BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1535
By: Ellis (Turner, S.)
May 19, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

When the City of Houston Airport Police were merged with the
Houston Police Department, no provisions were made regarding the
transfer of the officers' prior service credit from the municipal
retirement system into the City of Houston Police Officers Pension
System.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1535 prohibits allowance of prior credit in a
retirement plan for certain police officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 27, V.T.C.S., to prohibit prior credit
from being allowed for service in another department in the city to
any person who transfers from the other department to the police
department, except for a police officer who was transferred
involuntarily from the other city department to the police
department.  Requires the pension board to approve and accept the
prior service credit on an individual-by-individual basis. 
Provides that the pension board can only approve the credit if the
transferred police officer pays any and all costs to the pension
fund incurred by virtue of the allowed prior service credit. 
Requires the costs of the transferred prior service credit to be
determined by the fund's actuary.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

SB 1535 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on May
19, 1995.

The bill was reported favorably without amendment with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed and sent to the
Committee on Local & Consent Calendars by a record vote of  5 ayes,
0 nays,  4 absent & 0 pnv.