(1) You are required to make contributions to your retirement plan each pay period.

(2) Your contributions are tracked in an individual account in your name.

(3) If the amount in your individual account on the last day of a quarter is more than zero dollars, the department will calculate an amount of regular interest to be credited to your account on the last day of the quarter using the following formula:

1/4 × R × B

Regular interest will be credited consistent with this subsection, whether or not you are in active service.

(a) In the formula in subsection (3) of this section, "R" represents the rate of regular interest. The director has the statutory authority to set the rate of regular interest. Consistent with that authority, the rate of regular interest is set at 5.5 percent per year, until changed by the director consistent with his or her discretionary authority.

(b) In the formula in subsection (3) of this section, "B" represents the balance in your individual account at the close of business on the last day of the prior quarter. "B" may be equal to zero dollars.

(4) The calculated amount of regular interest will be credited to your individual account on the last day of the quarter. The total amount in your individual account (i.e., all your member contributions plus all the regular interest that has been credited to the account) are your "accumulated contributions."

(5) Your individual account does not "earn" or accrue regular interest on a day by day basis.

(6) Example: Jon had $50,000 in his PERS Plan 2 individual account at the end of the day on September 30, 2017 (the last day of the third quarter). He has $50,200 in his PERS Plan 2 individual account on December 31, 2017, immediately before regular interest for fourth quarter is credited. For fourth quarter, the regular interest to be credited to his account is calculated as follows:

1/4 × 5.5% × $50,000 = $687.50

This regular interest is credited to his individual account for a total of $50,887.50 ($50,200.00 + $687.50) at the end of the day on December 31, 2017.

(a) If Jon transfers from PERS Plan 2 to PERS Plan 3 on January 25, 2018, he receives no additional regular interest for the period from January 1 through January 25.

(b) If Jon separates from service on February 15, 2018, and withdraws the amount in his individual account, he receives no additional regular interest for the period from January 1 through February 15.

(7) This rule applies retroactively to November 3, 1977, to all Plan 1 and Plan 2 individual accounts in the public employees' retirement system, teachers' retirement system, law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, school employees' retirement system, and public safety employees' retirement system, and prospectively for the Washington state patrol retirement system Plan 1 and Plan 2.