HBA-SEB S.B. 761 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 761
By: Duncan
Pensions and Investments
4/28/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a member of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas (retirement
system) Plan One contributes to the retirement system at the same rate that
a member of the elected class would contribute to the Employees Retirement
System of Texas.  At the same time, a member of the Judicial Retirement
System of Texas Plan Two contributes six percent of the member's state
compensation to the retirement system.  Plan One provides retirement
benefits to a person who  became a judge, justice or commissioner of the
supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, a
district court, or a commission to one of those courts before September 1,
1985.  Plan Two serves a person in the same field, but who was eligible for
membership in the retirement system after that date.    

A member of either plan of the retirement system who continues to
contribute to the retirement system after 20 years of service does not
accrue any additional retirement benefits beyond those already credited
during the 20 years.  S.B. 761 provides that a member of Plan Two ceases
making contributions to the retirement system after 20 years of service,
but is still considered a contributing member of the retirement system. 
 
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 840.102, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(a)  Establishes that Subsection (g) is an exception to this subsection,
which requires a judicial officer who is a member of the Judicial
Retirement System of Texas Plan One (retirement system) to contribute six
percent of the officer's state salary to the retirement system.  Makes a
conforming change. 

(c)  Provides that a member who accrues 20 years of service credit in the
retirement system ceases making contributions but is still considered a
contributing member. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.