Contribution Rate Floors

This bill establishes minimum contribution rates for PERS, PSERS, SERS and TRS and establishes funding targets.

Judges Benefit Multiplier

This bill allows current judges in PERS Plans 1 and 2 to make a one-time irrevocable election to pay increased contributions that would fund a retirement benefit with a 3.5% multiplier. The benefit would be capped at 75% of average final salary. Judges in PERS Plan 3 can elect a 1.6 % of pay per year of service benefit, capped at 37.5% of average final salary.

LEOFF 1 Benefit Cap

This bill removes the current retirement benefit cap of 60 percent of a member's final average salary for members of LEOFF Plan 1 enrolled on or after February 19, 1974.

Minimum Benefit for PERS and TRS Plan 1 Retirees

In 2004, the Legislature established a minimum monthly benefit for PERS and TRS Plan 1 retirees who have at least 25 years of service and have been retired 20 years or more. The 2006 bill increases that minimum benefit by three percent annually.

This bill also extends the minimum monthly benefit, with the three percent annual increase, to PERS and TRS Plan 1 retirees who have at least 20 years of service and have been retired 25 years or more.

Plan 3 Vesting

Allows a member of PERS, SERS, and TRS Plans 3 to vest after completing ten service credit years or after completing five service credit years including 12 service credit months after reaching age 44.

Public Safety Employees' Retirement System Eligibility

This bill amends the definition of eligibility for membership in the new Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS), replaces lists of job titles with specific duties and qualifications that must be met in order to be eligible for PSERS.

Purchase of Additional Retirement Service Credit

This bill allows a member of PERS, TRS, SERS, LEOFF Plan 1, PSERS or WSPRS to purchase additional service credit once the member is eligible for retirement. This credit can only be purchased at the time of retirement, and cannot be used to qualify for any retirement eligibility or benefit reductions based upon years of service.

TRS Out of State Service Credit

Allows for the purchase of service credit in TRS Plans 2 and 3 for education experience outside the state of Washington. The service must be performed for a state or federal public school. Active members of TRS Plans 2 and 3 who wish to apply must have completed at least five years of service under TRS, and may make a one-time purchase of up to seven years of service credit. The member must pay the cost of the increase in actuarial value of the member's benefits. Employers may pay all or a portion of the cost of the increase. The service credit purchased shall be membership credit, which may be used to qualify member for retirement.

Surviving Spouse of Disabled WSPRS Member

This bill clarifies how benefits are calculated for the surviving spouses of disabled State Patrol troopers.

$150,000 Death Benefit

This bill extends coverage for the $150,000 death benefit to members who die from a duty-related illness such as an infectious disease or cancer, which results from a job-related exposure.

Catastrophic Disability

A LEOFF 2 member who is severely disabled in the line of duty such that they are incapable of substantial gainful employment in any capacity in the future is guaranteed to receive a catastrophic disability benefit from LEOFF Plan 2, equal to 70% of their final average salary.

Survivor Health Care Insurance

This bill reimburses survivors of LEOFF Plan 2 members who are killed in the line of duty for the cost of on-going Health Care Insurance coverage.