By:  Ratliff                                          S.J.R. No. 38
         99S0755/1                           
                               SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to contributions made
 1-2     to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas by the state and by
 1-3     individuals participating in the system.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 67, Article XVI, Texas
 1-6     Constitution, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  State Retirement Systems.  (1)  The legislature shall
 1-8     establish by law a Teacher Retirement System of Texas to provide
 1-9     benefits for persons employed in the public schools, colleges, and
1-10     universities supported wholly or partly by the state.  Other
1-11     employees may be included under the system by law.  The amount
1-12     contributed by a person participating in the Teacher Retirement
1-13     System of Texas shall be established by the legislature as a
1-14     percentage of current compensation.  The sum of the amount of
1-15     contributions made by persons participating in the Teacher
1-16     Retirement System of Texas and the amount of the state's
1-17     contribution to the system may not be less than 12 percent of the
1-18     aggregate compensation paid to individuals participating in the
1-19     system; provided, however, that the amount contributed by the state
1-20     shall not be less than six percent of the aggregate compensation of
1-21     individuals participating in the system.
1-22                 (2)  The legislature shall establish by law an
1-23     Employees Retirement System  of Texas to provide benefits for
 2-1     officers and employees of the state and such state-compensated
 2-2     officers and employees of appellate courts and judicial districts
 2-3     as may be included under the system by law.
 2-4                 [(3)]  The amount contributed by a person participating
 2-5     in the Employees Retirement System of Texas [or the Teacher
 2-6     Retirement System of Texas] shall be established by the legislature
 2-7     but may not be less than six percent of current compensation.  The
 2-8     amount contributed by the state to the Employees Retirement System
 2-9     of Texas may not be less than six percent nor more than 10 percent
2-10     of the aggregate compensation paid to individuals participating in
2-11     the system.
2-12                 (3)  In an emergency, as determined by the governor,
2-13     the legislature may appropriate such additional sums as are
2-14     actuarially determined to be required to fund benefits authorized
2-15     by law.
2-16           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-17     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-18     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-19     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment eliminating the
2-20     percentage requirements for contributions made to the Teacher
2-21     Retirement System of Texas by the state and by individuals
2-22     participating in the system."