Washington Administrative Code
Title 415 - Retirement Systems, Department of
Chapter 415-110 - School employees' retirement system
MEMBERSHIP
Section 415-110-550 - Elected officials - Eligibility for retirement service membership

(1) For purposes of this section and WAC 415-110-570, and pursuant to RCW 41.35.030 and 41.35.010, "elected" officials means:

(2) An active member of SERS who is elected to a state elective position may elect to continue membership in SERS or apply for membership in PERS pursuant to RCW 41.40.023(3).

(3) An active member of SERS who is elected or appointed to a nonstate elective position for an employer other than a school district or educational service district, does not have the option to continue membership in SERS pursuant to such elected service. However, the member may apply for membership in PERS pursuant to RCW 41.40.023(3).

(4) Pursuant to RCW 41.35.030(2)(a), elected officials are exempted from retirement system membership but may apply for membership during the official's current term of elected office. To apply for membership, the official shall submit a written application directly to the department. If the department approves the application, the elected official is entitled to establish membership and service credit retroactive to the first day of the official's current term of elected service. To establish such membership, the official shall pay the required employee contributions for the official's current term of elected service with interest as determined by the department.

(5) Upon establishing membership for the official's current term of elected office, the official is entitled to establish membership and service credit retroactive to the first day of any previous elected term or terms of office. The official will be required to establish membership for all consecutive terms of office. To exercise this option, the official shall apply to the department pursuant to subsection (4) of this section. If the department approves the application, the official shall:

(6) If an official is employed in an eligible position at the time of election to office and will hold multiple positions concurrently the official may:

(7) Except as provided under RCW 41.35.030, once an elected official has exercised the option of becoming a member of the retirement system the official shall be a member until the official separates from all eligible public employment. An official does not separate from public employment when that official's term of office ends and the official commences another term of office in the same or a different position for the same employer without a break in service. An official does not separate from service if the official resigns from the official's elected position and is later reappointed to the same position during the same term.

(8) The department will apply this section to service by elected officials which occurred prior to the effective date of this section.