SRC-DPW S.B. 1664 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1664
By: Shapleigh
State Affairs
6/29/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, in cities with populations of 500,000 to 600,000, an individual
who is transferred involuntarily from a position that does not participate
in a pension fund for firefighters and police officers (pension fund) to a
position that does participate in the pension fund may not elect to remain
with the individual's original pension fund.  As a result, some employees
may lose time or credit within a pension fund.  S.B. 1664 will amend the
Government Code, to authorize an individual who is involuntarily
transferred from a position which does not participate in the pension fund
to elect to continue to be a member of the individual's original pension
fund.  This bill also will authorize a public retirement system that elects
to participate in a proportionate retirement program to do so without the
approval of the participants of the retirement system making the election. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1664 sets forth guidelines for the election and
participation in proportionate retirement programs for certain public
employees. 

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 Section 803.101(f), Government Code, to provide that an
election under this subsection does not require the approval of the
participants in a public retirement system making the election. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 803.003, Government Code, to authorize a person
who is involuntarily transferred to a position included in the coverage of
a retirement system governed by Article 6243b, V.T.C.S., from a position
included in a retirement system operated by a municipality that does not
participate in a statewide retirement system, to make an irrevocable
election at the time of the transfer to continue membership in the
municipal retirement system.  Provides that an involuntary transfer is
determined by the employment rules that apply to the person immediately
before the time of the involuntary transfer. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.