BILL REQ. #:  Z-0257.1 

Read first time 01/15/2003.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing members of the teachers' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, and the public employees' retirement system to begin receiving benefits without leaving service at age seventy and one-half; adding a new section to chapter 41.32 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 41.35 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 41.40 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 41.32 RCW under the subchapter heading "provisions applicable to plan 1, plan 2, and plan 3" to read as follows:
     Upon attainment of age seventy and one-half, an employed member may, subject to this section, apply for the retirement benefit the member is otherwise eligible to receive and remain employed without reduction in their pension. The retirement benefit begins to accrue on the first day of the calendar month following the month that a member applies for a retirement benefit and has attained age seventy and one-half. The benefit shall be calculated in accordance with the rules of the member's plan, except that the member may continue to be employed. Upon retirement, the retiree is no longer an active member and may not make contributions, nor receive service credit, for future periods of employment while receiving his or her retirement allowance.
     This section does not apply to any member who is a state elected official on the effective date of this act, unless that member leaves elected office or is reappointed or reelected after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 41.35 RCW under the subchapter heading "provisions applicable to plan 2 and plan 3" to read as follows:
     Upon attainment of age seventy and one-half, an employed member may, subject to this section, apply for the retirement benefit the member is otherwise eligible to receive and remain employed without reduction in their pension. The retirement benefit begins to accrue on the first day of the calendar month following the month that a member applies for a retirement benefit and has attained age seventy and one-half. The benefit is calculated in accordance with the rules of the member's plan, except that the member may continue to be employed. Upon retirement, the retiree is no longer an active member and may not make contributions, nor receive service credit, for future periods of employment while receiving his or her retirement allowance.
     This section does not apply to any member who is a state elected official on the effective date of this act, unless that member leaves elected office or is reappointed or reelected after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 41.40 RCW under the subchapter heading "provisions applicable to plan 1, plan 2, and plan 3" to read as follows:
     Upon attainment of age seventy and one-half, an employed member may, subject to this section, apply for the retirement benefit the member is otherwise eligible to receive and remain employed without reduction in their pension. The retirement benefit begins to accrue on the first day of the calendar month following the month that a member applies for a retirement benefit and has attained age seventy and one-half. The benefit shall be calculated in accordance with the rules of the member's plan, except that the member may continue to be employed. Upon retirement, the retiree is no longer an active member and may not make contributions, nor receive service credit, for future periods of employment while receiving his or her retirement allowance.
     This section does not apply to any member who is a state elected official on the effective date of this act, unless that member leaves elected office or is reappointed or reelected after the effective date of this act.