As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(1) "Actuary" means the state actuary or the office of the state actuary.
(2) "Department" means the department of retirement systems.
(3)(a) "Compensation" for teachers for purposes of this chapter is the same as "earnable compensation" for plan 3 in chapter
41.32 RCW except that the compensation may be reported when paid, rather than when earned.
(b) "Compensation" for classified employees for purposes of this chapter is the same as "compensation earnable" for plan 3 in RCW
41.35.010, except that the compensation may be reported when paid, rather than when earned.
(c) "Compensation" for public employees for purposes of this chapter is the same as "compensation earnable" for plan 3 in RCW
41.40.010, except that the compensation may be reported when paid, rather than when earned.
(4)(a) "Employer" for teachers for purposes of this chapter means the same as "employer" for plan 3 in chapter
41.32 RCW.
(b) "Employer" for classified employees for purposes of this chapter means the same as "employer" for plan 3 in RCW
41.35.010.
(c) "Employer" for public employees for purposes of this chapter means the same as "employer" for plan 3 in RCW
41.40.010.
(5) "Member" means any employee included in the membership of a retirement system as provided for in chapter
41.32 RCW of plan 3, chapter
41.35 RCW of plan 3, or chapter
41.40 RCW of plan 3.
(6) "Member account" or "member's account" means the sum of the contributions and earnings on behalf of the member.
(7) "Retiree" means any member in receipt of an allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer by such member.
(8) "Teacher" means a member of the teachers' retirement system plan 3 as defined in *RCW
41.32.010(29).
(9) "Classified employee" means a member of the school employees' retirement system plan 3 as defined in RCW
41.35.010.
(10) "Public employee" means a member of the public employees' retirement system plan 3 as defined in RCW
41.40.010.