The following definitions are for terms used in the LEOFF Membership section of the Employer Handbook. The complete, legal definition is not provided for terms identified with an "*." Refer to the appropriate RCW or WAC for the complete definition.
Plan 1 employer* means the legislative authority of any city, town, county, or district or the elected officials of any municipal corporation that employs any law enforcement officer and/or fire fighter. [RCW 41.26.030(2)(a)]
Plan 2 employer means the following entities to the extent that the entity employs any law enforcement officer and/or fire fighter:
Law enforcement officer* means any person who is commissioned and employed by an employer on a full time, fully compensated basis to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington, generally. [RCW 41.26.030(3)]
Fire fighter* means any person who is serving on a full time, fully compensated basis as a member of a fire department of an employer and who is serving in a position which requires passing a civil service examination for fire fighter, and who is actively employed as such. Fire fighter also means anyone who is actively employed as a full time fire fighter where the fire department does not have a civil service examination. [RCW 41.26.030(4)]
Member* means any law enforcement officer or fire fighter or other persons whose retirement system membership was transferred to LEOFF on or after March 1, 1970. Member also includes every law enforcement officer or fire fighter who is employed in that capacity on or after that date.
Commissioned means employed as an officer of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency and empowered by that employer to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington.
Full time means regularly scheduled to earn basic salary from an employer for a minimum of 160 hours each calendar month.
Fully compensated means the employee earns basic salary and benefits from an employer in an amount comparable to the salary received by other full time employees who hold the same or similar rank in a similar position.
Plan 1 means the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system providing the benefits and funding provisions covering persons who first became members of the system prior to October 1, 1977.
Plan 2 means the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system providing the benefits and funding provisions covering persons who first became members of the system on and after October 1, 1977.