The Department of Retirement Systems has received a public records request that The Seattle Times seeks information about all members of the state’s retirement systems, including all retirees and inactive members, for the period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. This is a recurring request, and DRS has provided to this requestor the same information from an earlier period.
DRS has requested and received a Declaration of Non-Commercial Purpose pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(8).
DRS has reviewed the request and determined that the following information items are subject to disclosure under the state’s Public Records Act:
- Full Name
- City, State/Province, Country and ZIP/Postal Code
- Date of Birth
- Retirement System/Plan
- Date of Entry
- Service Credit
- Annual Salary
- Average Final Compensation
- Date of Retirement or Withdrawal
- Monthly Retirement Benefit
- Retirement Type
- Employee Transmittal Code and Description
- Employer Name, City, State and ZIP Code
The Department intends to provide the information items listed above to the requesting organization on March 19, 2021.
If you are the subject of this public records request, no action is required of you. If you want additional information or have questions about the request, please contact DRS at 844-704-6780 or drs.pdrnotice@drs.wa.gov.
A note about injunctive relief
Individuals who are the subject of a records request often ask if they can seek a court order to prevent the release of their records.
Under state law, an agency could be enjoined from releasing records if a court finds that the release “would clearly not be in the public interest and would substantially and irreparably damage any person, or would substantially and irreparably damage vital governmental functions.”
To enjoin DRS from releasing records in the current request, the department would need to be served with an injunction prior to the scheduled release date listed above.
Whether to seek an injunction is a decision that must be made by each individual. State agencies cannot provide advice on this matter. Individuals should be aware that the superior courts may charge certain fees or costs for an injunction; they may want to obtain the advice of private counsel before deciding whether to pursue an injunction.
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