Section 41.40.630. Retirement for service.

(1) NORMAL RETIREMENT. Any member with at least five service credit years who has attained at least age sixty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.620.

(2) EARLY RETIREMENT. Any member who has completed at least twenty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.620, except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance actuarially reduced to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five.

(3) ALTERNATE EARLY RETIREMENT.

(a) Any member who has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.620, except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced by three percent per year to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five.

(b) On or after July 1, 2008, any member who has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.620, except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced as follows:

Any member who retires under the provisions of this subsection is ineligible for the postretirement employment provisions of *RCW 41.40.037(2)(d) until the retired member has reached sixty-five years of age. For purposes of this subsection, employment with an employer also includes any personal service contract, service by an employer as a temporary or project employee, or any other similar compensated relationship with any employer included under the provisions of RCW 41.40.690(1).

The subsidized reductions for alternate early retirement in this subsection as set forth in section 9, chapter 491, Laws of 2007 were intended by the legislature as replacement benefits for gain-sharing. Until there is legal certainty with respect to the repeal of **chapter 41.31A RCW, the right to retire under this subsection is noncontractual, and the legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this subsection. Legal certainty includes, but is not limited to, the expiration of any: Applicable limitations on actions; and periods of time for seeking appellate review, up to and including reconsideration by the Washington supreme court and the supreme court of the United States. Until that time, eligible members may still retire under this subsection, and upon receipt of the first installment of a retirement allowance computed under this subsection, the resulting benefit becomes contractual for the recipient. If the repeal of **chapter 41.31A RCW is held to be invalid in a final determination of a court of law, and the court orders reinstatement of gain-sharing or other alternate benefits as a remedy, then retirement benefits for any member who has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five but has not yet received the first installment of a retirement allowance under this subsection shall be computed using the reductions in (a) of this subsection.

(c) Members who first become employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after May 1, 2013, are not eligible for the alternate early retirement provisions of (a) or (b) of this subsection. Any member who first becomes employed by an employer in an eligible position on or after May 1, 2013, and has completed at least thirty service credit years and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to retire and to receive a retirement allowance computed according to the provisions of RCW 41.40.620, except that a member retiring pursuant to this subsection shall have the retirement allowance reduced by five percent per year to reflect the difference in the number of years between age at retirement and the attainment of age sixty-five.

[ 2012 1st sp.s. c 7 § 5; 2007 c 491 § 9; 2000 c 247 § 901; 1991 c 343 § 11; 1977 ex.s. c 295 § 4.]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 41.40.037 was amended by 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 § 19, deleting subsection (2)(d).

**(2) Chapter 41.31A RCW was repealed by 2007 c 491 § 13, effective January 2, 2008, however, RCW 41.31A.020 was also amended by 2007 c 491 § 1 and 2007 c 492 § 10. For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Benefits not contractual right until July 1, 2008—2007 c 491: "The new benefits provided pursuant to sections 9(3)(b) and 10(3)(b), chapter 491, Laws of 2007 are not provided to employees as a matter of contractual right prior to July 1, 2008, and will not become a contractual right thereafter if the repeal of chapter 41.31A RCW is held to be invalid in a final determination of a court of law. The legislature retains the right to alter or abolish these benefits at any time prior to July 1, 2008." [ 2007 c 491 § 16.]

Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—2007 c 491: See notes following RCW 41.32.765.

Findings—Effective dates—1991 c 343: See notes following RCW 41.50.005.

Legislative direction and placement—Section headings—1977 ex.s. c 295: See notes following RCW 41.40.600.

2012 1st sp.s. c 7 § 5; 2007 c 491 § 9; 2000 c 247 § 901; 1991 c 343 § 11; 1977 ex.s. c 295 § 4.