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with JRS the amount withdrawn from the Texas County and District Retirement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.