RCW 43.43.120
Patrol retirement system—Definitions.
As used in this section and RCW 43.43.130 through 43.43.320, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
(1) "Actuarial equivalent" shall mean a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of such mortality table as may be adopted and such interest rate as may be determined by the director.
(2) "Annual increase" means as of July 1, 1999, seventy-seven cents per month per year of service which amount shall be increased each subsequent July 1st by three percent, rounded to the nearest cent.
(3)(a) "Average final salary," for members commissioned prior to January 1, 2003, shall mean the average monthly salary received by a member during the member's last two years of service or any consecutive two-year period of service, whichever is the greater, as an employee of the Washington state patrol; or if the member has less than two years of service, then the average monthly salary received by the member during the member's total years of service.
(b) "Average final salary," for members commissioned on or after January 1, 2003, shall mean the average monthly salary received by a member for the highest consecutive sixty service credit months; or if the member has less than sixty months of service, then the average monthly salary received by the member during the member's total months of service.
(c) In calculating average final salary under (a) or (b) of this subsection, the department of retirement systems shall include:
(i) Any compensation forgone by the member during the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory or voluntary leave without pay, temporary reduction in pay implemented prior to December 11, 2010, or temporary layoffs if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the chief;
(ii) Any compensation forgone by a member during the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or reductions to current pay if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the chief. Reductions to current pay shall not include elimination of previously agreed upon future salary reductions; and
(iii) Any compensation forgone by a member during the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 fiscal biennia as a result of reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, furloughs, reductions to current pay, or other similar measures resulting from the COVID-19 budgetary crisis, if the reduced compensation is an integral part of the employer's expenditure reduction efforts, as certified by the chief. Reductions to current pay shall not include elimination of previously agreed upon future salary increases.
(4) "Beneficiary" means any person in receipt of retirement allowance or any other benefit allowed by this chapter.
(5)(a) "Cadet," for a person who became a member of the retirement system after June 12, 1980, is a person who has passed the Washington state patrol's entry-level oral, written, physical performance, and background examinations and is, thereby, appointed by the chief as a candidate to be a commissioned officer of the Washington state patrol.
(b) "Cadet," for a person who became a member of the retirement system before June 12, 1980, is a trooper cadet, patrol cadet, or employee of like classification, employed for the express purpose of receiving the on-the-job training required for attendance at the state patrol academy and for becoming a commissioned trooper. "Like classification" includes: Radio operators or dispatchers; persons providing security for the governor or legislature; patrol officers; drivers' license examiners; weighmasters; vehicle safety inspectors; central wireless operators; and warehouse workers.
(6) "Contributions" means the deduction from the compensation of each member in accordance with the contribution rates established under chapter 41.45 RCW.
(7) "Current service" shall mean all service as a member rendered on or after August 1, 1947.
(8) "Department" means the department of retirement systems created in chapter 41.50 RCW.
(9) "Director" means the director of the department of retirement systems.
(10) "Domestic partners" means two adults who have registered as domestic partners under RCW 26.60.040.
(11) "Employee" means any commissioned employee of the Washington state patrol.
(12) "Insurance commissioner" means the insurance commissioner of the state of Washington.
(13) "Lieutenant governor" means the lieutenant governor of the state of Washington.
(14) "Member" means any person included in the membership of the retirement fund.
(15) "Plan 2" means the Washington state patrol retirement system plan 2, providing the benefits and funding provisions covering commissioned employees who first become members of the system on or after January 1, 2003.
(16) "Prior service" shall mean all services rendered by a member to the state of Washington, or any of its political subdivisions prior to August 1, 1947, unless such service has been credited in another public retirement or pension system operating in the state of Washington.
(17) "Regular interest" means interest compounded annually at such rates as may be determined by the director.
(18) "Retirement board" means the board provided for in this chapter.
(19) "Retirement fund" means the Washington state patrol retirement fund.
(20) "Retirement system" means the Washington state patrol retirement system.
(21)(a) "Salary," for members commissioned prior to July 1, 2001, shall exclude any overtime earnings related to RCW 47.46.040, or any voluntary overtime, earned on or after July 1, 2001, and prior to July 1, 2017. On or after July 1, 2017, salary shall exclude overtime earnings in excess of seventy hours per year in total related to either RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime.
(b) "Salary," for members commissioned from July 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, shall exclude any overtime earnings related to RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime, earned prior to July 1, 2017, lump sum payments for deferred annual sick leave, or any form of severance pay. On or after July 1, 2017, salary shall exclude overtime earnings in excess of seventy hours per year in total related to either RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime.
(c) "Salary," for members commissioned on or after January 1, 2003, shall exclude any overtime earnings related to RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime, earned prior to July 1, 2017, lump sum payments for deferred annual sick leave, unused accumulated vacation, unused accumulated annual leave, holiday pay, or any form of severance pay. On or after July 1, 2017, salary shall exclude overtime earnings in excess of seventy hours per year in total related to either RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime.
(d) The addition of overtime earnings related to RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime earned on or after July 1, 2017, in chapter 181, Laws of 2017 is a benefit improvement that increases the member maximum contribution rate under RCW 41.45.0631(1) by 1.10 percent.
(22)(a) "Service" shall mean services rendered to the state of Washington or any political subdivisions thereof for which compensation has been paid. Full time employment for seventy or more hours in any given calendar month shall constitute one month of service. An employee who is reinstated in accordance with RCW 43.43.110 shall suffer no loss of service for the period reinstated subject to the contribution requirements of this chapter. Only months of service shall be counted in the computation of any retirement allowance or other benefit provided for herein. Years of service shall be determined by dividing the total number of months of service by twelve. Any fraction of a year of service as so determined shall be taken into account in the computation of such retirement allowance or benefit.
(b) Reduction efforts such as furloughs, reduced work hours, mandatory leave without pay, temporary layoffs, or other similar situations as contemplated by subsection (3)(c)(iii) of this section do not result in a reduction in service credit that otherwise would have been earned for that month of work, and the member shall receive the full service credit for the hours that were scheduled to be worked before the reduction.
(23) "State actuary" or "actuary" means the person appointed pursuant to RCW 44.44.010(2).
(24) "State treasurer" means the treasurer of the state of Washington.
Unless the context expressly indicates otherwise, words importing the masculine gender shall be extended to include the feminine gender and words importing the feminine gender shall be extended to include the masculine gender.
[ 2021 c 12 § 8; 2020 c 97 § 2; 2017 c 181 § 1; 2011 1st sp.s. c 5 § 6; 2010 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 907; 2010 1st sp.s. c 32 § 9. Prior: 2009 c 549 § 5124; 2009 c 522 § 1; 2001 c 329 § 3; 1999 c 74 § 1; 1983 c 81 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 52 § 24; 1980 c 77 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 180 § 1; 1969 c 12 § 1; 1965 c 8 § 43.43.120; prior: 1955 c 244 § 1; 1953 c 262 § 1; 1951 c 140 § 1; 1947 c 250 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6362-81.]
NOTES:
Retroactive application—2021 c 12: See note following RCW 41.26.030.
Intent—2020 c 97: "(1) In 2001, the legislature passed chapter 329, Laws of 2001 which, beginning July 1, 2001, removed the ability for newly commissioned officers in the Washington state patrol to include certain types of earnings in their final average salary used for calculating their pension at the time of retirement. Chapter 329, Laws of 2001 also created the Washington state patrol retirement system plan 2 which applied to commissioned employees who first become members of the system on or after January 1, 2003.
(2) The legislature intends to allow state patrol troopers who were commissioned between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2002, to include unused vacation, annual leave, and holiday pay in their salary average at retirement." [ 2020 c 97 § 1.]
Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 5: See note following RCW 41.26.030.
Effective date—2010 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 38.52.105.
Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2010 1st sp.s. c 32: See notes following RCW 42.04.060.
Effective date—2001 c 329: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001." [ 2001 c 329 § 14.]
Effective date—1983 c 81: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July 1, 1983." [1983 c 81§ 4.]
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 52: See note following RCW 2.10.180.
Construction—1969 c 12: "The provisions of this 1969 amendatory act are intended to be remedial and procedural and any benefits heretofore paid to recipients hereunder pursuant to any previous act are retroactively included and authorized as a part of this act." [ 1969 c 12 § 8.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 43 - State Government—Executive
Chapter 43.43 - Washington State Patrol.
43.43.005 - Comprehensive outreach and marketing strategic plan.
43.43.012 - Chief for a day program.
43.43.013 - Donations, gifts, conveyances, devises, and grants.
43.43.015 - Affirmative action.
43.43.020 - Appointment of personnel.
43.43.030 - Powers and duties—Peace officers.
43.43.037 - Legislature—Security and protection—Duty to provide.
43.43.040 - Disability of patrol officers.
43.43.050 - Tenure of patrol officers.
43.43.060 - Suspension or demotion of probationary officers.
43.43.080 - Criminal complaint—Authority to suspend officer—Hearing.
43.43.090 - Procedure at hearing.
43.43.110 - Reinstatement on acquittal.
43.43.111 - Patrol officer vehicle accidents.
43.43.112 - Private law enforcement off-duty employment—Guidelines.
43.43.115 - Real property—Sale or disposal of surplus—Distribution of proceeds.
43.43.120 - Patrol retirement system—Definitions.
43.43.130 - Retirement fund created—Membership.
43.43.135 - Membership in more than one retirement system.
43.43.138 - Establishing, restoring service credit.
43.43.139 - Membership while serving as state legislator—Conditions.
43.43.142 - Retirement board abolished—Transfer of powers, duties, and functions.
43.43.165 - Board may receive contributions from any source.
43.43.220 - Retirement fund—Expenses.
43.43.230 - Total service credit.
43.43.233 - Purchase of additional service credit—Costs—Rules.
43.43.235 - Service credit for paid leave of absence.
43.43.250 - Retirement of members.
43.43.260 - Benefits—Military service credit.
43.43.263 - Effect of certain accumulated vacation leave on retirement benefits.
43.43.264 - Benefit calculation—Limitation.
43.43.274 - Minimum retirement allowance—Annual adjustment.
43.43.278 - Retirement option.
43.43.286 - Rights reserved to the legislature—No future contractual rights.
43.43.290 - Status in case of disablement.
43.43.295 - Accumulated contributions—Payment upon death of member.
43.43.315 - Optional actuarially equivalent life annuity benefit.
43.43.320 - Penalty for falsification.
43.43.330 - Examinations for promotion.
43.43.340 - Eligible list, and promotions therefrom—Affirmative action.
43.43.350 - Determination of eligibility for examination for promotion.
43.43.360 - Probationary period.
43.43.370 - Staff or technical officers.
43.43.380 - Minimum salaries—Report.
43.43.390 - Bicycle awareness program—Generally.
43.43.395 - Ignition interlock devices—Standards—Compliance.
43.43.3952 - Ignition interlock devices—Officer required to report violations—Liability.
43.43.396 - Ignition interlock devices—Fee schedule and fee collection—Report—Fee deposit.
43.43.400 - Aquatic invasive species inspection and training.
43.43.480 - Routine traffic enforcement information.
43.43.500 - Crime information center—Established—Purpose—Functions.
43.43.530 - Crime information center—Cost of terminal facilities.
43.43.540 - Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—Central registry—Reimbursement to counties.
43.43.545 - Statewide sexual assault kit tracking system.
43.43.550 - Traffic safety education officers—Powers—Pay and reimbursement.
43.43.560 - Automatic fingerprint information system—Report.
43.43.580 - Firearms background check unit—Automated firearms background check system—Fee.
43.43.585 - Washington background check advisory board.
43.43.590 - State firearms background check system account.
43.43.600 - Drug control assistance unit—Created.
43.43.610 - Drug control assistance unit—Duties.
43.43.630 - Drug control assistance unit—Use of existing facilities and systems.
43.43.640 - Drug control assistance unit—Certain investigators exempt from state civil service act.
43.43.650 - Drug control assistance unit—Employment of necessary personnel.
43.43.655 - Drug control assistance unit—Special narcotics enforcement unit.
43.43.670 - Bureau of forensic laboratory services—Powers—Priorities.
43.43.680 - Controlled substance, simulator solution analysis—Prima facie evidence.
43.43.690 - Crime laboratory analysis fee—Court imposition—Collection.
43.43.700 - Identification and criminal history section.
43.43.705 - Identification data—Processing procedure—Definitions.
43.43.710 - Availability of information.
43.43.715 - Identification—Cooperation with other criminal justice agencies.
43.43.720 - Local identification and records systems—Assistance.
43.43.725 - Records as evidence.
43.43.730 - Records—Inspection—Copying—Requests for purge or modification—Appeals.
43.43.740 - Photographing and fingerprinting—Transmittal of data.
43.43.742 - Submission of fingerprints taken from persons for noncriminal purposes—Fees.
43.43.750 - Use of force to obtain identification information—Liability.
43.43.751 - Biological samples for missing persons investigations.
43.43.752 - DNA identification system—Plan—Report.
43.43.753 - Findings—DNA identification system—DNA database—DNA data bank.
43.43.7532 - DNA identification system—DNA database account.
43.43.7541 - DNA identification system—Collection of biological samples—Fee.
43.43.756 - DNA identification system—Analysis, assistance, and testimony services.
43.43.758 - DNA identification system—Local law enforcement systems—Limitations.
43.43.759 - DNA identification system—Rule-making requirements.
43.43.760 - Personal identification—Requests—Purpose—Applicants—Fee.
43.43.762 - Criminal street gang database—Information exempt from public disclosure.
43.43.765 - Reports of transfer, release or changes as to committed or imprisoned persons—Records.
43.43.770 - Unidentified deceased persons.
43.43.775 - Interagency contracts.
43.43.780 - Transfer of records, data, equipment to section.
43.43.785 - Criminal justice services—Consolidation—Establishment of program.
43.43.800 - Criminal justice services programs—Duties of executive committee.
43.43.830 - Background checks—Access to children or vulnerable persons—Definitions.
43.43.8321 - Background checks—Dissemination of conviction record information.
43.43.833 - Background checks—State immunity.
43.43.836 - Disclosure to individual of own record—Fee.
43.43.838 - Record checks—Transcript of conviction record—Fees—Immunity—Rules.
43.43.839 - Fingerprint identification account.
43.43.850 - Organized crime intelligence unit—Created.
43.43.852 - "Organized crime" defined.
43.43.854 - Powers and duties of organized crime intelligence unit.
43.43.870 - Missing children clearinghouse and hotline, duties of state patrol.
43.43.874 - Missing and murdered indigenous women, other indigenous persons—Liaison positions.
43.43.876 - Missing and murdered indigenous women, other indigenous persons—Protocol—Training.
43.43.885 - Scrap metal no-buy list database program.
43.43.912 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
43.43.930 - State fire protection services—Intent.
43.43.934 - Director of fire protection—Duties.
43.43.938 - Director of fire protection—Appointment—Duties.
43.43.940 - Fire service training program—Grants and bequests.
43.43.942 - Fire service training—Fees and fee schedules.
43.43.944 - Fire service training account.
43.43.946 - Fire services trust fund.
43.43.948 - Fire services trust fund—Expenditures.
43.43.950 - Fire service training center bond retirement account of 1977.
43.43.952 - Arson investigation information system—Findings—Intent.
43.43.960 - State fire service mobilization—Definitions.
43.43.961 - State fire service mobilization—Legislative declaration and intent.
43.43.964 - State fire service mobilization—Development of reimbursement procedures.
43.43.970 - Law enforcement mobilization—Definitions.
43.43.973 - State law enforcement mobilization—State law enforcement coordinator—Duties.