receive a monthly retirement allowance of less than twenty-four dollars and twenty-two cents times the number of years of service creditable to the person whose service is the basis of such retirement allowance.
     (2) If the retirement allowance payable was adjusted at the time benefit payments to the beneficiary commenced, the minimum allowance provided in this section shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with that adjustment.
     (3) Beginning July 1, 1996, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section shall be adjusted annually by the annual increase.
     (4) Those receiving a temporary disability benefit under RCW 41.32.540 shall not be eligible for the benefit provided by this section.
     (5) ((Beginning July 1, 2004, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with at least twenty-five years of service and who has been retired at least twenty years shall be one thousand dollars per month. On July 1, 2006, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.
     (6) Beginning July 1, 2006, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with at least twenty years of service and who has been retired at least twenty-five years shall be one thousand dollars per month. On July 1, 2006, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.)) Beginning July 1, 2011, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with either (a) at least twenty years of service and who has been retired at least twenty-five years, or (b) at least twenty-five years of service and who has been retired at least twenty years, shall be one thousand five hundred dollars per month. On July 1, 2012, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.

Sec. 5   RCW 41.40.183 and 2007 c 491 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 2009, the annual increase amount as defined in RCW 41.40.010(((41))) (4) shall be increased by an amount equal to $0.40 per month per year of service minus the 2008 gain-sharing increase amount under RCW 41.31.010 as it exists on July 22, 2007. This adjustment shall not decrease the annual increase amount, and is not to exceed $0.20 per month per year of service. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this section in the future and no member or beneficiary has the contractual right to receive this adjustment to the annual increase amount not granted prior to that time.
     (2) The adjustment to the annual increase amount as set forth in section 11, chapter 491, Laws of 2007 was intended by the legislature as a replacement benefit for gain-sharing. If the repeal of chapter 41.31 RCW is held to be invalid in a final determination of a court of law, and the court orders reinstatement of gain-sharing or other alternate benefits as a remedy, then this adjustment to the annual increase amount shall not be included in future annual increase amounts paid on or after the date of such reinstatement.
     (3) No additional increase under this section shall be provided after June 30, 2011.

Sec. 6   RCW 41.40.197 and 2007 c 89 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 1995, and annually thereafter through July 1, 2010, the retirement allowance of a person meeting the requirements of this section shall be increased by the annual increase amount.
     (a) After July 1, 2010, those currently receiving benefits under this section will receive no additional annual increase amounts above the amount in effect on July 1, 2010, except for those who qualify under subsection (2)(b) of this section. This subsection shall not reduce retirement allowances below the amounts in effect on the effective date of this section.
     (b) After July 1, 2010, no annual increase amounts may be provided to any beneficiaries who are not already receiving benefits under this section, except for those who qualify under subsection (2)(b) of this section.
     (2) The following persons shall be eligible for the benefit provided in subsection (1) of this section:
     (a) A beneficiary who has received a retirement allowance for at least one year by July 1st in the calendar year in which the annual increase is given and has attained at least age sixty-six by December 31st in the calendar year in which the annual increase is given; or
     (b) A beneficiary whose retirement allowance is lower than the minimum benefit provided under RCW 41.40.1984.
     (3) If otherwise eligible, those receiving an annual adjustment under RCW 41.40.188(1)(c) shall be eligible for the annual increase adjustment in addition to the benefit that would have been received absent this section.
     (4) Those receiving a benefit under RCW 41.40.220(1), or a survivor of a disabled member under RCW 41.44.170(5) shall be eligible for the benefit provided by this section.
     (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 receive this postretirement adjustment not granted prior to that time.

Sec. 7   RCW 41.40.1984 and 2006 c 244 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, no one who becomes a beneficiary after June 30, 1995, shall receive a monthly retirement allowance of less than twenty-four dollars and twenty-two cents times the number of years of service creditable to the person whose service is the basis of such retirement allowance.
     (2) Where the retirement allowance payable was adjusted at the time benefit payments to the beneficiary commenced, the minimum allowance provided in this section shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with that adjustment.
     (3) Beginning July 1, 1996, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section shall be adjusted annually by the annual increase.
     (4) Those receiving a benefit under RCW 41.40.220(1) or under RCW 41.44.170 (3) and (5) shall not be eligible for the benefit provided by this section.
     (5) For persons who served as elected officials and whose accumulated employee contributions and credited interest was less than seven hundred fifty dollars at the time of retirement, the minimum benefit under subsection (1) of this section shall be ten dollars per month per each year of creditable service.
     (6) ((Beginning July 1, 2004, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with at least twenty-five years of service and who has been retired at least twenty years shall be one thousand dollars per month. On July 1, 2006, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.
     (7) Beginning July 1, 2006, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with at least twenty years of service and who has been retired at least twenty-five years shall be one thousand dollars per month. On July 1, 2006, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.)) Beginning July 1, 2011, the minimum benefit set forth in subsection (1) of this section, prior to adjustments set forth in subsection (2) of this section, for a beneficiary with either (a) at least twenty years of service and who has been retired at least twenty-five years, or (b) at least twenty-five years of service and who has been retired at least twenty years, shall be one thousand five hundred dollars per month. On July 1, 2012, and each year thereafter, the minimum benefit in this subsection shall be increased by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.

Sec. 8   RCW 41.45.150 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 26 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2015, maximum annual contribution rates are established for the portion of the employer contribution rate for the public employees' retirement system and the public safety employees' retirement system that is used for the sole purpose of amortizing that portion of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in the public employees' retirement system plan 1 that excludes any amounts required to amortize plan 1 benefit improvements effective after June 30, 2009. The maximum rates are:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 30, 2011.