BILL REQ. #:  H-3440.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to reimbursement of public entities for compensation paid to officers and employees; amending RCW 4.92.070, 41.28.200, 41.40.052, and 43.43.310; reenacting and amending RCW 6.15.020, 41.26.053, and 41.32.052; adding a new section to chapter 4.22 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that citizens, through their government, are frequently unable to collect reimbursement from officers and employees who receive compensation while on paid leave while being investigated for and ultimately convicted of criminal conduct. The legislature further finds that this inability is an unjust drain on public resources and facilitates the avoidance of responsibility by those who engage in criminal conduct. The purpose of this act is to enable public entities on behalf of the citizens to obtain reimbursement from those officers and employees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 4.22 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An officer or employee of a public entity shall be liable to provide reimbursement to the public entity for compensation received while the officer or employee was on paid leave pending or during an inquiry or investigation regarding potential criminal conduct of the officer or employee and the officer or employee is ultimately convicted of a crime.
     (2) When a public entity enforces a right of contribution against an officer or employee, the court may order that the contribution be paid from the benefits of a retirement system or plan that would otherwise be paid to the officer or employee, if the officer or employee has received compensation while on paid leave pending or during an inquiry or investigation regarding potential criminal conduct of the officer or employee and the officer or employee is ultimately convicted of a crime. This source of contribution is in addition to any other source that may be available.
     (3) An order under subsection (1) of this section shall protect the community property interests of a spouse in the benefits of the retirement system or plan.
     (4) The administrator of any public retirement system shall adopt rules providing for the assignment of benefits to a public entity under subsection (1) of this section. The administrator shall also provide a form to be signed by each officer or employee at the time he or she first becomes a member of a public retirement system. The form shall indicate that the officer or employee acknowledges that his or her benefits are subject to this section.
     (5) This section applies to the following officers and employees:
     (a) With respect to a public retirement system, an officer or employee who, after the effective date of this act, becomes a member of a public retirement system, including but not limited to a retirement system under chapter 2.14, 28A.400, 28B.10, 41.26, 41.28, 41.32, 41.40, or 43.43 RCW; and
     (b) To the extent not prohibited by federal law, a person participating in an employee benefit plan identified in RCW 6.15.020(4).
     (6) For purposes of this section, "public entity" includes the state, its political subdivisions, municipal corporations, quasi-municipal corporations, and special districts.

Sec. 3   RCW 4.92.070 and 1999 c 163 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     If the attorney general ((shall)) finds that ((said)) the officer, employee, or volunteer's acts or omissions were, or were purported to be in good faith, within the scope of that person's official duties, or, in the case of a foster parent, that the occurrence arose from the good faith provision of foster care services, ((said)) the request shall be granted((, in which event)). The attorney general may also grant a request to represent the officer, employee, or volunteer if the attorney general believes that there is a reasonable doubt whether the acts or omissions were performed in good faith and within the scope of official duties and that it is therefore in the state's interest to grant the request. If a request is granted, the necessary expenses of the defense of ((said)) the action or proceeding relating to a state officer, employee, or volunteer shall be paid as provided in RCW 4.92.130. In the case of a foster parent, necessary expenses of the defense shall be paid from the appropriations made for the support of the department to which such foster parent is attached. In such cases the attorney general shall appear and defend such officer, employee, volunteer, or foster parent, who shall assist and cooperate in the defense of such suit. However, the attorney general may not represent or provide private representation for a foster parent in an action or proceeding brought by the department of social and health services against that foster parent.

Sec. 4   RCW 6.15.020 and 1999 c 81 s 1 and 1999 c 42 s 603 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) It is the policy of the state of Washington to ensure the well-being of its citizens by protecting retirement income to which they are or may become entitled. For that purpose generally and pursuant to the authority granted to the state of Washington under 11 U.S.C. Sec. 522(b)(2), the exemptions in this section relating to retirement benefits are provided.
     (2) Unless otherwise provided by federal law, any money received by any citizen of the state of Washington as a pension from the government of the United States, whether the same be in the actual possession of such person or be deposited or loaned, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever, and when a debtor dies, or absconds, and leaves his or her family any money exempted by this subsection, the same shall be exempt to the family as provided in this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW, if otherwise permitted by federal law.
     (3) The right of a person to a pension, annuity, or retirement allowance or disability allowance, or death benefits, or any optional benefit, or any other right accrued or accruing to any citizen of the state of Washington under any employee benefit plan, and any fund created by such a plan or arrangement, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW if otherwise permitted by federal law. This subsection shall permit benefits under any such plan or arrangement to be payable to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant in such plan to the extent expressly provided for in a qualified domestic relations order that meets the requirements for such orders under the plan, or, in the case of benefits payable under a plan described in sections 403(b) or 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984, to the extent provided in any order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that provides for maintenance or support. This subsection shall not prohibit actions against an employee benefit plan, or fund for valid obligations incurred by the plan or fund for the benefit of the plan or fund. This subsection does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, the term "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement that is described in RCW 49.64.020, including any Keogh plan, whether funded by a trust or by an annuity contract, and in sections 401(a) or 403(a) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; or that is a tax-sheltered annuity described in section 403(b) of such code or an individual retirement account described in section 408 of such code; or a Roth individual retirement account described in section 408A of such code; or a medical savings account described in section 220 of such code; or an education individual retirement account described in section 530 of such code; or a retirement bond described in section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984. The term "employee benefit plan" also means any rights accruing on account of money paid currently or in advance for purchase of tuition units under the advanced college tuition payment program in chapter 28B.95 RCW. The term "employee benefit plan" shall not include any employee benefit plan that is established or maintained for its employees by the government of the United States, by the state of Washington under chapter 2.10, 2.12, 41.26, 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.40 or 43.43 RCW or RCW 41.50.770, or by any agency or instrumentality of the government of the United States.
     (5) An employee benefit plan shall be deemed to be a spendthrift trust, regardless of the source of funds, the relationship between the trustee or custodian of the plan and the beneficiary, or the ability of the debtor to withdraw or borrow or otherwise become entitled to benefits from the plan before retirement. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW, if otherwise permitted by federal law. This subsection shall permit benefits under any such plan or arrangement to be payable to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant in such plan to the extent expressly provided for in a qualified domestic relations order that meets the requirements for such orders under the plan, or, in the case of benefits payable under a plan described in sections 403(b) or 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984, to the extent provided in any order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that provides for maintenance or support. This subsection does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.
     (6) Unless contrary to applicable federal law, nothing contained in subsection (3), (4), or (5) of this section shall be construed as a termination or limitation of a spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account held in the name of or on account of the other spouse, the account holder spouse. At the death of the nonaccount holder spouse, the nonaccount holder spouse may transfer or distribute the community property interest of the nonaccount holder spouse in the account holder spouse's individual retirement account to the nonaccount holder spouse's estate, testamentary trust, inter vivos trust, or other successor or successors pursuant to the last will of the nonaccount holder spouse or the law of intestate succession, and that distributee may, but shall not be required to, obtain an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, including a nonjudicial dispute resolution agreement entered into pursuant to RCW 11.96.170 or other order entered under chapter 11.96A RCW, to confirm the distribution. For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, the distributee of the nonaccount holder spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account shall be considered a person entitled to the full protection of subsection (3) of this section. The nonaccount holder spouse's consent to a beneficiary designation by the account holder spouse with respect to an individual retirement account shall not, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, be deemed a release, gift, relinquishment, termination, limitation, or transfer of the nonaccount holder spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account. For purposes of this subsection, the term "nonaccount holder spouse" means the spouse of the person in whose name the individual retirement account is maintained. The term "individual retirement account" includes an individual retirement account and an individual retirement annuity both as described in section 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, a Roth individual retirement account as described in section 408A of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, and an individual retirement bond as described in section 409 of the internal revenue code as in effect before January 1, 1984. As used in this subsection, an order of a court of competent jurisdiction includes an agreement, as that term is used under RCW 11.96A.220.

Sec. 5   RCW 41.26.053 and 1991 c 365 s 20 and 1991 c 35 s 25 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (4) of this section, the right of a person to a retirement allowance, disability allowance, or death benefit, to the return of accumulated contributions, the retirement, disability or death allowance itself, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, and the moneys in the fund created under this chapter, are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or any other process of law whatsoever, and shall be unassignable.
     (2) On the written request of any person eligible to receive benefits under this section, the department may deduct from such payments the premiums for life, health, or other insurance. The request on behalf of any child or children shall be made by the legal guardian of such child or children. The department may provide for such persons one or more plans of group insurance, through contracts with regularly constituted insurance carriers or health care service contractors.
     (3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to RCW 26.23.060, (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
     (4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.

Sec. 6   RCW 41.28.200 and 1939 c 207 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
     The right of a person to a pension, an annuity or a retirement allowance, to the return of contributions, the pension, annuity or retirement allowance itself, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, and the moneys in the fund created under this chapter shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever and shall be unassignable except as in this chapter specifically provided. This section does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.

Sec. 7   RCW 41.32.052 and 1991 c 365 s 21 and 1991 c 35 s 63 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (4) of this section, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, a retirement allowance, or disability allowance, to the return of contributions, any optional benefit or death benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter and the moneys in the various funds created by this chapter shall be unassignable, and are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal or other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law whatsoever.
     (2) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance who is eligible:
     (a) Under RCW 41.05.080 from authorizing monthly deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of public employees of the state of Washington or its political subdivisions;
     (b) Under a group health care benefit plan approved pursuant to RCW 28A.400.350 or 41.05.065 from authorizing monthly deductions therefrom, of the amount or amounts of subscription payments, premiums, or contributions to any person, firm, or corporation furnishing or providing medical, surgical, and hospital care or other health care insurance; or
     (c) Under this system from authorizing monthly deductions therefrom for payment of dues and other membership fees to any retirement association composed of retired teachers and/or public employees pursuant to a written agreement between the director and the retirement association.
     Deductions under (a) and (b) of this subsection shall be made in accordance with rules that may be adopted by the director.
     (3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to RCW 26.23.060, (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
     (4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.

Sec. 8   RCW 41.40.052 and 1999 c 83 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (4) of this section, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or retirement allowance, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, the various funds created by this chapter, and all moneys and investments and income thereof, are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law whatsoever, and shall be unassignable.
     (2)(a) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of public employees of the state of Washington or its political subdivisions and which has been approved for deduction in accordance with rules that may be adopted by the state health care authority and/or the department, and this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of dues and other membership fees to any retirement association or organization the membership of which is composed of retired public employees, if a total of three hundred or more of such retired employees have authorized such deduction for payment to the same retirement association or organization.
     (b) This section does not prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions from that allowance for charitable purposes on the same terms as employees and public officers under RCW 41.04.035 and 41.04.036.
     (3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to RCW 26.23.060, (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
     (4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.

Sec. 9   RCW 43.43.310 and 1991 c 365 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (4) of this section, the right of any person to a retirement allowance or optional retirement allowance under the provisions hereof and all moneys and investments and income thereof are exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or the insolvency laws, or other processes of law whatsoever and shall be unassignable except as herein specifically provided.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department of retirement systems from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to RCW 26.23.060, (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued pursuant to chapter 41.50 RCW, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
     (3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of members of the Washington state patrol or other public employees of the state of Washington, or for contributions to the Washington state patrol memorial foundation.
     (4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to an order entered under section 2 of this act.