BILL REQ. #:  Z-1041.1 

Read first time 01/15/2004.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to permitting members of the public employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3 and the school employees' retirement system plan 2 and plan 3 who qualify for early retirement or alternate early retirement to make a one-time purchase of additional service credit; adding new sections to chapter 41.40 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 41.35 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 41.40 RCW under the subchapter heading "plan 2" to read as follows:
     (1) A member eligible to retire under RCW 41.40.630 (2) or (3) may, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, apply to the department to make a one-time purchase of up to five years of additional service credit.
     (2) To purchase additional service credit under this section, a member shall pay the actuarial equivalent value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit.
     (3) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing additional service credit under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (4) Additional service credit purchased under this section is not membership service, and may not be used to qualify a member for retirement under RCW 41.40.630.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 41.40 RCW under the subchapter heading "plan 3" to read as follows:
     (1) A member eligible to retire under RCW 41.40.820 (2) or (3) may, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, apply to the department to make a one-time purchase of up to five years of additional service credit.
     (2) To purchase additional service credit under this section, a member shall pay the actuarial equivalent value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit.
     (3) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing additional service credit under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (4) Additional service credit purchased under this section is not membership service, and may not be used to qualify for retirement under RCW 41.40.820.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 41.35 RCW under the subchapter heading "plan 2" to read as follows:
     (1) A member eligible to retire under RCW 41.35.420 (2) or (3) may, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, apply to the department to make a one-time purchase of up to five years of additional service credit.
     (2) To purchase additional service credit under this section, a member shall pay the actuarial equivalent value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit.
     (3) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing additional service credit under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (4) Additional service credit purchased under this section is not membership service, and may not be used to qualify a member for retirement under RCW 41.35.420.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 41.35 RCW under the subchapter heading "plan 3" to read as follows:
     (1) A member eligible to retire under RCW 41.35.680 (2) or (3) may, at the time of filing a written application for retirement with the department, apply to the department to make a one-time purchase of up to five years of additional service credit.
     (2) To purchase additional service credit under this section, a member shall pay the actuarial equivalent value of the resulting increase in the member's benefit.
     (3) Subject to rules adopted by the department, a member purchasing additional service credit under this section may pay all or part of the cost with a lump sum payment, eligible rollover, direct rollover, or trustee-to-trustee transfer from an eligible retirement plan. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that all lump sum payments, rollovers, and transfers comply with the requirements of the internal revenue code and regulations adopted by the internal revenue service. The rules adopted by the department may condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the department to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
     (4) Additional service credit purchased under this section is not membership service, and may not be used to qualify for retirement under RCW 41.35.680.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act takes effect July 1, 2006.