Historical Background

The video clips below were created in 2009 and provide a deeper history Washington plan design and governance.


Washington Plan Design Back to Top

Washington's first pension plans are collectively known as the Plans 1, and were established in the late 1930s. The largest of these plans, PERS 1 and TRS 1, were open until 1977. Below is a list of video resources available to explain the history, design, and changes made to the Plans 1:

The Plans 1 were followed by Plans 2 and Plans 3. The following video resources document the developments of the Plans 2 and subsequent implementation of the Plans 3.

Washington Plan Governance Back to Top

Pension plan governance plays a critical role in structuring and delivering benefits to plan members. The Office of the State Actuary has prepared resources to inform interested parties about the unique governance structure of Washington pensions. Click on the links below (from 2009) to view video materials relating to governance of the Washington state pension system.

The governance of Washington State pensions has also changed over time to the system that is in place today. The following videos (from 2009) document both the causes and effects of changes to Washington pension governance to date.


Last Reviewed: 05/04/2022

Last Updated: 05/04/2022