SRC-JBJ S.B. 721 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 721 76R7740 GCH-DBy: Zaffirini State Affairs 3/31/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, a county court-at-law judge may purchase state retirement benefits in the Texas County and District Retirement System (county retirement system). If the county-level judge does not enter another term and is not yet vested in the retirement system, the judge may choose to withdraw his or her retirement benefits. However, if the judge chooses to re-enter public service as a district, appellate, or supreme court judge, the judge is prohibited from purchasing retirement credit in those position's retirement system, the Judicial Retirement System Plan Two (JRS) with credit from the county retirement system. The prohibition creates a disincentive for certain judges to seek state judicial service. S.B. 721 would authorize certain judges to purchase credit in JRS. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 721 authorizes certain judges to purchase credit in the Judicial Retirement System Plan Two. 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 838B, Government Code, by adding Section 838.1041, as follows: Sec. 838.1041. COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW SERVICE. Authorizes a member to establish equivalent membership service credit in JRS for certain service performed as a judge. Authorizes a member to establish credit by depositing with JRS the amount withdrawn from the Texas County and District Retirement System (county retirement system), plus certain interest. Authorizes JRS to require members applying for credit under this section to submit any information the system considers necessary to determine certain eligibility. Prohibits credit established under this section from being subsequently established in the county retirement system. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.