HBA-EDN S.J.R. 52 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.J.R. 52 By: Bivins Teacher Health Insurance, Select 5/16/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Constitution provides only for contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to be used for the retirement and related disability and death benefits of public school employees. The constitution provides that the money is held in trust for the benefit of members and is prohibited from being diverted. As proposed, Senate Joint Resolution 52 requires the submission to the voters of a constitutional amendment providing for the use of contributions to the pension fund of TRS to finance health care benefits for retirees of the system. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Joint Resolution 52 amends the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature to enact laws to include within the retirement benefits provided to retirees by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) health care benefits that are financed by contributions to TRS in the manner provided by federal law. FOR ELECTION This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held August 11, 2001.