AN ACT Relating to directing the department of retirement systems to create rules regarding automatic refunds of retirement contributions in the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030; and adding a new section to chapter 41.50 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 41.50 RCW to read as follows:

(1) By January 1, 2022, the department will establish by rule an effective means of:

(a) Identifying inactive accounts of nonvested members of the retirement systems listed in RCW 41.50.030 whose account balance is less than one thousand dollars; and

(b) Providing for the orderly closing and refunding of member account balances in those accounts in accordance with the federal internal revenue code.

(2) The refund of a member's account balance will terminate all rights to future benefits, unless otherwise restored under the rules for each of the respective retirement systems.

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