HBA-SEB H.B. 1229 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1229
By: Lewis, Ron
Pensions and Investments
2/22/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law sets limits on the length of time that a retired educator may
return to work without incurring  penalties to benefits provided through
the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (retirement system).  Specifically,
a retired educator may work part-time, full-time for six months, or
full-time as a substitute, without penalty from the retirement system.
This may inhibit the ability of school districts to address teacher
shortages by employing retired educators.  H.B. 1229 prohibits the
retirement system from withholding benefits from a classroom teacher who
returns to the classroom to teach a subject area in which the teacher is
certified.      

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 824.602(a), Government Code, to prohibit the
Teacher Retirement System of Texas from withholding a monthly benefit
payment under Section 824.601, Education Code (Loss of Monthly Benefits),
if the retiree is employed in a Texas public educational  institution in a
position as a classroom teacher on as much as a full-time basis and if the
retiree is certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code
(Certification of Educators), to teach the subjects assigned.  Makes a
conforming change. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.