WSR 25-23-102

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

[Filed November 18, 2025, 3:50 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Creating a streamlined process to manage requests for employer information.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.50.050.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department of retirement systems (DRS) is developing a rule to streamline how it manages requests for employer information (RFEIs) used to obtain information from employers for DRS to calculate member benefits. The proposed process will introduce structured follow-up steps and a final notice protocol to address persistent nonresponses and reduce a backlog of approximately 5,000 outstanding RFEIs.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Bianca Stoner, DRS, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, phone 360-664-7291, TTY 711, email drs.rules@drs.wa.gov, website www.drs.wa.gov/rules.

November 18, 2025

Bianca Stoner

Rules Coordinator