2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 41.18.130: Payment on separation — With less than twenty-five years service or less than fifty years of age — Option to be classified as vested fireman.

Any fireman who shall have served for a period of less than twenty-five years, or who shall be less than fifty years of age, and shall resign, or be dismissed from the fire department for a reason other than conviction for a felony, shall be paid the amount of his contributions to the fund plus earned interest: PROVIDED, That in the case of any fireman who has completed twenty years of service, such fireman, upon termination for any cause except for a conviction of a felony, shall have the option of electing, in lieu of recovery of his contributions as herein provided, to be classified as a vested fireman in accordance with the following provisions:

     (1) Written notice of such election shall be filed with the board within thirty days after the effective date of such fireman's termination;

     (2) During the period between the date of his termination and the date upon which he becomes a retired fireman as hereinafter provided, such vested fireman and his spouse or dependent children shall be entitled to all benefits available under chapter 41.18 RCW to a retired fireman and his spouse or dependent children with the exception of the service retirement allowance as herein provided for: PROVIDED, That any claim for medical coverage under RCW 41.18.060 shall be attributable to service connected illness or injury;

     (3) Any fireman electing to become a vested fireman shall be entitled at such time as he otherwise would have completed twenty-five years of service had he not terminated, to receive a service retirement allowance computed on the following basis: Two percent of the amount of salary attached to the position held by the vested fireman for the year preceding the date of his termination, for each year of service rendered prior to the date of his termination.

[1969 ex.s. c 209 § 31; 1961 c 255 § 6; 1955 c 382 § 11.]

Effective date -- Severability -- Construction -- 1969 ex.s. c 209: See RCW 41.26.3901, 41.26.3902, and 41.26.3903.