PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Military service credit.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.04.005.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Washington state retirement laws related to military service are intended to mirror the requirements in the federal law, 38 U.S.C. 101. This federal statute covers "the period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the Congress and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress." The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) proposes adopting rules, as needed, to clarify that military service rules apply to service in southern or central Asia as part of Operation Enduring Freedom or service during the period of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will work on the project, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General. The public is invited and encouraged to participate, as described below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. DRS encourages your active participation in the rule-making process. Anyone interested in participating should contact the rules coordinator, below. After the rule(s) is drafted, DRS will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making, and send a copy to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else who requests a copy. For more information on how to participate, please contact Merry A. Kogut, Rules Coordinator, Department of Retirement Systems, Mailstop 48380, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, voice (360) 664-7291, TTY (360) 586-5450, e-mail merryk@drs.wa.gov, fax (360) 753-3166.
April 11, 2003
Merry A. Kogut
Rules Coordinator