85th LEGISLATIVE SESSION: BILLS THAT AFFECT THE ... 6...85th LEGISLATIVE SESSION: BILLS THAT AFFECT...

85th

LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

BILLS THAT AFFECT THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM and

TEXAS PUBLIC PENSION PLANS Updated 6/21/2017

Texas Municipal Retirement System of 27

* Disclaimer: This is TMRS’ summary of each bill and may not

correspond exactly with other bill summaries or analyses

Bills Amending the TMRS Act

Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion

*Bill Summary / Comments

Bill Caption/Link to Text

HB

3056

Meyer Signed by the

Governor

6/15/2017;

Earliest

effective date

9/1/2017

HB 3056 allows a city with a population with

less than 200,000 in a county with a population

between 2 million and 4 million that

administers a retirement plan pursuant to the

Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act

(TLFFRA) to adopt an ordinance before

October 1, 2018 to enroll new fire fighters

hired after the effective date of the bill as new

employees in TMRS.

Relating to the participation in the Texas Municipal

Retirement System of certain employees of certain

municipalities subject to the Texas Local Fire Fighters

Retirement Act.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?L

egSess=85R&Bill=HB3056

HB

3670

Lozano Filed 3/9/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 3670, as filed, would require that TMRS,

for all TMRS retirees, including those that

have retired and returned to work after having

been retired for at least 8 years and who have

returned to work to the city from which they

retired, would be required to re-compute their

annuity with interest once they re-retire. The

bill also requires that the 8-year gap retirees

would be entitled to receive their suspended

payments, plus accumulated interest – so these

retirees would receive interest twice. These

changes only affect retirees who re-retire from

their re-employing municipality after the

effective date of the Act.

Relating to the accrual of interest and other payment made

to certain retirees who have resume employment within

the Texas Municipal Retirement System



SB

1752

Bettencourt Filed 3/9/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs

3/23/2017;

Hearing set for

4/24/2017; Left

pending

SB 1752, as filed would authorize a home rule

municipality that is the sponsoring authority of

a public retirement system to hold an election

to place newly hired employees into a defined

contribution plan and close their defined

benefit plan. The election would be authorized

if the municipality is presented with a petition

Relating to authorizing certain municipalities to establish

defined contribution plans to provide retirement benefits

to certain employees.


egSess=85R&Bill=SB1752

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB3056




http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB1752


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Bills Amending the TMRS Act

Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion

*Bill Summary / Comments


4/24/2017;

Did Not Pass

of 10 percent of the number of voters who

voted in the most recent election of the

municipality. Once a defined contribution is

established, employees would not be able to

join a defined benefit plan.

Bills Affecting Texas’ Statewide Retirement Systems

Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion

Bill Summary / Comments


HB

89

King Signed by the

Governor

5/2/2017;

Earliest effective

date 9/1/2017

SB 29

SB 134

HB 89 prohibits statewide retirement

systems, including TMRS, from investing

in companies that boycott Israel and

prohibits procurement of services from

those companies.

Relating to state contracts with and investments in

companies that boycott Israel.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx

?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB89

HB

265

Hernandez Filed

11/14/2016;

Referred to

Pensions

2/13/2017;

Passed by

Committee

3/27/2017;

Passed House

4/20/2017;

Referred to

Senate State

SB 935 HB 265, as filed would modify the

structure of the Board of the Employees

Retirement System to provide that one of

the three elected members of the Board

may be a retiree of the System. (Specific

to ERS)

Relating to the composition of the board of trustees of

the Employees Retirement System of Texas.







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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



Affairs 5/3/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB

737

Shaheen Filed

12/27/2016;

Referred to

Pensions

2/20/2017;

Hearing set

4/24/2017; Left

pending

4/24/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 737, as filed proposes to modify the

membership of the board of the Texas

County and District Retirement System to

include three persons who are

representatives of the public. Public

representatives would not be able to be a

member or retiree of the system, hold or

have held an elective office, or be or have

been an employee of a governmental

entity. (Specific to TCDRS)

Relating to the board of trustees of the Texas County

and District Retirement System.



HB

1014

Alonzo Filed 1/12/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

3/6/2017; Passed

by Committee

3/27/2017;

Passed House

4/20/2017;

Referred to

Senate State

Affairs 5/3/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 1014, as filed would allow the elected

class members of the Board of the

Employees Retirement System to be either

a member or a retiree, but only one elected

Board member may be a retiree. (Specific

to ERS)



http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?L


HB

1119

Fallon Filed

1/18/2016;

Referred to

Pensions

HB 1119, as filed would require that for

an ERS member, all of whose service time

was as a Legislator, their standard service

retirement annuity would be an amount

Relating to the standard service retirement annuity for

certain members of the elected class of the Employees

Retirement System of Texas.



http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB1014


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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



2/22/2017; left

pending

4/10/2017;

Did Not Pass

equal to (# of years) x (2% x $140,000).

(Specific to ERS)



HB

1142

S. Davis Filed 1/19/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs

3/13/2017;

Passed by

Committee

3/29/2017; Set on

House Calendar

5/4/2017;

Postponed to

5/8/2017; Laid

on Table Subject

to call 5/8/2017;

See SB 252.

Did Not Pass

SB 252

(Identical)

HB 1142, as filed would prohibit

governmental entities, as defined by

Section 2252.001 of the Government

Code, from entering into contracts with

companies engaged in business with Iran,

Sudan or foreign terrorist organizations.

The Comptroller of Public Accounts is

already required to prepare lists of

companies that do business with Sudan

and the Pension Review Board prepares a

similar list for Iran. Under this bill, the

Comptroller would take over the PRB’s

list preparation duties and would be

required to prepare and make available a

list of companies known to have contracts

with or provide supplies and services to

Sudan, Iran or a foreign terrorist

organization. The requirements of the Act

would only apply to contracts or purchases

made by governmental entities after the

effective date of the Act.

Relating to prohibiting governmental contracts with a

company doing business with Iran, Sudan, or a foreign

terrorist organization.



HB

1143

S. Davis Filed

1/19/2017;

Referred to State

SB 253

(Identical)

HB 1143, as filed would combine the

existing Sudan Divestiture statutory

requirements (Chapter 806, Government

Relating to investment prohibitions and divestment

requirements for certain investments of public money.





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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



Affairs

3/13/2017;

Passed by

Committee as

substituted

4/25/2017; Laid

on table subject

to call 5/8/2017;

See SB 253

Did Not Pass

Code) and Iran Divestiture statutory

requirements (Chapter 807, Government

Code) and add new divestiture provisions

regarding “foreign terrorist organizations”

into a single new chapter (Chapter 2270,

Government Code). The bill also changes

the scope of the entities that are covered by

the divestiture provisions.

(Affects all statewide retirement systems)



HB

1163


Referred to

Pensions

2/21/2017;

withdrawn

3/13/2017;

hearing set

4/24/2017; left

pending

4/24/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 1366

(Identical)

HB 1163, as filed would address

participation, membership and funding of

benefits for certain law enforcement,

custodial and other peace officers that

participate in the Employees Retirement

System and the Teacher Retirement

System .

Relating to eligibility for membership and funding of

benefits for certain law enforcement, custodial, and

other peace officers.



HB

1902

Sanford Filed 2/14/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs

3/14/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 1902, as filed would restrict ERS and

TRS from directly or indirectly investing

in companies that donate money or

property directly to Planned Parenthood.

The bill would require the Pension Review

Board to develop a scrutinized list of

companies from publicly available

information from the state, nonprofit

Relating to prohibiting the investment of certain

retirement system funds in publicly traded business

entities that donate to Planned Parenthood.









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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



organizations, research firms, international

organizations, and government entities.

The scrutinized list would be updated at

least annually but not more than quarterly.

HB

2414

Fallon Filed 2/24/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

3/22/2017; left

pending

4/10/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 930 HB 2414, as filed would not allow the

Employees Retirement System (ERS) to

withhold from disclosure the name and

amount of a person who was a member of

the Texas Legislature and receives and

service retirement annuity from ERS. The

bill specifies that this requirement would

only apply to request for information

received by ERS on or after the effective

date of the Act.

Relating to the non-confidential status of certain state

pension information.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?L


HB

2459

Flynn Filed 2/27/2017;

referred to

Pensions

3/21/2017;

Passed as

substituted

4/12/2017; Laid

out in lieu of

companion

4/27/2017;

(See SB 301)

Did Not Pass

SB 301

(Identical)

HB 2459, as filed would reauthorize the

Employees Retirement System until 2029.

See SB 301.

Relating to the operations and functions of the

Employees Retirement System of Texas and the sunset

review date for, financial management of, and

programs administered by the agency.



http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2414




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Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



HB

2742

Bonnen,

G.

Filed 3/2/2017;

Referred to

General Invest &

Ethics 3/28/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 456

(Identical)

HB 2742, as filed, would entitle the

member of the Texas Legislature, Lt.

Governor, a committee of the legislature,

or a legislative agency is entitled to access

for legislative purposes all governmental

information maintained by any

governmental body, including confidential

information. The bill, as filed, only affects

the Employee Retirement System of

Texas.

Relating to the right of members of the legislature, the

lieutenant governor, committees of the legislature, and

legislative agencies to access certain governmental

information for legislative purposes; creating a

criminal offense.



HB

3380

Fallon Filed 3/8/2017;

Referred to

General Invest &

Ethics 3/31/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 3380, as filed would require the

Employees Retirement System of Texas to

suspend the annuity of any former of the

legislature that retired and engages in

lobbying activities that require registration

under Chapter 305, Government Code.

Relating to the suspension of annuity payments for

certain former legislators engaged in lobbying

activities.



SB

29

Creighton

Campbell

Hall

Huffines

Filed 2/22/2017;

Referred to

Business &

Commerce

2/27/2017;

Passed by

committee

3/15/2017;

Passed Senate

3/22/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs

HB 89

(Identical)

SB 134

(Duplicate)

SB 29, as filed, would require the

retirement systems to divest from

companies that boycott Israel. The process

of divestiture would be similar to that of

the Iran divestiture process that is currently

required of the statewide retirement

systems.









http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB29


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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



4/18/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB

134

Creighton Filed

11/14/2016;

referred Business

& Commerce

1/25/17;

Did Not Pass

HB 89

(Identical)

SB 29

(Duplicate)

SB 134, as filed is identical to the filed

version of HB 89.

See HB 89 bill summary.





SB

252

V. Taylor Signed by the

Governor

5/27/2017;

Earliest effective

date 9/1/2017

HB 1142

(Identical)

SB 252 prohibits governmental entities, as

defined by Section 2252.001 of the

Government Code, from entering into

contracts with companies engaged in

business with Iran, Sudan or foreign

terrorist organizations. The Comptroller of

Public Accounts is already required to

prepare lists of companies that do business

with Sudan and the Pension Review Board

prepares a similar list for Iran. Under this

bill, the Comptroller will prepare and make

available a list of companies known to

have contracts with or provide supplies

and services to Sudan, Iran or a foreign

terrorist organization. The requirements of

the Act would only apply to contracts or

purchases made by governmental entities

after the effective date of the Act.

Relating to prohibiting governmental contracts with a

company doing business with Iran, Sudan, or a foreign

terrorist organization.


?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB252

SB

253

V. Taylor Filed

Signed by the

HB 1143

(Identical)

SB 253 combines the existing Sudan

Divestiture statutory requirements

Relating to investment prohibitions and divestment

requirements for certain investments of public money.





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Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



Governor

5/23/2017;

Earliest effective

date 5/23/2017

(Chapter 806, Government Code) and Iran

Divestiture statutory requirements

(Chapter 807, Government Code) and adds

new divestiture provisions regarding

“foreign terrorist organizations” into a

single new chapter (Chapter 2270,

Government Code). The bill also changes

the scope of the entities that are covered by

the divestiture provisions.

(Affects all statewide retirement systems)



SB

301

Watson Signed by the

Governor

6/9/2017;

Earliest effective

date 9/1/2017

HB 2459

(Identical)

SB 301 reauthorizes the Employees

Retirement System and requires a sunset

review every 12 years. Some of the

proposed changes to ERS’ governing

statute include:

requiring trustees to receive a certain

amount of training after their

appointment before they can vote,

deliberate, or be counted as a member in

attendance at a meeting;

require the board to develop a policy to

encourage the use of negotiated

rulemaking and alternative dispute

resolution,

adopt mortality tables at least once

every four years,

conduct an actuarial experience study at

least once every four years, instead of

every five years,

track and report any sharing of

Relating to the operations and functions of the

Employees Retirement System of Texas and the sunset

review date for, financial management of, and

programs administered by the agency.







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Bill

No.

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Last Action

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investment profits, and

require the Board to approve of any

alternative investment over .6 percent of

the total system assets.

SB

456

Taylor, V. Filed 1/11/2017;

Referred to

Business &

Commerce

2/6/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 2742

(Identical)

SB 456, as filed is identical to the filed version

of HB 2742.

See HB 2742 for bill summary.

Relating to the right of members of the legislature, the

lieutenant governor, committees of the legislature, and

legislative agencies to access certain governmental

information for legislative purposes; creating a

criminal offense.



SB

509

Huffman Filed 1/17/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs 2/6/2017;

Passed from

Committee as

substituted

3/22/2017;

Passed Senate

4/10/2017;

Received in

House

4/11/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

5/8/2017;

Hearing set

5/16/2017;

SB 509, as filed would amend Chapter 802

of the Texas Government Code to require a

public retirement system (system) to select

an independent firm to evaluate the

system’s investment practices and

performance. The evaluation must be

conducted every two years for systems

with assets over $100 million and every

five years for systems with assets under

$100 million. The evaluation must be filed

with the governing body of the system not

later than December 1 of each year the

system is evaluated. The bill would also

require an annual investment report be

submitted to the governing body of the

system not later than the 45th day after the

first day of the system’s fiscal year. The

Relating to the evaluation of investment practices and

performance of certain public retirement systems.







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Bill

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Last Action

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Passed by

Committee

5/17/2017;

Did Not Pass

report must include a listing of

commissions and fees and a copy of the

most recent evaluation. Also, not later

than February 1 of each year, the Board of

each system is required to submit a

comprehensive investment report to the

Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the

House, and legislative committees having

principal jurisdiction over the systems.

The filed version of the bill excludes the

state retirement systems.

The adopted committee substitute made

certain changes that can be viewed at the

provided link.

SB

930

V. Taylor Filed 2/16/2017;

Referred to

Business &

Commerce

3/1/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 2414

(Identical)


version of HB 2414.


Relating to the nonconfidential status of certain state

pension information.



SB

935

Hughes Filed 2/16/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs 3/1/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 265

(Identical)


version of HB 265.






SB

1366

Menendez Filed 3/6/2017;

Referred to State

HB 1163

(Identical)

SB 1366, as filed is identical to HB 1163.

Relating to eligibility for membership and funding of

benefits for certain law enforcement, custodial, and





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Last Action

Companion



Affairs

3/16/2017;

Did Not Pass

See HB 1163 for bill summary. other peace officers.



SB

1750


Referred to State

Affairs

3/23/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 1750, as filed would require that the

Pension Review Board (PRB) contract

with a nationally recognized actuarial firm

to conduct a comprehensive study to

compare the cost-effectiveness and

feasibility of creating and implementing a

hybrid retirement plan for newly hired

state employees and teachers and to

evaluate the experiences of other

municipalities and states that have

implemented a hybrid plan. The PRB

would be required to submit a report to the

legislature by September 1, 2018.

Relating to a study of the cost effectiveness and

feasibility of implementing a hybrid retirement plan for

newly hired state employees and teachers.



SB

1751


Referred to State

Affairs

3/23/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 1751, as filed would allow the Board of

Trustees of the Employees Retirement

System and the Teacher Retirement

System to promulgate rules that would

allow them to establish and administer a

hybrid or defined contribution plan to

provide benefits to new employees, in

place of their current defined benefit plan.

Relating to authorizing the Employees Retirement

System of Texas and the Teacher Retirement System

of Texas to establish defined contribution plans or

hybrid retirement plans to provide retirement benefits

to certain employees.



SJR

34

Birdwell Filed with

Secretary of

State 5/25/2017;

SJR 34 modifies the duration of the terms

of gubernatorial appointees to boards and

commissions, If passed by the voters in

Proposing constitutional amendment limiting the

service of certain officeholders after the expiration of

the person's term of office.







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Election date

11/07/2017

November 2017, the bill will allow an

appointee to continue to serve in their

appointed position until their successor is

duly qualified, with the following

qualifications:

if an appointee’s term expires when the

legislature is not in session, they would

perform their duties until the end of the

next regular session, and

if their term expires while the

legislature is in session, they would

continue to perform their duties until

the end of that session.


?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR34

Bills Affecting All Public Employee Retirement Systems (PERS)

Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



HB

500

Geren Filed 1/25/2017;

Referred to

General

Investigating &

Ethics 2/16/2017;

Passed by

committee as

substituted

3/30/2017; Sent

to Calendars

4/11/2017;

Placed on

SB 500

(Identical)

HB 1273

(Duplicate)

HB 500, as filed would modify Chapter

601 and Chapter 810 of the Government

Code to suspend the annuity payments of a

member of a retirement system who is

convicted of a qualifying felony committed

while in office and directly arising from

the official duties of that elected office.

The adopted committee substitute can be

viewed at the provided link.

Relating to the effect of certain felony convictions of

public elected officers.



http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR34

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR34



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Emergency

Calendar

5/2/2017;

Postponed until

5/4/2017; Laid

on table subject

to call 5/8/2017;

Postponed on

third reading

until 5/14/2017;

(See SB 500)

Did Not Pass

HB

632

Fallon Filed

12/16/2016;

referred to

Pensions

2/22/2017; left

pending

3/13/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 632, as filed would limit the amount of

service retirement annuities for persons

who become members of Texas’ public

retirement systems after September 1,

2017 to the lesser of the basic pay of a

member of the United States armed forces

on active duty at the highest salary for pay

grade 0-10 as defined by 37 U.S.C. section

201(a) (which is now $15,583.20 per

month) or the annual rate of basic pay for a

position under level II of the Executive

Schedule (5 USC Section 5313) (which is

now $15,583.33 per month).

Identical to CSHB 3182 (as adopted by

Pensions Committee from 84th Session).

Relating to the maximum service retirement annuity

for members of public retirement systems.





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HB

1273


Referred to

General

Investigating &

Ethics 2/23/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 500

(Identical)

HB 500

(Duplicate)

HB 1273, as filed would modify Chapter

601 and Chapter 810 of the Government

Code to suspend the annuity payments of a





Identical to HB 500 and SB 500.





HB

1283


Referred to

General

Investigating &

Ethics 3/22/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 14

(Identical)

HB 1283, as filed is identical to the filed

version of SB 14.

See SB 14 for bill summary.

Relating to the ethics of public officers and related

requirements; creating criminal offenses.



HB

1359

White Filed 1/30/2017;

Referred to

House Culture,

Recreation &

Tourism

3/22/2017;

Passed by

Committee as

substituted

4/18/2017; Sent

to Calendars

4/24/2017;

General State

Calendar

HB 1359, as filed would require the public

retirement systems to suspend the annuity

of any persons who held an elected or

appointed office or that was employed or is

employed covered by a public retirement

system if they are convicted of removing,

relocating or altering a permanent

monument or memorial.



Relating to monuments and memorials for Texas

heroes and penalties for unauthorized removal,

relocation, or alteration of a monument or memorial;

creating a criminal offense.









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5/11/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB

1416

Stephenson Filed 2/1/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

2/28/2017;

Passed by

Committee

4/24/2017; Sent

to Calendars

4/27/2017;

Set on House

Calendar on

5/11/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 1416, as filed would allow a retirement

system to voluntarily conduct a study to

evaluate the cost effectiveness and

feasibility of implementing a pension

revenue enhancement strategy that would

provide an additional funding source to

address system liabilities. The proposed

strategy is for a system to purchase a life

insurance policy for each employee, with

their consent, that upon their death the

proceeds of which would be paid into

assets of the system. Each system that

chooses to perform a study must provide a

written report to the legislature and the

appropriate oversight committees in the

Texas House and Senate. The Act expires

on December 31, 2018.

Relating to authorizing public retirement systems to

study the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of

implementing certain pension revenue enhancement

strategies.



HB

1746

Meyer Filed 2/10/2017;

Referred to

General

Investigating &

Ethics 3/9/2016;

Did Not Pass

Similar to

SB 500,

HB 500,

and Article

1of SB 14

HB 1746, as filed proposes to make

employees and annuitants in Texas’ public

retirement systems who held elected office

ineligible for a full retirement annuity if

convicted of certain offenses.

Identical to SB 110 as filed in the 84th

Legislative Session.

Relating to the eligibility for service retirement

annuities from a public retirement system of public

officers or employees convicted of certain offenses.







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HB

2353

King, T. Filed 2/23/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

3/16/2017; left

pending

4/10/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 2353, as filed proposes to amend

Chapter 801, Government Code to expand

the membership of the Pension Review

Board to nine members from seven. One

member would be selected from a list of

three names submitted to the governor by

the Texas State Association of Fire

Fighters and the other member would be

selected from a list of three names

submitted by the Texas Municipal Police

Association and three names submitted by

the Combined Law Enforcement

Association of Texas.

Relating to the composition of the State Pension

Review Board.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?Leg

Sess=85R&Bill=HB2353

HB

3601


Referred to

Pensions

3/30/2017; left

pending

4/24/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 3601, as filed would create the “Secure

Retirement Plan” in the State of Texas.

This plan allows the state to administer a

retirement plan, administered by the state,

on behalf of the private sector employees.

Relating to the creation of a state-administered

retirement plan.



HJR

85


Referred to

Appropria-

tions 3/20/2017;

Did Not Pass

SJR 43

HJR 85, as filed proposes a constitutional

amendment to Art. 16, Section 67 to add a

new subsection (c-1), which expressly

provides that the state is not liable for, and

may not appropriate money to pay for, any

debts or obligations “of a retirement

system which includes any local plans

authorized by the state, including benefits

Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the

use of state funds to pay for the obligations of a local

public retirement system.


egSess=85R&Bill=HJR85

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2353

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2353



http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HJR85

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HJR85

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provided through a voluntary statewide

retirement system for municipalities,

counties and other political subdivisions.

SB 14 Taylor Filed 1/25/2017;

referred State

Affairs

1/25/2017;

Passed by

Committee

2/6/2017;

Passed Senate

2/7/2017;

Received in

House 2/8/2017;

Referred to

General

Investigating &

Ethics 5/15/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 1283 SB 14, as filed would modify Chapter 601

and Chapter 810 of the Government Code

to suspend the annuity payments of a





SB 14 also amends reporting requirements

for appointed and elected state officials.

Eleven amendments were adopted on the

floor. Filed amendment No. 11 requires

the judge overseeing the trial of an elected

official to make an affirmative finding of

fact that the person convicted was a holder

of an elected office for which the

defendant participated in a retirement

system. The judge is then required to

notify the retirement system. Within 30

days after receiving notice, the

governmental entity to which the person

was elected or appointed must provide

written notice of the conviction to the

retirement system.

Relating to the ethics of public officers and related

requirements; creating criminal offenses.



SB

500

Taylor Signed by the

Governor

6/6/2017;

Earliest effective

HB 500

(Identical)

HB 1273

(Duplicate)

SB 500 stipulates that retirement system

members, including those in TMRS, who

hold elected office and who are convicted

of certain felonies while in office related to







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date 6/6/2017

their official duties, would be ineligible to

receive an annuity. This only affects

elected officials who commit a qualifying

felony after June 6, 2017, the effective date

of the bill.


SB

936


Referred to State

Affairs 3/1/2017;

Passed by

Committee

3/21/2017; Passed

Senate 4/3/2017;

Received in House

4/4/2017; Referred

to Pensions

5/11/2017; hearing

set 5/16/2017;

Passed by

Committee

5/17/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 936, as filed would create a Joint

interim committee composed of three

senators appointed by the Lt. Governor and

three house members appointed by the

Speaker of the House to study types of

retirement plans as alternatives to the

current defined benefit plans. The

Committee shall report their findings no

later than January 15, 2019.

Relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to

undertake a study of the public retirement systems of

this state.



SB

1344

Taylor, V. Filed 3/6/2017;

Referred to State

Affairs

3/14/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 1344, as filed would require all

retirement systems to report investment

income earned from an investment

instrument in the year in which the income

is earned and not allow retirement systems

to report investment income, including

interest, dividends, capital gains, or other

income earned from an investment

instrument in a single year if the

investment instrument is held for a period

Relating to reporting on investments by certain

retirement systems.








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beyond that single year.

In addition, local retirement systems would

be required to select an independent firm

to evaluate the system’s practices and

performance at least once every four years.

The evaluation is required to be filed with

the Pension Review Board and include all

commissions and fees paid by the systems

during the reporting period for the sale,

purchase or management of assets.

SB

1735

Hughes Filed without

signature by the

Governor;

Earliest effective

date 6/12/2017

SB 1735 will repeal a number of obsolete

and outdated pension-related statutes.

Relating to the repeal of certain obsolete laws

governing state pensions and other similar benefits.



SB

2009

V. Taylor Filed

3/10/2017;

referred to State

Affairs

3/23/2017;

Did Not Pass

SB 2009, as filed would require retirement

systems to perform a supplemental

actuarial valuation using specific

benchmarks and metrics. The Pension

Review Board would be required to

compile the report each year and report to

the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of

the House of Representatives and members

of the legislature.

Relating to requiring a supplemental actuarial analysis

by certain public retirement systems. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB2009

SJR

43


referred to State

Affairs 3/7/2017;

Passed by

HJR 85 SJR 43, as filed is identical to the filed

version of HJR 85.

See HJR for bill summary.

Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the

use of state funds to pay for the obligations of a local

public retirement system.





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Committee

3/21/2017;

Passed Senate

4/20/2017;

Received in

House

4/20/2017;

Referred to

Appropriations

5/9/2017;

Did Not Pass


?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR 43

Bills Affecting Local Employee Retirement Systems (PERS)

Bill

No.

Author /

Sponsor

Last Action

Companion



HB 43 Flynn Filed

11/14/2016;

referred to

Pensions

2/13/2017;

Passed by

Committee as

substituted

4/5/2017; sent to

Calendars

4/17/2017;

Identical to

HB 4238

HB 43, as filed would amend the

governing statutes of the Houston

Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund,

the Houston Police Officer’s Pension

System, and the Houston Municipal

Employees Pensions System.

Changes proposed to the plans include:

Not allowing changes to be made to

any of the plans that would cause their

amortization period to exceed 30

Relating to the public retirement systems of certain

municipalities.



http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SJR



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General State

Calendar

5/6/2017; Laid

on table subject

to call 5/8/2017;

(See SB 2190)

Did Not Pass

years.

Setting the maximum amortization

period of 30 years.

Providing their respective boards with

rule making authority over the DROP

programs.

An additional change to the police and

municipal plans clarifies the use of a 13th

check.



HB

1502

Murphy Filed 2/2/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

3/9/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 1502, as filed would allow a

municipality that is a sponsoring authority

of a public retirement system to adopt a

resolution or ordinance with provisions

that supplement or supersede the operative

provisions of the system’s statutes relating

to the benefits, participation, eligibility

requirements, funding source or amount,

and the administration of the system. This

authority only applies to:

The Austin Fire, Police and Municipal

retirement systems;

The Dallas Police and Fire Pension

System;

The El Paso Firemen and Policemen

Pension System;

Relating to certain local public retirement systems.





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The Fort Worth Employee’s

Retirement Fund,

The Houston Firefighters, Municipal,

and Police Officers systems, and

The San Antonio Fire and Police

Pension Fund.

Any agreement by the municipality and the

system entered into before September 1,

2017 remains in effect until the earlier of

the expiration of the agreement or August

31, 2017. If a there is a conflict between

the statute and resolution or ordinance

before the effective date of the bill, the

resolution or ordinance prevails.

HB

2434


Referred to

Pensions

3/22/2017;

Passed by

Committee as

substituted

5/1/2017; Sent to

Calendars

5/5/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 2434, as filed would require local

retirement systems that have not developed

a funding soundness restoration plan under

Sections 802.2015 and 802.2016,

Government Code and that have an

amortization period of more than 30 years,

to create a restoration plan. They would

also be required to suspend all pay and

salary increases, be precluded from issuing

a bond or other obligation, increase

contribution rates and discontinue the cost

of living adjustments.

Relating to requiring certain public retirement systems

to adopt a funding plan to achieve actuarial soundness.





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HB

3158

Flynn Signed by the

Governor

5/31/2017;

Earliest

effective date

5/31/2017

HB 3158 was passed to help alleviate the

issues being experienced by the Dallas

Police & Fire Retirement Systems.

Relating to the retirement systems for and the provision

of other benefits to police and fire fighters in certain

municipalities.



HB

4232

Moody Filed 3/10/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

4/3/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 4232, as filed would require the

governmental entity that sponsors a local

public retirement system to pay the

recommended contribution rate prescribed

by the system’s actuary if the system’s

funded ratio is below 85 percent.

Relating to the amount of the employer contribution

rate for certain public retirement systems; authorizing a

penalty.



HB

4238


Referred to

Pensions

4/3/2017;

Did Not Pass

HB 43

(Identical)

HB 4328, as filed would amend the

governing statutes of the Houston



System, the Houston Municipal Employees

Pensions System.

Changes proposed to the plans include:

Not allowing changes to be made to

any of the plans that would cause their

amortization period to exceed 30

years.

Setting the maximum amortization

period of 30 years.

Providing their respective boards with

rule making authority over the DROP

programs.


municipalities.









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An additional change to the police and

municipal plan clarifies the use of a 13th

check.

SB

151


Referred to State

Affairs

1/25/2017;

Passed by

Committee

3/21/2017;

Passed Senate

4/3/2017;

Received in

House 4/3/2017;

Referred to

Pensions

5/8/2017;

Hearing set

5/16/2017; left

pending

5/16/2017

Did Not Pass

SB 151, as filed would require voter

approval in order for a municipality to

issue a pension obligation bond.

Relating to voter approval of obligations for certain

municipal liabilities to a public pension fund.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?Leg

Sess=85R&Bill=SB151

SB

152

Bettencourt Filed 11/14/2016

Referred to State

Affairs

Did Not Pass

SB 152, as filed would allow a city that

sponsors a public retirement system

created in state statute (but is not part of a

statewide public retirement system) to pass

an ordinance or resolution that would

supersede the provisions in state law

Relating to municipal control of certain public

retirement systems established for the benefit of

municipal employees.



http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB151

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB151



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governing the system. Any change would

affect individuals that become members of

the system after 12/31/17. Provisions that

could be adopted include changing from a

defined benefit to a defined contribution

plan; changing benefits, participation, or

eligibility requirements; changing the

source or amount of funding; or changing

administration of the system. The

statewide retirement systems are exempt

from this version of the bill.

SB

2190

Huffman Signed by the

Governor

5/31/2017;

Earliest

effective date

7/1/2017

Similar to

HB 43 and

HB 4238

SB 2190 was passed to help alleviate the

issues being experienced by the Houston



System, and the Houston Municipal

Employees Pensions System.


municipalities.





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