HB 2397 - DIGEST

     Provides that, subject to this act, in addition to members eligible to retire under RCW 41.40.180, any member of the public employees' retirement system plan I who meets the following criteria may retire after providing written notification to the member's employer and submitting the required application to the director on a form provided by the department:  (1) The member is employed by an employer in an eligible position on March 1, 1998.  Eligible positions are those positions within job titles designated by the agency director to be permanently abolished, subject to approval by the director of financial management;

     (2) a member eligible under this act must file an application between June 15, 1998, and August 31, 1998, with an effective date of retirement on or before September 30, 1998.

     Requires that, in order to ensure that the state derives the expected benefits from the early retirement provisions of this act, no state agency may engage through personal service contracts persons who retire from service under the provisions of this act.