PROPOSED RULES
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-18-013.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Various rules in chapter 415-112 WAC, Teachers' retirement system.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Retirement Systems, 6835 Capitol Boulevard, Conference Room 115, Tumwater, WA, on October 6, 2004, at 10:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: No sooner than October 7, 2004.
Submit Written Comments to: Leslie L. Saeger, Rules Coordinator, Department of Retirement Systems, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, e-mail leslies@drs.wa.gov, fax (360) 753-3166, by 5:00 p.m. on October 6, 2004.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Leslie L. Saeger, Rules Coordinator, by September 28, 2004, TDD (360) 664-7291, TTY (360) 586-5450, phone (360) 664-7291.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The purpose of the proposed rules is to eliminate any confusion regarding the use of the term "school year" in teacher's retirement system WACs by:
(1) Removing the definition of "school year";
(2) Removing the term "school year" and substituting the term "fiscal year" where appropriate for TRS Plan 1;
(3) Removing the term "school year" and substituting "September through August" where appropriate for TRS Plan 2 and 3; and
(4) Removing the term "school year" where it is unnecessary.
Additionally, the changes clarify eligibility requirements and the method for computing earnable compensation for TRS Plan 1 part-time employees (RCW 41.32.345), including special provisions for teachers who work in extended school year programs; and to rewrite rules to reflect current policy and clear writing standards.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.50.050(5).
Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 41.32 and 41.34 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of Retirement Systems, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Leslie Seager, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, (360) 664-7291; Implementation and Enforcement: Dorothy Bailey, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, (360) 664-7291.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules have no effect on businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The Department of Retirement Systems is not one of the named departments in RCW 34.05.328.
August 27, 2004
Leslie Saeger
Rules and
Contacts [Contracts] Coordinator
OTS-7364.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-18-046, filed 8/28/02,
effective 9/30/02)
WAC 415-112-015
Definitions.
(1) All definitions in RCW 41.32.010 and WAC 415-02-030 apply to terms used in this
chapter. Other terms relevant to the administration of
chapter 41.32 RCW are defined in this chapter.
(2) "Annual leave" means leave provided by an employer for the purpose of taking regularly scheduled work time off with pay. Annual leave does not usually include leave for illness, personal business if in addition to and different than vacation leave, or other paid time off from work. However, if an employer authorizes only one type of leave, covering paid leave for vacation, illness, and any other excused absence from work, such leave will be considered annual leave for purposes of RCW 41.50.150.
(3) ((Contract period for Plan 1 members as used in RCW 41.32.345 means the period from July 1 to June 30 of the
following year.
(4))) Ineligible position means a position which does not qualify as an eligible position under RCW 41.32.010.
(((5))) (4) Pension benefit means that portion of a
retiree's monthly retirement allowance that is funded by the
state of Washington and the retiree's former employer or
employers.
(((6))) (5) Public educational institution means a school
district, the state school for the deaf, the state school for
the blind, educational service districts, institutions of
higher education, or community colleges.
(((7))) (6)(a) Public school as defined in RCW 41.32.010
includes school districts, educational service districts, the
state school for the deaf, and the state school for the blind
but does not include the office of the superintendent of
public instruction.
(b) As applied to other TRS employers, "public school" means an institution, fifty percent or more of whose employees are "qualified to teach," whose primary function is to educate students. See subsection (8) of this section.
(((8))) (7) Qualified to teach as used under RCW 41.32.010 means either:
(a) Having the authority to provide instruction at a common school as defined under RCW 28A.150.020 pursuant to:
(i) A valid teaching certificate issued by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under WAC 180-75-055; or
(ii) A permit to teach issued by lawful authority of this state under RCW 28A.405.010; or
(b) Being employed under a contract to teach with an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28A.150.020.
(((9))) (8) Reportable compensation means earnable
compensation as that term is defined in RCW 41.32.010(10).
(((10)(a) School year for Plan 1 members means the fiscal
year running from July 1 to June 30.
(b) "School year" for Plan 2 and 3 members means the twelve-month period from September 1 of one year to August 31 of the following year.
(11))) (9) Service in an administrative or supervisory capacity as used under RCW 41.32.010 and in this chapter:
(a) Means:
(i) Service in a managerial role relating to the administration of a public school; or
(ii) Service involving the exercise of direction over employees of the public school.
(b) Includes, but is not limited to, service as: Principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, personnel manager and business manager.
(((12))) (10) Service in an instructional capacity means
a qualified teacher performing services as a classroom
teacher.
(((13))) (11) Spousal consent requires written evidence
that the married member's spouse consents to the retirement
option selected by the member. The spouse's notarized
signature on the retirement application, duly executed and
filed with the department, ((shall)) constitutes "((spousal
consent)) written evidence."
(((14))) (12) System acronyms used in this chapter are
defined as follows:
• "PERS" means the public employees' retirement system.
• "SERS" means the school employees' retirement system.
• "TRS" means the teachers' retirement system.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.32 RCW. 02-18-046, § 415-112-015, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 95-16-053, § 415-112-015, filed 7/25/95, effective 8/25/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and Bowles v. Retirement Systems, 121 Wn.2d 52 (1993). 94-11-009, § 415-112-015, filed 5/5/94, effective 6/5/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.32.345 and 41.50.050. 93-20-021, § 415-112-015, filed 9/24/93, effective 10/25/93.]
| Period of Service | Type of Employment | Plan |
| Prior to 10/01/771/ | If you were contracted to teach full-time you were mandated into membership. If you were employed under a less than full-time contract and you exercised your option to establish membership prior to 10/01/77, you had the option to apply for membership under RCW 41.32.240, if you worked 90 or more full-time days 2/ during a fiscal year. |
Plan 1 |
| 10/01/77 through 06/06/90 | If you were contracted to teach full-time you were required to be a member. If you were employed as a substitute teacher or under a less than full-time
contract, you have the option to apply for membership under RCW 41.32.240 if
you worked a minimum of 90 full-time days 2/ during a (( |
Plan 2 |
| 6/07/90 through 08/31/91 |
You must have been employed in an eligible position as defined in Section 2,
Chapter 274, Laws of 1990, (requiring two or more consecutive months of at least
90 hours of compensated employment each month during (( For substitute teachers: If you met the above criteria, you may apply for membership and service credit under RCW 41.32.013 and WAC 415-112-140. |
Plan 2 |
| 9/01/91 forward |
You must be employed in an eligible position (requiring at least 5 months of 70
hours or more of compensated employment each month during (( For substitute teachers: If you meet the above criteria, you may apply for membership/service credit under RCW 41.32.013 and WAC 415-112-140. |
Plan 2 |
| 7/01/96 | You must be employed in an eligible position (requiring at least 5 months of 70
hours or more of compensated employment each month during ((
|
Plan 3 |
2/ "Ninety days of employment,” under RCW 41.32.240 and this section means either:
(a) Ninety full-time calendar days, or the equivalent, during a ((school)) fiscal year if you were employed as a teacher
under a contract; or
(b) Ninety full-time days of actual, compensated service, or the equivalent, during a ((school)) fiscal year if you were
employed as a substitute teacher.
(c) The "equivalent” of a full-time day of employment under (a) and (b) of this subsection is the sum of partial days which, when added together, equals one full-time day.
(2) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following
terms used in this section may be found in the sections
listed.
(a) "Member" - RCW 41.32.010.
(b) "Eligible position" - RCW 41.32.010.
(c) "Employer" - RCW 41.32.010.
(d) "Full-time" - RCW 41.32.240
(e) "Service" - RCW 41.32.010.
(f) "Substitute teacher" - RCW 41.32.010.
(g) "Teacher" - RCW 41.32.010.
(((h) "School year" - WAC 415-112-015.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.32 RCW. 02-18-046, § 415-112-125, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 00-10-015, § 415-112-125, filed 4/21/00, effective 5/22/00; 95-16-053, § 415-112-125, filed 7/25/95, effective 8/25/95.]
(a) TRS Plan 1.
(i) If you are a former Plan 1 member, you may apply to
reestablish Plan 1 membership if you work ninety or more
full-time days during a ((school)) fiscal year as a teacher.
(ii) If you are a Plan 1 member, you may apply to the
department for service credit in Plan 1 as a substitute
teacher if you work a minimum of twenty full-time days during
a ((school)) fiscal year.
(b) TRS Plan 2.
(i) You may apply to the department for membership in Plan 2 if you:
(A) Work at least seventy hours for five or more months
during ((a school year)) an annual period September through
August; or
(B) Worked at least ninety hours for two consecutive
months during the ((school year)) period of September 1, 1990,
through August 31, 1991.
(ii) If you have previously established membership in
Plan 2 and have not withdrawn your contributions, you may
apply to the department for service credit based on any
compensated employment you earn as a substitute teacher
((during a school year)).
(c) TRS Plan 3.
(i) You may apply to the department for membership in Plan 3 if you:
(A) Began employment after July 1, 1996; and
(B) Work at least seventy hours for five or more months
during ((a school year)) an annual period September through
August.
(ii) If you have established membership in Plan 3, either
by transferring from Plan 2 or establishing membership after
July 1, 1996, you may apply to the department for service
credit based on any compensated employment you earn as a
substitute teacher ((during a school year)).
(2) To apply, you must submit your employer's quarterly reports to the department at the end of a year.
(a) To apply for membership and service credit as a substitute teacher, you must submit your employer's quarterly reports to the department no earlier than:
(i) June 30 of the year for which you are applying for Plan 1 service credit; or
(ii) August 31 of the year for which you are applying for Plan 2 or Plan 3 service credit.
(b) Your employer cannot report your service and earnings history as a substitute teacher to the department through the retirement system monthly reporting system unless you are also employed in a separate, eligible position with the same employer.
(3) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following terms used in this section may be found in the sections listed.
(a) "Member" - RCW 41.32.010.
(b) "Service" - RCW 41.32.010.
(c) "Substitute teacher" - RCW 41.32.010.
(d) "Teacher" - RCW 41.32.010.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 00-10-015, § 415-112-140, filed 4/21/00, effective 5/22/00; 95-16-053, § 415-112-140, filed 7/25/95, effective 8/25/95.]
Former TRS Plan 1 Members 1/
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| A substitute or less than full-time teaching position and a PERS-eligible position | Same employer | PERS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | PERS - for PERS position only. Your substitute part-time
position is not reported unless you qualify for and
((
|
|
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | PERS - for PERS position only. Your substitute part-time
position is not reported unless you qualify for and
((
or 2. Have your TRS service reported in TRS and not receive service credit for the PERS position. |
|
| A full-time teaching position and an eligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | TRS - for both positions. | |
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | You must ((
or 2. Have your TRS service reported in TRS and not receive service credit for the PERS position. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| A full-time or less than full-time TRS position and an eligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | TRS - for both positions. | |
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | You must ((
or 2. Have your TRS service reported in TRS and not receive service credit for the PERS position. |
|
| A full-time or less than full-time TRS position and an ineligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | TRS - for both positions. | |
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | TRS - for the TRS position only; your ineligible PERS position is not reportable. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An eligible TRS position and an ineligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | TRS - for TRS position only; your ineligible PERS position is not reported. | |
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | TRS - for TRS position only; your ineligible PERS position is not reported. | |
| An eligible TRS position and an eligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | TRS - for both positions. 3/ |
|
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | You must ((
or 2. Have your TRS service reported in TRS and not receive service credit for the PERS position. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An eligible PERS position and an ineligible TRS or substitute position | Same employer | PERS - for both positions. |
| Separate TRS employers | PERS - for the PERS position only, ((
|
|
| A TRS employer and non-TRS employer | PERS - for the PERS position only. You will not be
reported for the TRS position unless you ((
2. Have your TRS service reported in TRS and not receive service credit for the PERS position. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An ineligible TRS and an ineligible PERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions if the positions combined, qualify as an eligible position. |
| Separate
employers, TRS
or non-TRS |
Neither position reported. | |
| A substitute teaching position and an ineligible PERS position | Same employer | Neither position reported. However, if you qualify, you
may (( |
| Separate employers, TRS or non-TRS | Neither position reported. However, if you qualify,
you may (( |
2/ Means during the same ((school year)) time period.
3/ EXAMPLE: A TRS Plan 2 member teaches in an eligible position and during the summer, she works for a state agency in an eligible position under PERS. Because the member has established membership in TRS Plan 2 through employment as a teacher, her state agency employer must report her service and compensation from the PERS position to the Department in TRS Plan 2.
EXAMPLE: A TRS Plan 2 member is employed concurrently by School District A in an eligible TRS position and by School District B in an eligible PERS position. Because he is a TRS Plan 2 member, School District B employer must report his service and compensation from the PERS position to the Department in TRS Plan 2. If the member terminates his employment in the TRS position with School District A, School District B will report him in PERS for the PERS position.
(2) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following
terms used in this section may be found in the sections
listed.
(a) "Eligible position" - RCW 41.32.010 (TRS); RCW 41.40.010 (PERS).
(b) "Employer" - RCW 41.40.010 (PERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
(c) "Full time" - RCW 41.32.240.
(d) "Ineligible position" - WAC 415-112-015 (TRS); RCW 41.40.010 (PERS).
(e) "Member" - RCW 41.40.010.
(f) "Membership" - RCW 41.40.023.
(g) "Report" - WAC 415-108-0104.
(h) "Service" - RCW 41.40.010.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.32 RCW. 02-18-046, § 415-112-155, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: Chapters 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.50 RCW. 01-01-059, § 415-112-155, filed 12/12/00, effective 1/12/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 00-10-015, § 415-112-155, filed 4/21/00, effective 5/22/00; 95-16-053, § 415-112-155, filed 7/25/95, effective 8/25/95.]
Former TRS Plan 1 Members 1/
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| A substitute or less than full-time teaching position and a SERS-eligible position | Same SERS employer | SERS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | SERS - for SERS position only. Your substitute part-time
position is not reported unless you qualify for and
((
|
|
| A full-time teaching position and an eligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | TRS - for both positions. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| A full-time or less than full-time TRS position and an eligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | TRS - for both positions. | |
| A full-time or less than full-time TRS position and an ineligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | TRS - for both positions. |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An eligible TRS position and an ineligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | TRS - for TRS position only; your ineligible SERS position is not reported. | |
| An eligible TRS position and an eligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | TRS - for both positions. 3/ |
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An eligible SERS position and an ineligible TRS or substitute position | Same employer | SERS - for both positions. |
| Separate SERS employers | SERS - for the SERS position only, unless you qualify
for and ((
|
| Type of Employment 2/ |
Type of Employer(s) |
System You Will Be Reported In |
| An ineligible TRS and an ineligible SERS position | Same employer | TRS - for both positions if the positions combined, qualify as an eligible position. |
| Separate SERS employers | Neither position reported. | |
| A substitute teaching position and an ineligible SERS position | Same employer | Neither position reported. However, if you qualify, you
may (( |
| Separate SERS employers | Neither position reported. However, if you qualify,
you may (( |
2/ Means during the same ((school year)) time period.
3/ EXAMPLE: A TRS 2 member is employed concurrently by School District A in an eligible TRS position and by School District B in an eligible SERS position. Because he is a TRS 2 member, School District B employer must report his service and compensation from the SERS position to the department in TRS 2. If the member terminates his employment in the TRS position with School District A, School District B will report him in SERS for the SERS position.
(2) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following
terms used in this section may be found in the sections
listed.
(a) "Eligible position" - RCW 41.35.010(SERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
(b) "Employer" - RCW 41.35.010 (SERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
(c) "Ineligible position" - RCW 41.35.010 (SERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
(d) "Member" - RCW 41.35.010 (SERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
(e) "Membership" - RCW 41.35.030 (SERS).
(f) "Report" - WAC 415-110-010 (SERS).
(g) "Service" - RCW 41.35.010 (SERS); RCW 41.32.010 (TRS).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.32 RCW. 02-18-046, § 415-112-156, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: Chapters 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.50 RCW. 01-01-059, § 415-112-156, filed 12/12/00, effective 1/12/01.]
(1) If there is no contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy indicating how many hours are in a work day, a Plan 1 classroom teacher will be granted one day of credit for every seven hours of compensated employment.
(2) If there is no contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy indicating how many hours are in a work day, Plan 1 K-12 employees other than school district classroom teachers will earn one day of credit for every eight hours of compensated employment.)) For TRS Plan 1 calculations, one year of service credit consists of one hundred eighty days of instruction.
(1) As a TRS Plan 1 member employed by a school district, educational service district, school for the blind, or school for the deaf:
(a) Unless otherwise determined by a contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy:
(i) A classroom teacher will earn one day of service credit for each seven hours of compensated employment; and
(ii) A K-12 employee other than a classroom teacher will earn one day of service credit for every eight hours of compensated employment; and
(b) You will earn one full year of service credit for one hundred forty-four or more days of employment during a fiscal year; or a fractional year of service credit for at least twenty days but less than one hundred forty-four days of employment during a fiscal year. The fraction will use days employed as the numerator and one hundred eighty as the denominator.
(2) As a TRS Plan 1 member employed by a community college:
(a) Unless otherwise determined by a contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy, you will earn one day of service credit for eight hours of compensated employment; and
(b) One full year of service credit when you have service for four-fifths of the adopted annual academic calendar; or a fractional year of service credit for at least twenty days but less than four-fifths of the annual academic calendar.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 00-10-015, § 415-112-330, filed 4/21/00, effective 5/22/00; 97-09-037, § 415-112-330, filed 4/14/97, effective 5/15/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.32.570. 91-21-084, § 415-112-330, filed 10/18/91, effective 11/18/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.32.270 and 41.32.010 (11)(a)(ii). 88-17-052 (Order 88-13), § 415-112-330, filed 8/17/88.]
(1) Plan 1.
(a) The employer must deduct salary for retirement contributions for a teacher who has not been a member if:
(i) The teacher is employed full time (at least four-fifths of a school day or full time assignment); and
(ii) The teacher's employment contract calls for at least ninety days of employment in a school year.
(b) The employer must also deduct the salary of each teacher who is a member employed full time if their employment contract calls for at least twenty days of employment in a school year.
(c) If a teacher who is not a member is employed for less than ninety days in a school year, the teacher will fail to establish membership. The employer must refund the teacher's salary deductions for retirement when he or she terminates employment as a teacher. The member must file a refund application with the department before he or she can receive the refund.
(d) If a member is employed by an employer for less than twenty days in a school year, the employer must refund all salary deductions for retirement based on service during that year at the time the member terminates for the year. The member must file a refund application with the department before he or she can receive the refund.
(2) Plan 2 and Plan 3: The employer must deduct contributions for a teacher if the teacher is employed in an eligible position.)) WAC 415-112-402 through 415-112-491 provide the department's interpretation of statutes and its administrative practice regarding classification of payments as earnable compensation in all TRS plans. The department has applied and will apply these rules to determine the proper characterization of payments occurring prior to the effective dates of these sections.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and 41.32.270. 02-03-120, § 415-112-400, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 99-14-008, § 415-112-400, filed 6/24/99, effective 7/25/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(6). 79-10-024 (Order 79-02), § 415-112-400, filed 9/10/79. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(6) and 41.50.090. 78-03-023 (Order IV), § 415-112-400, filed 2/15/78. Formerly WAC 462-24-010.]
(2) A member who is on official leave of absence from a Washington public school employer shall not be considered to have terminated his employment and, therefore, shall not be eligible to qualify for withdrawal of his accumulated contributions.)) (1) You may withdraw TRS contributions only upon termination of employment.
(2) You may not withdraw TRS contributions during any period in which you remain employed. For example:
(a) A teacher is considered to remain employed during the summer break that is often included in a school's official calendar. This is true whether the teacher is employed by the same employer or by different employers before and after the summer break.
(b) A teacher is considered to remain employed during a period of official leave from a Washington public school employer.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(6) and 41.50.090. 78-03-023 (Order IV), § 415-112-440, filed 2/15/78. Formerly WAC 462-24-050.]
(1) You may return to any type of service with a public
education institution for up to fifteen hundred hours per
((school)) fiscal year as defined in ((WAC 415-112-015)) RCW 41.32.010(12) without affecting your TRS Plan 1 monthly
pension under RCW 41.32.570, provided you have been retired
from service for one full calendar month (see WAC 415-112-520
and 415-112-525 for more information).
(a) Your employer must notify the department when you return to work. Your employer must report hours and compensation.
(b) If you are a TRS Plan 1 retiree and you work more than fifteen hundred hours during a fiscal year, the department will suspend your monthly pension. The pension is suspended until the first of the next fiscal year or termination of your employment, whichever comes first.
(c) The TRS Plan 1 limits will be applied to retirees from both TRS Plan 1 and a Plan 2 or 3 in another pension plan.
(d) The TRS Plan 1 limits will be applied to retirees from both TRS Plan 1 and PERS Plan 1.
(e) If you are a TRS Plan 1 retiree working for a public education institution as a bona fide independent contractor as determined under WAC 415-02-110, you are not considered an employee of the institution and are not subject to the work limitations.
(2) If the department suspends your benefit because of your reemployment, the department will reinstate the original amount of your pension, less deductions to recover any overpayment, effective the day following your termination of employment, or at the beginning of the next fiscal year, whichever comes first.
(3) You must repay any monthly pension payment that you receive in excess of the amounts allowed under this section.
(4) You may choose to return to membership if you are employed by a public education institution and are otherwise eligible. Membership will be prospective from the month in which you opt into membership.
(5) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following term used in this section may be found in the section listed.
Public educational institution: WAC 415-112-015.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.32 RCW. 02-18-046, § 415-112-541, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.04.270, 41.26.030, 41.32.010, 41.32.025, 41.32.480, 41.32.500, 41.32.570, 41.32.765, 41.32.795, 41.32.802, 41.32.855, 41.32.860, 41.32.862, 41.35.010, 41.35.030, 41.35.060, 41.35.450, 41.35.640, 41.40.010, 41.40.023, 41.40.037, 41.40.150, 41.40.193, 41.40.680, 41.40.750, 41.40.801. 02-02-060, § 415-112-541, filed 12/28/01, effective 1/1/02.]
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. 99-14-008, § 415-112-600, filed 6/24/99, effective 7/25/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(6) and 41.50.090. 78-03-023 (Order IV), § 415-112-600, filed 2/15/78. Formerly WAC 462-32-010.]
(1) To be eligible for the alternate calculation in RCW 41.32.345, you must be a "bona fide employee."
(2) You, as a TRS Plan 1 member, are a "bona fide employee" if:
(a) You work in a bona fide position, as defined in WAC 415-112-820, for each of two consecutive fiscal years; and
(b) You earn less than one full year of service credit.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.32.345 and 41.50.050. 93-20-021, § 415-112-810, filed 9/24/93, effective 10/25/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.32 RCW as amended by 1987 c 265. 87-20-082 (Order 87-09), § 415-112-810, filed 10/7/87.]
(a) Under contract for an entire school year if the member is employed by a school district, or an educational service district;
(b) Under contract during three academic quarters of a fiscal year if the member is employed by an institution of higher education, the state school for the deaf or the state school for the blind;
(c) By one or more employers for at least twenty days but less than one hundred forty-four days during the fiscal year;
(d) In an instructional position, which is a position in which more than seventy-five percent of the member's time, including office hours, is spent as a classroom instructor, a librarian, or a counselor.
(2) In addition to the factors listed in subsection (1) of this section, in the case of a member who elects to have earnable compensation defined as provided in section 2, chapter 265, Laws of 1987, the department will determine whether the member held a bona fide part-time position during the years used to compute benefits, and what earnable compensation the member would have received if employed on a regular full-time basis in the same position under section 2, chapter 265, Laws of 1987. The department may consider, but not be limited to considering, the following factors:
(a) The salary schedule and related workload provisions, if any, adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.405.200 by the school district by which the member was employed;
(b) The salary schedule, workload provisions, or related documents, used by the community college district by which the member was employed, including salary schedules or workload provisions contained in a collective bargaining agreement negotiated pursuant to chapter 28B.52 RCW;
(c) Whether the member's position is included on the employing district's salary schedule, in workload provisions, or in a collective bargaining agreement, and whether the member's position has duties, responsibilities, workload requirements, or methods of pay similar to those of positions found in the district's schedule, provisions, or collective bargaining agreement;
(d) When the member's position was created, and how long the position was held by the member;
(e) Whether the member has previously retired under the provisions of chapter 41.32 RCW.
(3) Upon the department's request, employers shall provide to the department information addressing the factors listed in subsection (1) of this section and such further information as the department may request.
(4) If a member is employed by more than one employer, all of the member's employment will be combined for purposes of determining whether the member has met the criteria of subsection (1) of this section.)) If you are a TRS Plan 1 member and meet the requirements in this section, you are deemed to occupy a bona fide position for the fiscal year for purposes of WAC 415-112-810 through 415-112-830.
(1) Service for single employer. You are employed in a bona fide position if you perform contracted service for one and only one employer during a fiscal year and you satisfy the requirements of (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection.
(a) Written contract. You are employed under a part-time written contract with a school district, educational service district, community college, school for the deaf, or school for the blind that meets the following conditions:
(i) Contract with school district or educational service district. You must be under a part-time contract from the first teaching day to the last teaching day of the school's official calendar.
(ii) Contracts with community college, school for the blind, or school for the deaf. You must be under part-time contracts for three of the four academic quarters (summer, fall, winter, or spring) of the institution's official calendar.
(b) Instructional position. You are employed in an instructional position. An instructional position is a position in which more than seventy-five percent of your time, including office hours, is spent as a classroom instructor, a librarian, or a counselor.
(c) Number of days. Under the contract(s), you must be employed not less than twenty full-time days or the equivalent, and earn less than a full year of service credit.
(2) Combining service to meet requirements of subsection (1) of this section. When you provide services under part-time written contracts with more than one employer during a fiscal year, service under all part-time written contracts must be combined to determine if you are employed in a bona fide position. You are employed in a bona fide position for the fiscal year only if you satisfy the requirements of (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection.
(a) Written contract. You are employed under two or more written contracts with a school district, educational service district, community college, school for the deaf, or school for the blind. You must be under contract for the equivalent of three of the four academic quarters (summer, fall, winter, or spring).
| Example 1. | Susan is employed part time with School District B from September 1 through December 31. She is employed with School District C from January 1 through June 20. Susan meets the "written contract" requirement of this subsection because she is under contract for the equivalent of three academic quarters (fall, winter, and spring). |
| Example 2. | Bill is employed with School District B from September 1 through December 31. He is employed with Community College C for Winter and Spring quarters. Bill meets the "written contract" requirement of this subsection because he is under contract for the equivalent of three academic quarters (fall, winter, and spring). |
(c) Number of days. The total number of days in all contracted positions must not be less than twenty full-time days or the equivalent, and must not be more than the one hundred forty-four full-time days or the equivalent.
(3) To determine if you meet the foregoing requirements, the department may consider additional information. Upon the department's request, employers must provide, without limitation, the following information:
(a) For school district employees, the salary schedule and related workload provisions, if any, adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.405.200 by the school district by which the member was employed;
(b) Whether your position is included on the employing district's salary schedule, in workload provisions, or in a collective bargaining agreement;
(c) Whether your position has duties, responsibilities, workload requirements, or methods of pay similar to those of positions found in the district's schedule, workload provisions, or collective bargaining agreement;
(d) When your position was created, and how long you held the position;
(e) Whether you have previously retired under the provisions of chapter 41.32 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.32.345 and 41.50.050. 93-20-021, § 415-112-820, filed 9/24/93, effective 10/25/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.32 RCW as amended by 1987 c 265. 87-20-082 (Order 87-09), § 415-112-820, filed 10/7/87.]
(1) The member's employer or employers will provide written verification of the following:
(a) The number of hours in a full school day for the member's employer. In the absence of an indication in employment contracts or elsewhere concerning what constitutes one day of employment, the department will designate seven hours as the length of a school day;
(b) The number of work days in a school year under a regular full-time contract. As provided in RCW 41.32.345 (3)(a), only work days identified in contracts adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.405.200 shall be counted under this subsection. Days worked pursuant to supplemental contracts authorized by RCW 28A.405.240 and 28A.400.200(4) are not considered days required under a regular full-time contract;
(c) The number of hours in a school year ((a) of this subsection multiplied by (b) of this subsection).
(d) If a bona fide part-time employee was employed by more than one employer during the school year in question, the department will average the number of hours in a full school day and the number of school days in a year in order to determine the average number of hours in a school year for purposes of applying this section.
(2) The member's employer will provide the following written information regarding the bona fide part-time employment of the Plan I member during each of the two consecutive years for which the member elects to have his or her compensation adjusted under RCW 41.32.345:
(a) Total hours worked by the employee under all employment contracts;
(b) Total earnable compensation earned under all employment contracts entered into by the employee;
(c) If applicable, the percent or portion of a full-time contract worked by the employee; and
(d) Net average hourly wage earned by the employee ((b) of this subsection divided by (a) of this subsection).
(3) To determine the member's adjusted earnable compensation under RCW 41.32.345 the department will multiply the member's average hourly wage as determined in subsection (2) of this section by the number of hours in a school year as determined by subsection (1) of this section. The product equals the compensation the member would have received in the same position if employed on a regular full-time basis for the same contract period.)) Pursuant to RCW 41.32.345, if you are a bona fide employee, as defined in WAC 415-112-810, you may choose to have your annual earnable compensation computed as outlined in this section, rather than as set forth in WAC 415-112-430.1
(1) The department will determine the number of hours you would have worked if you were employed on a regular full-time basis by multiplying the average hours per day reported under (a) of this subsection, by the average number of workdays reported under (b) of this subsection. For each position you occupied during a fiscal year, your employer must provide written verification of:
(a) The number of hours in the employer's school day.
(i) Unless otherwise determined by a contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy, the department considers the length of a school day to be seven hours.
(ii) If you were employed in more than one position to meet the requirements of a bona fide position, the department will average the number of hours in the full school day of each of your employers to determine the number of hours in a school day; and
(b) The number of workdays in the official calendar of the institution under a regular full-time contract, subject to the following conditions:
(i) For K-12 teachers, only workdays identified in contracts adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.405.200 will be counted under this subsection. Days worked pursuant to supplemental contracts authorized by RCW 28A.405.240 and 28A.400.200(4) are not considered days required under a "regular full-time contract."
(ii) If you were employed in more than one position to meet the requirements of a bona fide position, the department will average the number of school days in the official calendar of each of your employers in order to determine the number of work days.
(2) The department will calculate your average hourly rate by dividing your total compensation, as reported under (b) of this subsection, by the total hours reported under (a) of this subsection. Your employer(s) must provide the following written information:
(a) Total hours you worked during the fiscal year under all employment contracts with the employer;
(b) Total earnable compensation earned during the fiscal year under all employment contracts between you and employer; and
(c) The percent or portion of a full-time contract you worked.
(3) To determine your adjusted earnable compensation under RCW 41.32.345, the department will multiply your average hourly wage, as determined in subsection (2) of this section, by the number of hours in the official calendar, as determined by subsection (1) of this section. The product is the compensation you would have received in the same position if employed on a regular full-time basis.
1As set forth in WAC 415-112-835, certain bona fide employees in extended school year programs, may elect to have their annual earnable compensation modified under either WAC 415-112-830 or 415-112-835.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.32.345 and 41.50.050. 93-20-021, § 415-112-830, filed 9/24/93, effective 10/25/93.]
(a) You work under contract in an extended school year program during the second of the two consecutive fiscal years in WAC 415-112-810 (2)(a); and
(b) You work past June 30 of the fiscal year.
(2) The "alternate period" in WAC 415-112-430 (2)(b) is subdivided into two consecutive twelve-month periods. For purposes of this section, each of these periods is referred to as an "alternate twelve-month period." Annual earnable compensation is determined for each alternate twelve-month period.
(3) The department will determine the number of hours you would have worked if you were employed on a regular full-time basis by multiplying the average hours per day reported under (a) of this subsection, by the average number of workdays reported under (b) of this subsection. For each position you occupied during the alternate twelve-month period, your employer must provide written verification of:
(a) The number of hours in the employer's school day.
(i) Unless otherwise determined by a contract, bargaining agreement or employer policy, the department considers the length of a school day to be seven hours.
(ii) If you were employed in more than one position to meet the requirements of a bona fide position, the department will average the number of hours in the full school day of each of your employers to determine the number of hours in a school day.
(b) The number of workdays in the official calendar of the institution under a regular full-time contract, subject to the following conditions:
(i) For K-12 teachers, only workdays identified in contracts adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.405.200 will be counted under this subsection. Days worked pursuant to supplemental contracts authorized by RCW 28A.405.240 and 28A.400.200(4) are not considered days required under a "regular full-time contract."
(ii) If you were employed in more than one position to meet the requirements of a bona fide position, the department will average the number of school days in the official calendar of each of your employers to determine the number of workdays.
(4) The department will calculate your average hourly rate by dividing your total compensation, as reported under (b) of this subsection, by the total hours reported under (a) of this subsection. Your employer(s) must provide the following written information regarding your bona fide employment:
(a) Total hours you worked during the alternate twelve-month period under all employment contracts with the employer;
(b) Total earnable compensation earned during the alternate twelve-month period under all employment contracts between you and employer; and
(c) The percent or portion of a full-time contract you worked.
(5) To determine your adjusted earnable compensation under RCW 41.32.345, the department will multiply your average hourly wage as determined in subsection (4) of this section by the number of hours in the official calendar as determined by subsection (3) of this section. The product is the compensation you would have received in the same position if employed on a regular full-time basis.
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