Several retirement bills were approved by the state legislature in this year’s session.
They are:
HB 1207 — This bill provides a $150,000 duty-related death benefit to survivors of pers, sers and trs plan members who die as a result of injuries sustained in the course of employment.
HB 1519 — Beneficiaries of a member killed in the course of employment would receive retirement benefits without actuarial reduction. This bill would apply retroactively to include any members killed on or after July 1, 2001.
SHB 1829 — This bill provides that a person does not separate from service if the employee and employer verbally agree that the employee will resume employment with the same employer following retirement.
False claims are subject to criminal penalties.
PERS Plan I retirees must be separated from employment for three full calendar months before re-employment. If they are not, their pensions will be suspended if they work beyond 867 hours.
In addition:
- The employer must document a justifiable need to hire a retiree.
- The rehiring must be approved by specific executives, depending on the employer or under rules adopted by a local government employer.
- The employer must retain records of the procedures followed and the decisions made in hiring the retiree and provide these records in the event of an audit.
- The retiree must not already have provided a cumulative total of more than 1,900 hours of service while in receipt of pension payments beyond an annual threshold of 867.
- The retiree will stop receiving pension payments after the retiree has provided service for more than about 1,500 hours in a calendar year.
The Department of Retirement Systems and Employment Security shall provide notice to employers about the retirement changes and the possible unemployment compensation consequence of hiring retirees.
