HBA-MPM H.B. 2396 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2396 By: Chavez Pensions & Investments 3/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, county law enforcement and county personnel may only collect retirement benefits if the combination of their age and years of service equal 70 to 75. However, employees in the private sector are often allowed to retire and collect benefits when they reach the 20-year eligibility mark. Providing county employees with similar benefits to employees in the private sector may enable counties to recruit and retain skilled employees. House Bill 2396 authorizes the governing body of a subdivision participating in the Texas County and District Retirement System to give personnel the option to retire and collect benefits after 20 years of service. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 2396 amends the Government Code to authorize the governing body of a participating subdivision to adopt the optional benefit eligibility plan (plan), which provides that a member of the Texas County and District Retirement System is eligible to apply for and receive a service retirement annuity if the member has at least 20 years of credited service in the retirement system. The bill prohibits the governing body of a participating subdivision from adopting the plan except on the terms specified by provisions governing the annually determined contribution rate plan. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.