Exemption from taxation and judicial process—Exceptions—Assignability—Deductions authorized.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or retirement allowance, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, the various funds created by this chapter, and all moneys and investments and income thereof, are hereby exempt from any state, county, municipal, or other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law whatsoever, whether the same be in actual possession of the person or be deposited or loaned and shall be unassignable.
(2)(a) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of premiums due on any group insurance policy or plan issued for the benefit of a group comprised of public employees of the state of Washington or its political subdivisions and which has been approved for deduction in accordance with rules that may be adopted by the state health care authority and/or the department, and this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions therefrom for payment of dues and other membership fees to any retirement association or organization the membership of which is composed of retired public employees, if a total of three hundred or more of such retired employees have authorized such deduction for payment to the same retirement association or organization.
(b) This section does not prohibit a beneficiary of a retirement allowance from authorizing deductions from that allowance for charitable purposes on the same terms as employees and public officers under RCW 41.04.035 and 41.04.036.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the department from complying with (a) a wage assignment order for child support issued pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, (b) an order to withhold and deliver issued pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW, (c) a notice of payroll deduction issued pursuant to *RCW 26.23.060, (d) a mandatory benefits assignment order issued by the department, (e) a court order directing the department of retirement systems to pay benefits directly to an obligee under a dissolution order as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) which fully complies with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or (f) any administrative or court order expressly authorized by federal law.
[ 2012 c 159 s 26; 1999 c 83 s 1. Prior: 1991 c 365 s 22; 1991 c 35 s 92; 1989 c 360 s 27; 1988 c 107 s 20; 1987 c 326 s 24; 1982 c 135 s 2; 1981 c 294 s 14; 1979 ex.s. c 205 s 6; 1974 ex.s. c 195 s 4; 1967 c 127 s 6; 1947 c 274 s 39; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 11072-39. Formerly RCW 41.40.380.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 26.23.060 was amended by 2021 c 35 s 15, changing "notice of payroll deduction" to "income withholding order."
Severability—1991 c 365: See note following RCW 41.50.500.
Intent—1991 c 35: See note following RCW 41.26.005.
Implementation—Effective dates—1988 c 107: See RCW 41.05.901.
Effective date—1987 c 326: See RCW 41.50.901.
Severability—1981 c 294: See note following RCW 41.26.115.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 195: See note following RCW 41.40.023.