DRS Notice 24-002, Some PERS Public Safety Telecommunicators Eligible for PSERS Plan 2 beginning June 1, 2024

DRS Notice 24-002
Date: January 24, 2024
Applies to: All PERS Employers
Subject: DRS Notice 24-002, Some PERS Public Safety Telecommunicators Eligible for PSERS Plan 2 beginning June 1, 2024

A new law will take effect June 1, 2024, that expands the definition of Public Safety Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) employers to include Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plans 2 and 3 employers if certain qualifications are met. The new law also expands membership in PSERS to include some current PERS public safety telecommunicators who must meet the qualifications.

Note: Please let us know if you have employees who meet the new eligibility requirements by emailing us at drs.employersupport@drs.wa.gov.

To qualify as a PSERS employer, you must be a PERS Plan 2 or 3 employer that has employees who are public safety telecommunicators whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch 911 emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, or other public safety services (see the definitions in RCW 41.37.010 and WAC 415-106-010).

Your PERS Plan 2 or 3 employees who are existing public safety telecommunicators and meet the eligibility requirements on June 1, 2024, will be eligible to transfer to PSERS Plan 2 during the election period beginning June 1, 2024, and ending Sept. 1, 2024.

Please review the employer Frequently Asked Questions that accompany this notice for more details.

We will provide information in upcoming employer notices, and you are strongly encouraged to share it with your qualified employees. At the end of March, you will receive:

• A welcome letter for your qualified employees with details about how the new law affects them and what their window is for electing to join PSERS
• A PSERS election form that your qualified employees will fill out and that you will keep and use to report them in ERA

In May, we will send you a reminder letter for your qualified employees about the election window.

If you have questions about this notice, please contact Employer Support Services at 360-664-7200, option 2, or 800-547-6657, option 6, option 2. This will help us identify employers who may have system updates to make before these changes are implemented in June.