78R5864 SMJ-D

By:  King                                                       H.J.R. No. 54 



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment providing that membership in 
certain retirement systems is a contractual relationship and that 
accrued benefits in those systems cannot be reduced or impaired.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Section 67, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is  
amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
	(h)  This subsection applies only to a retirement system that 
is not a statewide system and that provides retirement, disability, 
and death benefits to public officers and employees and to a 
statewide retirement system that provides retirement, disability, 
and death benefits to volunteer emergency services personnel.  
Membership in a retirement system is a contractual relationship, 
and benefits that a person has accrued in a retirement system, 
including disability and death benefits and any increases in 
benefits, may not be reduced or impaired.
	SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment providing that 
membership in certain retirement systems is a contractual 
relationship and that accrued benefits in those systems cannot be 
reduced or impaired."