Washington Revised Code Title 41. Public Employment, Civil Service, and Pensions § 41.34.040. Contributions--Rate structures--Annual option

(1) A member shall contribute from the member's compensation according to one of the following rate structures in addition to the mandatory minimum five percent:

(2) The department shall have the right to offer contribution rate options in addition to those listed in subsection (1) of this section, provided that no significant additional administrative costs are created. All options offered by the department shall conform to the requirements stated in subsections (3) and (5) of this section.

(4) Each year, through January of 2015, members of plan 3 of the teachers' retirement system may change their contribution rate option by notifying their employer in writing during the month of January. After January of 2015, a member of plan 3 of the teachers' retirement system may only change their contribution rate option under subsection (3)(d) of this section. The termination of this annual contribution rate change option in January 2015 is required to meet the plan qualification requirements in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code. Consistent with plan qualification requirements in the internal revenue code, this annual contribution rate change has never been available to plan 3 members of the public employees' retirement system and the school employees' retirement system.

(5) Contributions shall begin the first day of the pay cycle in which the rate option is made, or the first day of the pay cycle in which the end of the ninety-day period occurs.

(6) The contribution of plan 3 members is not affected by any reduction in hours worked because of participation of their employer in a shared work program under chapter 50.60 RCW. Plan 3 members shall continue to make contributions as if the member did not incur a reduction in hours through participating in an approved shared work compensation plan under chapter 50.60 RCW.