SRC-SEW C.S.S.B. 1132 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1132
77R8583 GJH-DBy: Ogden
State Affairs
5/1/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a law enforcement or custodial officer is eligible to retire and
receive a standard retirement annuity after 20 years of service.  At this
time, there are 517 Department of Public Safety (DPS) commissioned officers
who will have at least 20 years of service and be at least 50 years of age
on or before August 31, 2002.  DPS officials indicate that 28 years is the
average length of service, since many officers retire upon reaching 20
years while others remain for 35 years or more.  Based on this information,
DPS estimates that approximately 300 officers will retire on or before
August 31, 2002. An incentive which rewards officers who accrue 30 or more
years of service credit might reduce the number of seasoned, experienced
officers who retire in the next biennium.  C.S.S.B. 1132 creates a
retirement incentive for law enforcement officers who have 30 years or more
of service credit, with at least three years of that service occurring
after August 31, 2001. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 814.107(b), Government Code, to set forth
guidelines concerning computing the standard service retirement annuity
payable for at least 20 years of service credit as a law enforcement or
custodial officer. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) is
required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose.  Provides that, if the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for the purpose, ERS is authorized, but is
not required, to implement this Act using other appropriations available
for the purpose.  

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends As Filed S.B. 1132 as follows:

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 814.107(b), Government Code, to provide that the
standard service retirement annuity payable for at least 20 years of
service credit for a custodial officer is a certain computed amount plus .5
percent for service credit as a custodial officer, rather than .75 percent
if the officer has 30 years or more of service credit.  Provides that the
service retirement annuity payable for at least 20 years of service credit
for a law enforcement officer is a certain amount plus .75 percent for
service credit as a law enforcement officer, if the total amount of law
enforcement service credited is 30 years or more and at least three years
of that service occurs after August 31, 2001. 

Adds a new SECTION 2.  

 SECTION 3.  Redesignates original SECTION 2 as SECTION 3.  No changes in
text.