Section 415-110-910 - Conversion of service from PERS to SERS(1)You will be converted from the public employees' retirement system (PERS) to the school employees' retirement system (SERS) if:(a) You were employed with a school district or educational service district in an eligible position as of September 1, 2000;(b) You participated and then separated in PERS prior to September 1, 2000, and became reemployed in an eligible position at a school district or educational service district after September 1, 2000;(c) You are a participating member in PERS and move to a SERS employer in an eligible position after September 1, 2000;(d) You were or are a participating member of PERS Plan 2 and establish membership in SERS through the substitute process. (See WAC 415-110-680.)(e) You retired out of PERS Plan 2 and: (i) Returned to PERS covered employment and became an active PERS member; and(ii) Were a member as of September 1, 2000, at a school district or educational service district; or(f) You retired out of PERS Plan 2 and: (i) Returned to PERS covered employment and became an active PERS member;(ii) Separated from your PERS position; and(iii) Become employed in an eligible SERS position prior to applying for reretirement in PERS.(2)What happens to my existing PERS service and account history when I am converted from PERS to SERS membership? All of your PERS service and account history with any PERS employer will be moved to SERS.(3)How many times will my PERS service be moved to SERS? Your PERS service shall be moved to SERS only once pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. After you have been converted from PERS to SERS, subsequent reenrollment(s) into SERS shall not cause any additional conversions of any PERS service. Any future eligible employment in PERS shall be reported into PERS and any future eligible employment in SERS shall be reported into SERS. Example: | Employed in PERS prior to conversion. Joe has 15 years of service in PERS. He has been employed by a school district for the last 5 years. Joe previously was employed by a county for 10 years. |
Conversion from PERS to SERS. Since Joe is employed with the school district on September 1, 2000, his PERS service is moved to SERS service. Both his 5 years of service with the school district and his 10 years of service with the county are moved to SERS. Joe's PERS account now has zero service credit and contributions; Joe's SERS account now has 15 years of service credit and contributions. |
Return to PERS service. After another year of service with the school district, Joe separates employment with 16 years of credit in SERS and returns to employment with the county. Joe's 16 years of service remains in SERS and he begins to accrue service in PERS, starting from zero, for his new employment with the county. |
Return to SERS employment. Joe works for the county for 5 years. He now has 5 years of service credit in PERS and he still has 16 years of service credit in SERS. Joe separates employment from the county and goes back to work in a SERS covered position with an educational service district. Joe's PERS employer will stop reporting him and the educational service district will begin reporting Joe into SERS. He will begin accumulating service in SERS starting at 16 years. The 5 years of service that Joe rendered at the county stays in PERS. |
(4)If I am a PERS Plan 2 retiree and become employed in an eligible SERS position, will my service be converted from PERS to SERS? Except as allowed in subsection (1)(e) and (f) of this section, a PERS Plan 2 retiree will not have any of his or her service, account or retirement history converted to SERS.Wash. Admin. Code § 415-110-910
Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.35.010, 41.35.030, 41.35.033. 04-04-041, §415-110-910, filed 1/29/04, effective 3/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.35.005 -[41.35.]030, 41.40.070. 02-03-120, §415-110-910, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02. Statutory Authority: Chapters 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.50 RCW. 01-01-059, §415-110-910, filed 12/12/00, effective 1/12/01.