BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 604
79R2089 DLF-D By: Hopson (Staples)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, passed S.B. 292, an omnibus Employees Retirement System (ERS) bill improving insurance benefits for ERS members. Employees hired at the Windham School District (WSD) were hired prior to the enactment of the bill on September 1, 2001, but their effective date of employment was after that date. Therefore, some members of WSD, which operates schools at facilities of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, were promised a set of retirement benefits that were not enacted by changes in S.B. 292.
As proposed, H.B. 604 "grandfathers" certain individuals who may qualify for the group benefits outlined in S.B. 292, provided they were employed within a 10-day period from September 1 to September 10, 2001, are still employed by WSD, and meet the guidelines stipulated upon the enactment of S.B. 292.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED AFTER ENACTMENT OF CHAPTER 1231, ACTS OF THE 77TH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION, 2001. Provides that notwithstanding Section 1551.102 (Participation Eligibility: Annuitants), Insurance Code, or any other law, an individual is eligible to participate as an annuitant in the group benefits program under Chapter 1551 (Texas Employees Group Benefits Act), Insurance Code, upon meeting specific qualifications.
SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. Provides that this Act expires December 31, 2011.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: September 1, 2005.