(1) An approved voluntary plan ends when either the employer withdraws the plan or the agency terminates the plan for good cause. When a voluntary plan ends either through termination or withdrawal the following requirements must be satisfied:

(a) Benefits and benefit eligibility under a voluntary plan must be maintained for all employees covered by that plan until the effective date of termination or withdrawal.

(b) On the effective date of a voluntary plan termination or withdrawal, employees currently taking family or medical leave under this chapter are entitled to employment restoration under RCW 50A.30.010 (5)(h) until the leave ends.

(c) Employers must notify employees of any plan withdrawal or termination within five business days of notification by the department of the effective date of the termination or withdrawal.

(2) Withdrawal. Employers have the right to withdraw a voluntary plan under RCW 50A.30.010 (5)(e) and as provided herein:

(a) If an employer chooses to withdraw a voluntary plan due to a legally required increase in the benefit amounts or any change in the rate of employee premiums, the employer must provide notice to the department at least thirty days prior to the date the change goes into effect, stating the reason for the withdrawal. The plan will be considered withdrawn on the date of the change. Within thirty days of the effective date of withdrawal, the employer must remit to the department any employee wages withheld for the purpose of paying paid family or medical leave benefits that were not used to pay paid family or medical leave benefits.

(b) If the employer chooses to withdraw a voluntary plan for any other reason, the employer must provide notice to the department at least thirty days prior to the end of a calendar quarter. The plan will be considered withdrawn on the first day of the calendar quarter following the properly provided notice. If notice is provided less than thirty days prior to the end of a quarter, the plan will be considered withdrawn on the first day of the second calendar quarter following notice of the withdrawal. Within thirty days of the effective date of withdrawal, the employer must remit to the department any employee wages withheld for the purpose of paying paid family or medical leave benefits that were not used to pay paid family or medical leave benefits.

(c) On the effective date of a voluntary plan withdrawal, for employees currently receiving paid family or medical leave benefits under the voluntary plan, the employer will have the option to:

(i) Continue to pay benefits under the terms of the voluntary plan until the total amount of the benefit is paid or the duration of leave ends, whichever happens first; or

(ii) Immediately pay the employee the maximum remaining amount of benefits available to the employee under the terms of the voluntary plan, regardless of the duration of leave that is actually taken.

(d) Any benefit payments made by an employer to an employee on leave at the time of a voluntary plan withdrawal under (b) of this subsection will be deducted from any moneys owed to the department as described in (a) of this subsection.

(3) Termination. The department may terminate an employer's voluntary plan for good cause as defined under WAC 192-530-070 and as provided herein:

(a) If the department terminates an employer's voluntary plan, the department will notify the employer of the effective date of and reason for the termination. The department will calculate the amount owed by the employer and send an invoice for payment. The amount due will consist of all moneys in the plan, including any contributions held in trust as required by RCW 50A.30.050, moneys owed to the voluntary plan by the employer but not yet paid to the plan, and any interest accrued on all these moneys. The amount is due immediately. Any balance owed will begin accruing interest on the thirtieth calendar day after the date of the invoice.

(b) On the effective date of a voluntary plan termination, employees currently receiving paid family or medical leave benefits under the voluntary plan are, if otherwise eligible under the state plan, immediately entitled to benefits from the state plan.