PROPOSED RULES
COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 00-07-128 [00-08-029].
Purpose: To clarify TIAA/CREF retirement plan eligibility and participation.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28B.50 RCW.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 131-16 WAC.
Summary: The TIAA/CREF eligibility threshold revised and approved by the state board in July 1999 presents a possible conflict with PERS statute, RCW 41.40.023. The permanent proposed rules clarifies eligibility and plan participation.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: John Boesenberg, 319 7th Avenue, Olympia, (360) 753-3661; and Enforcement: Howard Fischer, Attorney General's Office, Olympia, (360) 586-2789.
Name of Proponent: State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: See Summary above.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The permanent rule revision addresses potential conflicts with the PERS statute under RCW 41.40.023.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Walla Walla Community College, 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, WA 98362, on June 22, 2000, at 10 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact C. Krueger by June 15, 2000, (360) 586-6440 (fax).
Submit Written Comments to: John Boesenberg, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, P.O. Box 42495, Olympia, WA 98504-2495, fax (360) 586-6440, by June 15, 2000.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 22, 2000.
May 2, 2000
Claire C. Krueger
Executive Assistant and
Agency Rules Coordinator
OTS-3966.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-22-052, filed 10/29/99,
effective 11/29/99)
WAC 131-16-021
Employees eligible to participate in
retirement annuity purchase plan.
(1) Eligibility to participate in the TIAA/CREF plan is limited to persons who hold appointments to college district or state board staff positions as full-time or part-time faculty members or administrators exempt from the provisions of chapter 28B.16 RCW and, effective July 1, 1999, are assigned a cumulative total of at least fifty percent of full-time workload as defined by the collective bargaining agreement and/or the appointing authority at one or more college districts or the state board for at least two consecutive college quarters. (Part-time faculty workload is calculated in accordance with RCW 28B.50.489 and 28B.50.4891.)
(2) Participation in the plan is also permitted for current and former employees of college districts or the state board who are on leave of absence or who have terminated employment by reason of permanent disability and who are receiving a salary continuation insurance benefit through a plan made available by the state of Washington: Provided, That such noncontributory participation shall not be creditable toward the number of years of full-time service utilized in calculating eligibility for supplemental retirement benefits pursuant to WAC 131-16-061.
(3) Optional participation in tax-deferred annuities other than this qualified plan as offered by individual colleges is permitted consistent with the Internal Revenue Code: Provided, That the provisions of WAC 131-16-015, 131-16-050, and 131-16-061 shall not apply in such cases. Optional tax-deferred annuities are provided through a salary reduction agreement between the employee and employer. There is no employer contribution for optional tax-deferred annuities.
(4) An employee who moves from an ineligible to an eligible position for the same appointing authority may become a participant by so electing in writing within six months following such move.
(5) A participant who moves from an eligible position to an ineligible position for the same appointing authority may continue to be a participant by so electing within six months following such move.
(6) Participants shall continue participation regardless of the proportion of full-time duties assigned, except as otherwise provided in this section, as long as continuously employed within the community and technical college system. The community and technical college or state board employer shall notify, in writing, all newly hired employees of their potential right to participate. A participating employee, who changes employers without a break in service, shall have the responsibility to notify in writing the new college or state board employer of his or her eligibility. In no case will there be a requirement for retroactive contributions if an employee fails to inform his or her college or state board employer about eligibility previously established with another community and technical college system employer. For the purposes of this section, spring and fall quarters shall be considered as consecutive periods of employment.
(7) As a condition of employment, all employees who become
eligible on and after January 1, 1997, shall participate in this
plan upon initial eligibility. Notwithstanding this provision,
all eligible new employees who at the time of employment are
members of the Washington state teachers retirement system or the
Washington public employees retirement system may participate as
provided in WAC 131-16-031(((1))).
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. 99-22-052, § 131-16-021, filed 10/29/99, effective 11/29/99. 99-19-100, §131-16-021, filed 9/20/99, effective 10/21/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.10.400 and chapter 28B.50 RCW. 98-14-033, § 131-16-021, filed 6/23/98, effective 7/24/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. 97-10-069, § 131-16-021, filed 5/5/97, effective 7/8/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.10.400. 91-13-048 (Resolution No. 91-20, Order 129), § 131-16-021, filed 6/14/91, effective 7/15/91.]
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, participation in the TIAA/CREF plan is required of all otherwise eligible new employees: Provided, That any such new employee, who at the time of employment is a member of the Washington state teachers retirement system or the Washington public employees retirement system, and whose college or state board employment meets the requirements of an "eligible position" as defined by such plan, may irrevocably elect to retain such membership or, if not vested in that system, retain membership until vesting occurs and then irrevocably elect to participate in the TIAA/CREF plan.
(2) Employees who establish TIAA/CREF plan eligibility in accordance with WAC 131-16-021 and who, through concurrent employment with another employer, are active Washington public employee retirement system (PERS) members are required to so advise the college or state board employer and shall be given the following options:
(a) To participate in the state board's TIAA/CREF retirement plan in accordance with chapter 131-16 WAC, forgoing active PERS membership (contributions and service credit) with their other employer; or
(b) To continue active participation in PERS based upon their employment with the other public employer; forgoing participation in the state board's TIAA/CREF retirement plan.
Failure to make an election within thirty days of notification results in the employee being placed in the TIAA/CREF plan. The college or state board employer is required to advise the department of retirement systems (DRS) of a PERS member's participation in the TIAA/CREF plan, whether through election or default. It shall be the employee's responsibility to notify the other employer if he or she elects to participate in the TIAA/CREF plan. The employee will notify his or her college or state board employer should the employee cease to be an active PERS member. This irrevocable election remains in effect as long as the employee is actively participating in a PERS plan and is required because RCW 41.40.023(4) prohibits PERS members from simultaneously participating in two state retirement plans.
(3) Any current active participant of TIAA/CREF who becomes an active member of PERS based on employment with another PERS employer is required to notify his or her college or state board employer. The employee will be provided the options listed in subsection (2) of this section and the college or state board employer will follow through accordingly.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.10.400 and chapter 28B.50 RCW. 98-14-033, § 131-16-031, filed 6/23/98, effective 7/24/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.10.400. 91-13-048 (Resolution No. 91-20, Order 129), § 131-16-031, filed 6/14/91, effective 7/15/91.]