Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 415-100-055 Retirement benefit options (judicial retirement system).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 2.10.052, 2.10.070(6), 2.10.140 - [2.10.]146, 2.12.030, 41.50.050(5).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Judicial Retirement System statutes direct the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) to establish survivor and nonsurvivor retirement benefit options. The survivor options are to be actuarially equivalent to the unreduced options. The WAC change will eliminate the provision in WAC 415-100-055 [(3)](d) in which, under certain condition[s], the remaining balance is retained by the retirement fund, rather than directed to the estate.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will work on the project, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General. The public is invited and encouraged to participate, as described below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. DRS encourages your active participation in the rule-making process. Anyone interested in participating should contact the rules coordinator, below. After the rule(s) is drafted, DRS will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making, and send a copy to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else who requests a copy. For more information on how to participate, please contact Merry A. Kogut, Rules Coordinator, Department of Retirement Systems, Mailstop 48380, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, voice (360) 664-7291, TTY (360) 586-5450, e-mail merryk@drs.wa.gov, fax (360) 753-3166.

February 20, 2001

Merry A. Kogut

Rules Coordinator

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office