HBA-JRA S.B. 838 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 838
By: Wentworth
Pensions and Investments
5/21/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some Texas judges may reach the required years of service to
retire a few months into a calender year following the expiration of a
current term in office.  To qualify for retirement, such a judge may run
for an additional term and, if reelected, serve only until the annuity is
assured and then resign.  S.B. 838 eliminates the need to run for an
additional term to qualify for retirement by authorizing a judge to
purchase service credit in the judge's judicial retirement system for the
remaining months of a calendar year during which the judge served only part
of the year. 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 838, Government Code, by adding
Section 838.106, as follows: 

Sec. 838.106. CREDIT FOR YEAR IN WHICH ELIGIBLE FOR OFFICE.  Authorizes a
contributing member to establish service credit in the Judicial Retirement
System of Texas Plan Two for any calendar year during which the member held
an office included in the membership of the system.  Authorizes a member to
establish credit by depositing with the system a contribution for each
month of credit claimed computed at a rate of six percent of the member's
current monthly compensation, plus interest computed on the basis of the
state fiscal year at an annual rate of 10 percent from the date of first
eligibility to the date of deposit if the member does not establish credit
before the first year of eligibility. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.