(1) All services performed for any political subdivision or instrumentality of one or more political subdivisions of this state or one or more political subdivisions of this state and any other state after December 31, 1977, will be deemed to be services in employment to the extent coverage is not exempted under RCW 50.44.040.

(2) All such units of government shall file, before December 15, 1977, a written registration with the commissioner of the employment security department. Such registration shall specify the manner in which the unit of government will finance the payment of benefits. The elections available to counties, cities and towns are the local government tax, provided for in RCW 50.44.035, or payment in lieu of contributions, as described in RCW 50.44.060. The elections available to other units of government are the contributions plan in chapters 50.24 and 50.29 RCW, or payments in lieu of contributions, described in RCW 50.44.060. Under any election the governmental unit will be charged the full amount of regular, additional, and extended benefits attributable to its account.

(3) A unit of government may switch from its current method of financing the payment of benefits by electing any other method which it would be authorized to select pursuant to the terms of subsection (2) of this section. Notification of such election must be filed with the commissioner no less than thirty days prior to the taxable year for which the new method of financing the payment of benefits is to be effective. An election under this section shall remain in effect for no less than two taxable years.

(4) Any political subdivision or instrumentality of more than one political subdivision of this state is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with other political subdivisions or instrumentalities of more than one political subdivision of this state to form pool accounts for the purpose of making payments in lieu of contributions. These accounts shall be formed and administered in accordance with applicable regulations. The formation of such accounts shall not relieve the governmental unit of the responsibility for making required payments in the event that the pool account does not make the payments.

Severability—1981 c 35: See note following RCW 50.22.030.

Effective dates—1977 ex.s. c 292: See note following RCW 50.04.116.