79R7425 DLF-F

By:  McReynolds                                                   H.B. No. 1809



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to benefits from the Employees Retirement System of Texas 
for law enforcement officers commissioned by the Texas Department 
of Insurance or the state fire marshal.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 811.001(9), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
		(9)  "Law enforcement officer" means a member of the 
retirement system who:
			(A)  has been commissioned as a law enforcement 
officer by the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Alcoholic 
Beverage Commission, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the Texas 
Department of Insurance, the state fire marshal, or the Parks and 
Wildlife Department; and
			(B)  [who] is recognized as a commissioned law 
enforcement officer by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer 
Standards and Education.
	SECTION 2.  Section 814.104(b), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(b)  A member who is at least 55 years old and who has at 
least 10 years of service credit as a commissioned peace officer 
engaged in criminal law enforcement activities of the Department of 
Public Safety, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas
State Board of Pharmacy, the Texas Department of Insurance, the 
state fire marshal, or the Parks and Wildlife Department, or as a 
custodial officer, is eligible to retire and receive a service 
retirement annuity.
	SECTION 3.  Section 815.505, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 815.505.  CERTIFICATION OF NAMES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND 
CUSTODIAL OFFICERS.  Not later than the 12th day of the month 
following the month in which a person begins or ceases employment as 
a law enforcement officer or custodial officer, the Public Safety 
Commission, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Parks and 
Wildlife Commission, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the Board 
of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Department of Insurance, the 
state fire marshal, or the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, as 
applicable, shall certify to the retirement system, in the manner 
prescribed by the system, the name of the employee and such other 
information as the system determines is necessary for the crediting 
of service and financing of benefits under this subtitle.
	SECTION 4.  Before October 1, 2005, the Texas Department of 
Insurance and the state fire marshal shall certify to the Employees 
Retirement System of Texas, in the manner prescribed by the system:
		(1)  the name of each person employed by the Texas 
Department of Insurance and the state fire marshal, as applicable, 
on September 1, 2005, as a law enforcement officer as defined by 
Section 811.001, Government Code, as amended by this Act; and
		(2)  any other information the system determines is 
necessary for the crediting of service and financing of benefits 
for law enforcement officers employed by the Texas Department of 
Insurance and the state fire marshal, as applicable, under Subtitle 
B, Title 8, Government Code.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.