RCW 41.18.130
Payment on separation—With less than twenty-five years service or less than fifty years of age—Option to be classified as vested firefighter.
Any firefighter who shall have served for a period of less than twenty-five years, or who shall be less than fifty years of age, and shall resign, or be dismissed from the fire department for a reason other than conviction for a felony, shall be paid the amount of his or her contributions to the fund plus earned interest: PROVIDED, That in the case of any firefighter who has completed twenty years of service, such firefighter, upon termination for any cause except for a conviction of a felony, shall have the option of electing, in lieu of recovery of his or her contributions as herein provided, to be classified as a vested firefighter in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Written notice of such election shall be filed with the board within thirty days after the effective date of such firefighter's termination;
(2) During the period between the date of his or her termination and the date upon which he or she becomes a retired firefighter as hereinafter provided, such vested firefighter and his or her spouse or dependent children shall be entitled to all benefits available under chapter 41.18 RCW to a retired firefighter and his or her spouse or dependent children with the exception of the service retirement allowance as herein provided for: PROVIDED, That any claim for medical coverage under RCW 41.18.060 shall be attributable to service connected illness or injury;
(3) Any firefighter electing to become a vested firefighter shall be entitled at such time as he or she otherwise would have completed twenty-five years of service had he or she not terminated, to receive a service retirement allowance computed on the following basis: Two percent of the amount of salary attached to the position held by the vested firefighter for the year preceding the date of his or her termination, for each year of service rendered prior to the date of his or her termination.
[ 2007 c 218 § 53; 1969 ex.s. c 209 § 31; 1961 c 255 § 6; 1955 c 382 § 11.]
NOTES:
Intent—Finding—2007 c 218: See note following RCW 41.08.020.
Effective date—Severability—Construction—1969 ex.s. c 209: See RCW 41.26.3901, 41.26.3902, and 41.26.3903.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 41 - Public Employment, Civil Service, and Pensions
Chapter 41.18 - Firefighters' Relief and Pensions—1955 Act.
41.18.015 - Pension boards—Members—Terms—Vacancies—Officers—Quorum.
41.18.020 - Powers and duties of board.
41.18.030 - Contributions by firefighters.
41.18.040 - Retirement for service—Widow's or widower's pension—Payments to children.
41.18.042 - Actuarially reduced retirement allowance—Spousal benefit.
41.18.045 - Pension benefits for widows or widowers of unretired, eligible firefighters—Retroactive.
41.18.050 - Disablement in line of duty—Retirement.
41.18.060 - Disablement in line of duty—Inactive period—Allowance—Medical, hospital, nursing care.
41.18.080 - Payment upon disablement not in line of duty.
41.18.090 - Examination of disability pensioners—Restoration to active duty.
41.18.102 - Applicability of RCW 41.18.040 and 41.18.100.
41.18.104 - Annual increase in benefits payable on retirement for service or disability—Appeals.
41.18.150 - Credit for military service.
41.18.160 - Certain firefighters may elect to be covered under other law.
41.18.165 - Credit for membership in private organization acquired by municipality.
41.18.170 - Application of chapter.
41.18.180 - Firefighter contributor under prior law may obtain benefits of chapter—Refunds.
41.18.190 - Transfer of membership authorized.
41.18.900 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.