§ 41.50.255 — Payment of legal and medical expenses of retirement systems.

Washington § 41.50.255

• Jurisdiction: Washington
• Title 41: PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, CIVIL SERVICE, AND PENSIONS
• Ch. 41.50: DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

Text

The director is authorized to pay from the interest earnings of the trust funds of the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, the Washington state patrol retirement system, the Washington judicial retirement system, the judges' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, the public safety employees' retirement system, or the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system lawful obligations of the appropriate system for legal, medical, and, during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, administrative expenses, which expenses are primarily incurred for the purpose of protecting or preventing losses from the appropriate trust fund or are incurred in compliance with statutes governing such funds.

The term "legal expense" includes, but is not limited to, legal services provided through the legal services revolving fund, fees for expert witnesses, travel expenses, fees for court reporters, cost of transcript preparation, and reproduction of documents.

The term "medical expense" includes, but is not limited to, expenses for the medical examination or reexamination of members or retirees, the costs of preparation of medical reports, and fees charged by medical professionals for attendance at discovery proceedings or hearings.

The term "administrative expenses" includes, but is not limited to, expenses incurred to prevent losses to the trust funds such as audits, cybersecurity, petition decisions, departmental liaison work with the attorney general's office, and other similar expenses incurred by the department to ensure that trust funds are protected against risks that might lead to losses from the trust funds.

The director may also pay from the interest earnings of the trust funds specified in this section costs incurred in investigating fraud and collecting overpayments, including expenses incurred to review and investigate cases of possible fraud against the trust funds and collection agency fees and other costs incurred in recovering overpayments. Recovered funds must be returned to the appropriate trust funds.

Effective date — 2025 c 424: See note following RCW 9.46.100 .

Effective date — 2004 c 242: See RCW 41.37.901 .

Effective date — 1998 c 341: See RCW 41.35.901 .

Effective date — 1995 c 281: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995." [ 1995 c 281 s 2 .]

Severability — Effective dates — 1993 sp.s. c 24: See notes following RCW 28A.310.020 .

Intent — 1991 c 35: See note following RCW 41.26.005 .

Severability — 1984 c 184: See note following RCW 41.50.150 .

Legislative History

[2025 c 424 s 943;2004 c 242 s 49;1998 c 341 s 511;1995 c 281 s 1;1993 sp.s. c 24 s 916;1991 c 35 s 73;1984 c 184 s 7. Formerly RCW41.40.083.]