Public Records Request Notification
The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) has received a public records request from the Seattle Times for information about members of the state’s retirement systems, including retirees and non-retirees, for a one-year period.
The Seattle Times has been making this request annually for the past several years, and DRS provides this information to them as required under the Washington’s Public Records Act.
The Seattle Times has signed a Declaration of Non-Commercial Purpose, which means they will not sell the list or use it to try to sell anything to the people on the list. They have also provided a letter describing why they want the information and what they will do with it.
Please note that the Seattle Times has not requested – and DRS will not provide – your home or work address, phone number, Social Security number, personnel number, member ID, or any of your banking information.
The Seattle Times is asking for this information regarding all participants of DRS-administered retirement plans from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024:
- Full names
- Dates of birth
- Entry dates
- Retirement dates
- Withdrawal dates
- Employer/Department numbers
- Employer/Department names
- Employer/Department city, state, and ZIP code (Does not include addresses)
- Employment codes
- Employment descriptions
- Retirement systems/types
- Retirement plans
- Service credits (years of service)
- Annual salaries
- Monthly retirement benefits
- Average final compensation
This request only applies to people who are part of the DRS retirement system, so if you receive this notice but are not part of the DRS system, your information will not be included in the data that DRS provides to the Seattle Times.
For more information about the request, please read the FAQs or contact DRS Public Records at drs.pdrnotice@drs.wa.gov or 844-704-6780.
If you want to prevent the release of your information, you need to get an injunction. If you believe that you qualify for an injunction, you or your attorney need to pursue it by bringing a motion to Superior Court. If the court finds that your situation meets the requirements of RCW 42.56.540 and grants the injunction, you need to send a copy to drs.pdrnotice@drs.wa.gov by the end of the day on Feb. 21, 2025. DRS will not get the injunction for you and cannot assist or provide advice regarding obtaining an injunction.
