SRC-JXG H.B. 3660 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3660
76R12803 GJH-FBy: Maxey (Barrientos)
State Affairs
5/14/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law entitles career or technology education teachers to
salary step credit for up to two years of work experience as if it were
teaching experience in public schools if such experience is required for
certification in a career technology field.  Those teachers, however, may
not purchase credit in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) for the
years for which they are given salary step credit.  H.B. 3660 authorizes a
certified career or technology education teacher to establish credit in TRS
for up to two years of related work experience. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3660 sets forth provisions regarding service credit under
the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for certain work experience of
certified career and technology education teachers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 823E, Government Code, by adding Section 823.404,
as follows:  

Sec. 823.404. WORK EXPERIENCE BY CAREER OR TECHNOLOGY TEACHER. (a)
Authorizes an eligible member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
(TRS) to establish equivalent membership service credit for employment for
which the member is entitled to salary step credit under Section 21.403(b),
Education Code, which entitles a certified career or technology teacher to
a salary step for each year of work experience in a related field for up to
two years.  

(b) Provides that a member is eligible to establish equivalent membership
service credit if the member has at least five years of membership service
credit.  

(c) Authorizes a member to establish equivalent membership service credit
by depositing a specific amount with TRS for each year of service.
Provides that the amount is the actuarial present value of the additional
standard retirement annuity benefits that would be attributable to the
conversion of the work experience into service credit based on rates and
tables recommended by the actuary and adopted by the board of trustees of
TRS.  

(d) Requires TRS to grant the member one year of equivalent membership
service credit for each year of service approved, after a member makes the
deposit.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 823.004(a), Government Code, to require credit
for work experience in a career or technology field to be computed on a
September 1 through August 31 school year.  

SECTION 3. Amends Section 825.307(a), Government Code, to make conforming
and nonsubstantive changes.  

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.