Brief Description: Vesting after five years of service in the defined benefit portion of the public employees' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, and the teachers' retirement system plan 3.

Sponsors: Representatives Alexander, Conway, Crouse, Simpson, Upthegrove and Chase; by request of Select Committee on Pension Policy.

Hearing Date: 1/27/05

Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).

Background:

A member of Washington retirement systems must complete specific amounts of qualified employment before he or she is entitled to a pension benefit. This period of service requirement is called "vesting."

In the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Plans 1 and 2, the School Employees' Retirement System (SERS) Plan 2, and the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Plans 1 and 2, the vesting period for employees is five years. After five years of service in Plan 1 or Plan 2, members' defined benefits are based in part upon the number of qualified years of service they have worked multiplied by 2 percent of their final average salaries. The method of calculating final average salary varies by plan.

The Plans 3 are a "hybrid" plan design in which employer contributions are made to support a defined benefit, and employee contributions are made into individual defined contribution accounts.

In PERS 3, SERS 3, and TRS 3, the vesting period in the defined benefit portion of employees' benefits is 10 years, or five years including one year after age 54. After 10 years of service, a Plan 3 member's defined benefit is based upon the number of qualified years of service he or she has worked multiplied by 1 percent of average final salary. Plan 3 members vest immediately in the defined contribution portion of their benefits.

Members who were already vested in Plan 2 when they transferred to PERS 3, SERS 3, or TRS 3 remain vested members.

Summary of Bill:

The vesting period for PERS 3, SERS 3, and TRS 3 is reduced to five years of qualified service at any age.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.