By: Truitt (Senate Sponsor - Duncan) H.B. No. 2559
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2009;
  May 12, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 25, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 1,
  2 present not voting; May 25, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2559 By:  Duncan
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the powers and duties of and benefits available under
  the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 615.045, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (d) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Records of individuals listed by Section 615.003 and of
  survivors eligible for benefits under this chapter that are in the
  custody of the Employees Retirement System of Texas, [or] an
  administering firm as defined by Section 1551.003, Insurance Code,
  a carrier as defined by Section 1551.007, Insurance Code, or
  another governmental agency acting with or on behalf of the
  retirement system are confidential and not subject to public
  disclosure, and the retirement system, administering firm,
  carrier, or governmental agency is not required to accept or comply
  with a request for a record or information about a record or to seek
  an opinion from the attorney general, because the records are
  exempt from the [public information] provisions of Chapter 552,
  except as otherwise provided by this section.
         (b-1)  A record released or received by the retirement system
  under this section may be transmitted electronically, including
  through the use of an electronic signature or certification in a
  form acceptable to the retirement system. An unintentional
  disclosure to, or unauthorized access by, a third party related to
  the transmission or receipt of information under this section is
  not a violation by the retirement system of any law, including a law
  or rule relating to the protection of confidential information.
         (d)  The retirement system has sole discretion in
  determining whether a record is subject to this section. For
  purposes of this section, a record includes any identifying
  information about any person, living or deceased, who is or was:
               (1)  an individual listed in Section 615.003; or
               (2)  a survivor, heir, or beneficiary of an individual
  listed in Section 615.003.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 811, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 811.010 and 811.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 811.010.  VENUE. Subject to and without waiving the
  retirement system's sovereign immunity or the official immunity of
  the trustees, officers, and employees of the retirement system, the
  venue for any action by or against the retirement system, the
  trustees, officers, or employees of the retirement system, or an
  administering firm, carrier, or other governmental agency acting in
  cooperation with or on behalf of the retirement system is in Travis
  County.
         Sec. 811.011.  STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. Subject to and
  without waiving the retirement system's sovereign immunity or the
  official immunity of the trustees, officers, and employees of the
  retirement system, unless specifically provided otherwise by
  another statute, the statute of limitations for a claim against the
  retirement system or a trustee, officer, or employee of the
  retirement system is two years.
         SECTION 3.  Section 812.101, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  For a law enforcement or custodial officer, the
  withdrawal of accumulated contributions under Subsection (a)
  includes all of the officer's contributions made under Section
  815.402(h).
         SECTION 4.  Section 812.201(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  A person who is retired from the elected class of
  membership and who again holds a position included in that class may
  elect to become a member again by filing notice with the retirement
  system. Except as provided by Section 812.203(c) [812.203(e)],
  when benefit payments are resumed, the retirement system shall
  recompute the annuity selected at the time of the person's original
  retirement to include the additional service established during
  membership under this subsection.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter C, Chapter 812, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 812.205 to read as follows:
         Sec. 812.205.  WAITING PERIOD. A member who retires from the
  employee class on or after May 31, 2009, may not return to work in a
  position included in the employee class of membership before the
  90th day after the date of the retiree's original retirement.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter C, Chapter 812, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 812.206 to read as follows:
         Sec. 812.206.  RETURN TO WORK SURCHARGE. (a)  This section
  applies only to a person who, on or after September 1, 2009:
               (1)  retires from the employee class; and
               (2)  is rehired as a retiree into a position that would
  otherwise include membership in the employee class.
         (b)  For each month that a department or agency of this state
  employs a person described by Subsection (a), the department or
  agency shall remit to the retirement system an amount equal to the
  amount of the state contribution that the department or agency
  would remit for an active member employed in the person's position.
  The amount remitted shall be deposited in the trust fund
  established under Section 815.310.
         SECTION 7.  Section 813.509, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (k) to read
  as follows:
         (d)  An individual who was a [A] member or employee on August
  31, 2009, and who holds a position included in the employee class
  may use sick leave creditable under this section to satisfy service
  requirements for retirement under Section 814.104 or 814.107 if the
  sick leave attributed to the eligibility requirements remains
  otherwise unused on the last day of employment.
         (e)  A death benefit beneficiary [designee] under Section
  814.302 may use the deceased member's sick leave credit under this
  section to qualify for making a death benefit plan selection under
  Section 814.302 if the decedent was a member or employee on August
  31, 2009.
         (k)  A member who was not a member on the date hired and was
  hired on or after September 1, 2009, or a death benefit beneficiary
  of that member may use sick leave creditable under this section only
  for purposes of calculating the member's or beneficiary's annuity.
         SECTION 8.  Section 813.511, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (j) to read
  as follows:
         (d)  An individual who was a [A] member or employee on August
  31, 2009, and who holds a position included in the employee class
  may use annual leave creditable under this section to satisfy
  service requirements for retirement under Section 814.104 or
  814.107 if the annual leave attributed to the eligibility
  requirements remains otherwise unused on the last day of
  employment.
         (e)  A death benefit beneficiary [designee] under Section
  814.302 may use the deceased member's annual leave credit under
  this section to qualify for making a death benefit plan selection
  under Section 814.302 if the decedent was a member or employee on
  August 31, 2009.
         (j)  A member who was not a member on the date hired and was
  hired on or after September 1, 2009, or a death benefit beneficiary
  of that member may use annual leave creditable under this section
  only for purposes of calculating the member's or beneficiary's
  annuity.
         SECTION 9.  Section 814.008(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A retiree receiving an optional service or disability
  retirement annuity approved by the board of trustees or described
  by Section 814.108(c)(1), [or] (c)(2), or (c)(5) may change the
  designated beneficiary as provided by this section for the benefits
  payable after the retiree's death.
         SECTION 10.  Subchapter A, Chapter 814, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 814.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 814.012.  DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED BENEFICIARY
  BENEFITS. If, as of the fourth anniversary of the death of a member
  or annuitant, the retirement system has not paid benefits and a
  claim for benefits is not pending with the retirement system based
  on the death of the member or annuitant, the accumulated
  contributions of the deceased member or the balance of the reserve
  for the deceased annuitant reverts to the benefit of the retirement
  system. The retirement system shall transfer funds reverted under
  this section to the state accumulation account.
         SECTION 11.  Section 814.104, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section,
  Section 814.102, or by rule adopted under Section 813.304(d) or
  803.202(a)(2), a member who has service credit in the retirement
  system is eligible to retire and receive a service retirement
  annuity if the member:
               (1)  is at least 60 years old and has at least 5 years of
  service credit in the employee class; or
               (2)  has at least 5 years of service credit in the
  employee class and the sum of the member's age and amount of service
  credit in the employee class, including months of age and credit,
  equals or exceeds the number 80.
         (d)  Except as provided by Section 814.102 or by rule adopted
  under Section 813.304(d) or 803.202(a)(2), a member who was not a
  member on the date hired, was hired on or after September 1, 2009,
  and has service credit in the retirement system is eligible to
  retire and receive a service retirement annuity if the member:
               (1)  is at least 65 years old and has at least 10 years
  of service credit in the employee class; or
               (2)  has at least 5 years of service credit in the
  employee class and the sum of the member's age and amount of service
  credit in the employee class, including months of age and credit,
  equals or exceeds the number 80.
         SECTION 12.  Section 814.105, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  The standard service retirement annuity for service
  credited in the employee class of membership for a member who was
  not a member on the date hired, was hired on or after September 1,
  2009, and is eligible to retire is an amount computed as the
  member's average monthly compensation for service in that class for
  the 48 highest months of compensation multiplied by 2.3 percent for
  each year of service credit in that class.
         (d)  The standard service retirement annuity computed under
  Subsection (c) is reduced by five percent for each year the member
  retires before the member reaches age 60, with a maximum possible
  reduction of 25 percent.
         SECTION 13.  Sections 814.107(c) and (d), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The standard combined service retirement annuity that
  is payable under this section is based on retirement on or after the
  attainment of the normal retirement age, which for purposes of this
  section is the earlier of either the age of 50 or the age at which
  the sum of the member's age and amount of service credit in the
  employee class equals the number 80. A law enforcement or custodial
  officer who retires before attaining the normal retirement age is
  entitled only to an annuity that is actuarially reduced from the
  annuity available at the normal retirement age to the law
  enforcement or custodial officer whose service credit annuity
  amount is based on [available at] the sum of the member's age and
  amount of law enforcement or custodial officer service credit and
  employee class service credit, and is not entitled to have the
  annuity recalculated at normal retirement age. The standard or
  reduced annuity is payable from the trust fund established by
  Section 815.310 and the law enforcement and custodial officer
  supplemental retirement fund in a ratio determined by the
  retirement system.
         (d)  A member who retires under this section retires
  simultaneously from the employee class of membership. [Benefits for
  service in the employee class of membership become payable from the
  trust fund established by Section 815.310 at the normal retirement
  age under the computation provided by Section 814.105.] Optional
  retirement annuities provided by Section 814.108 are available to a
  member eligible to receive a service retirement annuity under this
  section, but the same optional plan and beneficiary [designee] must
  be selected for the portion of the annuity payable from the law
  enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund and
  the portion payable from the trust fund established by Section
  815.310.
         SECTION 14.  Subchapter B, Chapter 814, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 814.1075 to read as follows:
         Sec. 814.1075.  ADJUSTED BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN PEACE
  OFFICERS.  (a)  This section applies only to a person hired on or
  after September 1, 2009, who was not a member on the date hired.
         (b)  A member who has at least 20 years of service credit as a
  law enforcement or custodial officer is eligible to retire
  regardless of age and receive a standard service retirement annuity
  as provided by this section.
         (c)  The standard service retirement annuity payable for at
  least 20 years of service credit as a law enforcement or custodial
  officer is an amount computed on the basis of the member's average
  monthly compensation for the 48 highest months of compensation in
  the employee class multiplied by the sum of the percentage factor
  used in the computation of a standard service retirement annuity
  under Section 814.105(c) plus 0.5 percent.
         (d)  The standard combined service retirement annuity that
  is payable under this section is based on retirement at either the
  age of 55 or the age at which the sum of the member's age and amount
  of service credit in the employee class equals or exceeds the number
  80. The annuity of a law enforcement or custodial officer who
  retires before reaching the age of 55 under any eligibility
  criteria is actuarially reduced by five percent for each year the
  member retires before the member reaches age 55, with a maximum
  possible reduction of 25 percent.
         (e)  An annuity payable under this section:
               (1)  is payable from the trust fund established by
  Section 815.310 and from the law enforcement and custodial officer
  supplemental retirement fund in a ratio determined by the
  retirement system; and
               (2)  is based on the service credit available to the law
  enforcement or custodial officer at the time of retirement and the
  sum of the member's age and amount of law enforcement or custodial
  officer service credit and employee class service credit.
         (f)  A member who retires under this section retires
  simultaneously from the employee class of membership. Optional
  retirement annuities provided by Section 814.108 are available to a
  member eligible to receive a service retirement annuity under this
  section, but the same optional plan and beneficiary must be
  selected for the portion of the annuity payable from the law
  enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund and
  the portion payable from the trust fund established by Section
  815.310.
         (g)  The amount payable from the law enforcement and
  custodial officer supplemental retirement fund is reducible by the
  amount paid from the trust fund established by Section 815.310 for
  service as a law enforcement or custodial officer. The total
  combined amount of an annuity under this section may not be less
  than the authorized benefit under Subsection (c) subtracted by any
  amount necessary because of the selection of an optional annuity,
  because of retirement before the age of 55, or as provided by
  Subsection (h).
         (h)  The standard combined service retirement annuity
  payable for at least 20 years of service credit as a law enforcement
  or custodial officer may not exceed 100 percent of the average
  compensation computed under Subsection (c).
         (i)  For purposes of this section, service as a law
  enforcement or custodial officer is creditable as provided by rule
  of the board of trustees or on a month-to-month basis, whichever is
  greater.
         SECTION 15.  Sections 814.108(c), (g), and (h), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An eligible person may select [any optional retirement
  annuity approved by the board of trustees, or may select] one of the
  following options, which provides [provide] that:
               (1)  after the retiree's death, the reduced annuity is
  payable in the same amount throughout the life of the person
  designated by the retiree before retirement;
               (2)  after the retiree's death, one-half of the reduced
  annuity is payable throughout the life of the person designated by
  the retiree before retirement;
               (3)  if the retiree dies before 60 monthly annuity
  payments have been made, the remainder of the 60 payments are
  payable to one or more beneficiaries [designees] or, if one does not
  exist, to the retiree's estate; [or]
               (4)  if the retiree dies before 120 monthly annuity
  payments have been made, the remainder of the 120 payments are
  payable to one or more beneficiaries [designees] or, if one does not
  exist, to the retiree's estate; or
               (5)  after the retiree's death, three-fourths of the
  reduced annuity is payable throughout the life of the person
  designated by the retiree before retirement.
         (g)  Except as provided by Section 814.008 or 814.1081, a
  person who selected an optional service retirement annuity approved
  by the board of trustees or an optional service retirement annuity
  described by Subsection (c)(1), [or] (c)(2), or (c)(5) may not
  change or revoke a beneficiary designation after the person's
  effective date of retirement.
         (h)  A beneficiary designation that names a former spouse as
  beneficiary for a guaranteed optional annuity described by
  Subsection (c)(3) or (c)(4) is invalid unless the designation is
  made after the date of the divorce.
         SECTION 16.  Section 814.1081(a), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person who retired and selected an optional service
  retirement annuity [approved by the board of trustees or an
  optional service retirement annuity] described by Section
  814.108(c)(1), [or] (c)(2), or (c)(5) may change the optional
  annuity selection to the selection of a standard service retirement
  annuity by filing with the retirement system a request to change the
  annuity selection, if the retiree designated a person as
  beneficiary who:
               (1)  was not at the time of designation and is not
  currently the retiree's spouse or dependent child; or
               (2)  has executed since the designation a transfer and
  release, approved by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to
  a divorce decree, of the beneficiary's interest in the annuity and
  is not currently the retiree's spouse or dependent child.
         SECTION 17.  Section 814.202, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  A member otherwise eligible to receive a disability
  retirement annuity may not receive the annuity if the member is:
               (1)  still earning a salary or wage from the employment
  for which the member is claiming disability; or
               (2)  on leave without pay from the employment for which
  the member is claiming disability.
         SECTION 18.  Section 814.203, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 814.203.  CERTIFICATION OF DISABILITY. (a) As soon as
  practicable after an application for disability retirement is
  filed, the medical board shall evaluate the medical and other
  pertinent information regarding the member's application. If the
  medical board finds that the member is mentally or physically
  incapacitated for the further performance of duty, as supported by
  substantial, objective, medical evidence, and that the incapacity
  is likely to be permanent, the medical board shall issue a
  certification of disability and submit it to the executive
  director. A certification under this section is admissible in a
  contested case under Section 815.511 without proving the medical
  board as experts.
         (b)  For purposes of this subchapter, a member is
  incapacitated for the further performance of duty if the member has
  demonstrably sought and been denied workplace accommodation of the
  disability in accordance with applicable law, and the member is
  physically or mentally unable to continue to hold the position
  occupied or to hold any other position offering comparable pay. The
  employee's education, training, and experience must be considered
  when making a determination of incapacity under this subchapter.
         (c)  For the purposes of this section, "comparable pay" means
  80 percent or more of the member's final state employment base pay
  before deductions for taxes or deferred compensation under state
  and federal law, including any longevity or hazardous duty pay, but
  excluding the monetary value of any insurance or retirement
  benefits. Comparable pay may be adjusted by the retirement system
  to account for adjustments in state pay rates.
         SECTION 19.  Subchapter C, Chapter 815, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 815.214 to read as follows:
         Sec. 815.214.  SUBPOENA. Notwithstanding any other law, the
  retirement system may issue a subpoena that conforms to Rule 176,
  Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, including a preappeal investigative
  subpoena or any subpoena otherwise authorized by the Texas Rules of
  Civil Procedure, that the retirement system determines necessary to
  protect the interests of a program or system administered by the
  retirement system.
         SECTION 20.  Section 815.301, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows:
         (g)  In awarding contracts to private professional
  investment managers under Subsection (c) or otherwise acquiring
  private financial services, the board of trustees shall make a good
  faith effort to award contracts to or acquire services from
  qualified emerging fund managers.
         (h)  For purposes of Subsection (g):
               (1)  "Emerging fund manager" means a private
  professional investment manager that manages assets of not more
  than $2 billion.
               (2)  "Private financial services" includes pension
  fund management, consulting, investment advising, brokerage
  services, hedge fund management, private equity fund management,
  and real estate investment.
         (i)  The retirement system shall report to the board of
  trustees on the methods and results of the system's efforts to hire
  emerging fund managers, including data disaggregated by race,
  ethnicity, gender, and fund size.
         SECTION 21.  Section 815.307, Government Code, as amended by
  Chapters 1103 (H.B. 2240) and 1111 (H.B. 2359), Acts of the 78th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is reenacted to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 815.307.  DUTY OF CARE. The assets of the retirement
  system shall be invested and reinvested without distinction as to
  their source in accordance with Section 67, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution. A determination of whether the board of trustees has
  exercised prudence with respect to an investment decision must be
  made taking into consideration the investment of all assets of the
  trust or all assets of the collective investment vehicle, as
  applicable, over which the board has management and control, rather
  than considering the prudence of a single investment of the trust or
  the collective investment vehicle, as applicable.
         SECTION 22.  Section 815.402, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (h) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 813.201, each payroll
  period, each department or agency of the state shall cause to be
  deducted from each member's compensation a contribution of:
               (1)  6.5 [six] percent of the compensation if the
  member is not a member of the legislature, provided that if the
  state contribution to the retirement system is computed using a
  percentage less than 6.5 percent, the member's contribution is
  computed using a percentage equal to the percentage used to compute
  the state contribution, which may not be less than six percent; or
               (2)  eight percent of the compensation if the member is
  a member of the legislature.
         (h)  In addition to the contribution under Subsection
  (a)(1), each department or agency of the state that employs a law
  enforcement or custodial officer shall deduct an additional 0.5
  percent contribution from that member's compensation, to be
  deposited in the law enforcement and custodial officer supplemental
  retirement fund, provided that, if the state contribution to the
  law enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund
  is computed using a percentage less than 0.5 percent, the member's
  contribution is computed using a percentage equal to the percentage
  used to compute the state contribution.
         SECTION 23.  Section 815.503, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
  (e) to read as follows:
         (a)  Records of members, annuitants, retirees,
  beneficiaries, and alternate payees under retirement plans
  administered by the retirement system that are in the custody of the
  system or of an administering firm [administrator], carrier, or
  other governmental agency acting in cooperation with or on behalf
  of the retirement system are confidential and not subject to public
  disclosure, and the retirement system, administering firm,
  carrier, or governmental agency is not required to accept or comply
  with a request for a record or information about a record or to seek
  an opinion from the attorney general, because the records are
  exempt from the [public access] provisions of Chapter 552, except
  as otherwise provided by this section.
         (b)  Records may be released to a member, annuitant, retiree,
  beneficiary, or alternate payee or to an authorized attorney,
  family member, or representative acting on behalf of the member,
  annuitant, retiree, beneficiary, or alternate payee. The
  retirement system may release the records to an administering firm
  [administrator], carrier, or agent or attorney acting on behalf of
  the retirement system, to another governmental entity having a
  legitimate need for the information to perform the purposes of the
  retirement system, or to a party in response to a subpoena issued
  under applicable law.
         (b-1)  A record released or received by the retirement system
  under this section may be transmitted electronically, including
  through the use of an electronic signature or certification in a
  form acceptable to the retirement system. An unintentional
  disclosure to, or unauthorized access by, a third party related to
  the transmission or receipt of information under this section is
  not a violation by the retirement system of any law, including a law
  or rule relating to the protection of confidential information.
         (e)  The retirement system has sole discretion in
  determining if a record is subject to this section. For purposes of
  this section, a record includes any identifying information about a
  person, living or deceased, who is or was a member, annuitant,
  retiree, beneficiary, or alternate payee, under any retirement plan
  or program administered by the retirement system.
         SECTION 24.  Section 815.512, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 815.512.  PROTECTION FROM DOUBLE OR MULTIPLE LIABILITY.
  (a) The executive director may cause an action for interpleader [a
  suit] concerning a claim to be filed on behalf of the retirement
  system in a district court in Travis County to protect the system
  from double or multiple liability if the executive director
  determines that a claim may expose the retirement system to such
  liability.
         (b)  A person may not pursue a counterclaim or other cause of
  action against the retirement system, a trustee, officer, or
  employee of the retirement system, or a carrier or administering
  firm for the retirement system in connection with a transaction or
  occurrence related to the interpleader action.
         (c)  A person who violates Subsection (b) is liable for the
  costs and attorney's fees incurred by the retirement system, a
  trustee, officer, or employee of the retirement system, or a
  carrier or administering firm for the retirement system as a result
  of the violation.
         SECTION 25.  Subchapter F, Chapter 815, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 815.515 to read as follows:
         Sec. 815.515.  DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED CONTRIBUTIONS OF
  FORMER MEMBERS. (a) Subject to Chapters 803 and 805, if the
  retirement system has not received a request for a refund of the
  accumulated contributions of a member in accordance with Subchapter
  B, Chapter 812, before the seventh anniversary of the member's last
  day of service, the retirement system may refund the accumulated
  contributions to the member or the member's heirs. If the member or
  the member's heirs cannot be found, the member's accumulated
  contributions revert to the retirement system.
         (b)  The retirement system shall credit any amounts that
  revert to the retirement system under Subsection (a) to the state
  accumulation account.
         (c)  The board of trustees may adopt rules to implement and
  administer this section.
         SECTION 26.  Section 837.003, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  At the time a service retirement, disability
  retirement, or death benefit annuity becomes payable, the
  retirement system shall refund any contributions, interest, or
  membership fees used to establish service credit that is not used in
  computing the amount of the annuity.
         SECTION 27.  Section 838.106, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  For the purpose of Subsection (a)(1), the term of a
  member leaving judicial office ends not later than December 31
  regardless of the date on which the member's successor takes the
  oath of office.
         SECTION 28.  Section 839.103(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Instead of a service retirement annuity payable under
  Section 839.102, a retiring member may elect to receive [an
  optional service retirement annuity provided by the board of
  trustees or] one of the following optional service retirement
  annuities, actuarially reduced to an actuarially equivalent value
  and consisting of:
               (1)  an annuity payable during the retiring member's
  life and continuing after death in the same amount, throughout the
  life of one person designated by the retiring member before
  retirement;
               (2)  an annuity payable during the retiring member's
  life and continuing after death in an amount equal to one-half of
  the amount payable during the retiring member's life, throughout
  the life of one person designated by the retiring member before
  retirement;
               (3)  an annuity payable for the greater of the rest of
  the retiring member's life or 60 months; [or]
               (4)  an annuity payable for the greater of the rest of
  the retiring member's life or 120 months; or
               (5)  an annuity payable during the retiring member's
  life and continuing after death in an amount equal to three-fourths
  of the amount payable during the retiring member's life, throughout
  the life of one person designated by the retiring member before
  retirement.
         SECTION 29.  Section 840.303, Government Code, as amended by
  Chapters 1103 (H.B. 2240) and 1111 (H.B. 2359), Acts of the 78th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is reenacted to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 840.303.  DUTY OF CARE. The assets of the retirement
  system shall be invested and reinvested without distinction as to
  their source in accordance with Section 67, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution. A determination of whether the board of trustees has
  exercised prudence with respect to an investment decision must be
  made taking into consideration the investment of all assets of the
  trust or all assets of the collective investment vehicle, as
  applicable, over which the board has management and control, rather
  than considering the prudence of a single investment of the trust or
  the collective investment vehicle, as applicable.
         SECTION 30.  Section 840.402, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 840.402.  RETIREMENT SYSTEM RECORDS. Records of
  members, annuitants, retirees, beneficiaries, and alternate payees
  of the retirement system are confidential and are not subject to
  public disclosure and are exempt from the provisions of Chapter
  552. Records maintained as confidential under this section may be
  released or received in the manner provided by Section 815.503.
         SECTION 31.  Section 1551.003, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (10-a) to read as follows:
               (10-a)  "Participant" means an eligible individual who
  participates in the group benefits program.
         SECTION 32.  Section 1551.004, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1551.004.  DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT. (a) In this
  chapter, "dependent" with respect to an individual eligible to
  participate in the group benefits program under Section 1551.101 or
  1551.102 means the individual's:
               (1)  spouse;
               (2)  unmarried child younger than 25 years of age;
               (3)  child of any age who the board of trustees
  determines lives with or has the child's care provided by the
  individual on a regular basis if:
                     (A)  the child is mentally retarded or physically
  incapacitated to the extent that the child is dependent on the
  individual for care or support, as determined by the board of
  trustees;
                     (B)  the child's coverage under this chapter has
  not lapsed; and
                     (C)  the child is at least 25 years old and was
  enrolled as a participant in the health benefits coverage under the
  group benefits program on the date of the child's 25th birthday;
  [and]
               (4)  child of any age who is unmarried, for purposes of
  health benefit coverage under this chapter, on expiration of the
  child's continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus
  Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its
  subsequent amendments; and
               (5)  ward, as that term is defined by Section 601, Texas
  Probate Code.
         (b)  In this section, "child" includes:
               (1)  a natural child, [an] adopted child, [and a]
  stepchild, or foster child; [,] or
               (2)  a [other] child who is related by blood or marriage
  and was claimed as a dependent on the federal income tax return of
  [is in a parent-child relationship with] an individual who is
  eligible to participate in the group benefits program under Section
  1551.101 or 1551.102 for the calendar year preceding the plan year
  in which the child is first enrolled as a dependent under Subchapter
  D, and for each subsequent year in which the child is enrolled as a
  dependent.
         (c)  The requirement in Subsection (b)(2) that a child must
  be claimed as a dependent on a federal income tax return in the
  calendar year preceding the child's enrollment does not apply if:
               (1)  the child is born in the year in which the child is
  first enrolled; or
               (2)  the participant can demonstrate good cause for not
  claiming the child as a dependent in the preceding calendar year.
         SECTION 33.  Section 1551.063, Insurance Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (d-1) and
  (f) to read as follows:
         (a)  The records of a participant in the group benefits
  program in the custody of the Employees Retirement System of Texas
  [board of trustees], or of an administering firm, [administrator
  or] carrier, or another governmental entity acting on behalf of the
  retirement system [board], are confidential and not subject to
  disclosure, and the retirement system, administering firm,
  carrier, or governmental entity [board] is not required to accept
  or comply with a request for a record or information about a record
  or to seek an opinion from the attorney general, because the records
  are exempt from the [public access] provisions of Chapter 552,
  Government Code, except as provided by this section.
         (c)  To accomplish the purposes of this chapter, the board of
  trustees may release the records to:
               (1)  an administering firm [administrator], carrier,
  agent, or attorney acting on behalf of the board;
               (2)  another governmental entity having a legitimate
  need for the information to perform a function of the board of
  trustees;
               (3)  an authorized medical provider of the participant;
  or
               (4)  a party in response to a subpoena issued under
  applicable law.
         (d-1)  A record released or received by the Employees
  Retirement System of Texas under this section may be transmitted
  electronically, including through the use of an electronic
  signature or certification in a form acceptable to the retirement
  system. An unintentional disclosure to, or unauthorized access by,
  a third party related to the transmission or receipt of information
  under this section is not a violation by the retirement system of
  any law, including a law or rule relating to the protection of
  confidential information.
         (f)  The Employees Retirement System of Texas has sole
  discretion in determining if a record is subject to this section.
  For purposes of this section, a record includes any identifying
  information about a person, living or deceased, who is or was an
  employee, annuitant, dependent, or participant in the group
  benefits program.
         SECTION 34.  Section 1551.102(d), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  An individual is eligible to participate in the group
  benefits program as provided by Subsection (a) if [the individual]:
               (1)  the individual retires under the optional
  retirement program established by Chapter 830, Government Code;
               (2)  the individual has [, with] at least 10 years of
  eligible service credit; and
               (3)  [(2)     receives or is eligible to receive an
  annuity under that program and] the individual:
                     (A)  is at least 65 years of age, or would have
  been eligible to retire and receive a service or disability
  retirement annuity from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or
  the Employees Retirement System of Texas in an amount such that the
  sum of the person's age and amount of service credit, including
  months of age and credit, equals or exceeds the number 80 or would
  have been eligible to retire and receive a disability retirement
  annuity from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or the
  Employees Retirement System of Texas, if the individual had not
  elected to participate in the optional retirement program, and is
  eligible to receive an annuity or periodic distribution of funds
  from an account under the optional retirement program; or
                     (B)  is disabled as determined by the Employees
  Retirement System of Texas based on at least 10 years of eligible
  service credit, and is receiving an annuity or periodic
  distribution of funds from an account under the optional retirement
  program.
         SECTION 35.  Section 1551.155, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  A person who is the surviving spouse of an individual
  described by Subsection (a) may secure group health coverage
  without evidence of the person's insurability if the individual was
  eligible to participate in the group benefits program under Section
  1551.101 or 1551.102 but was not participating at the time of the
  individual's death.
         (d)  A surviving spouse seeking group coverage under
  Subsection (c):
               (1)  must apply for the coverage not later than the 30th
  day after the date on which the individual who was eligible to
  participate in the group benefits program dies; and
               (2)  shall pay for the coverage at the group rate as
  provided by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 36.  The heading to Section 1551.156, Insurance
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1551.156.  COVERAGE OPTIONS FOR SURVIVING DEPENDENT
  [WHEN THERE IS NO SURVIVING SPOUSE].
         SECTION 37.  Section 1551.156, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
         (d)  A person who is a surviving dependent of an annuitant
  may secure group health coverage after the death of the annuitant
  without evidence of the person's insurability if the annuitant was
  eligible to participate in the group benefits program of a
  retirement system named in this chapter but was not participating
  at the time of the individual's death.
         (e)  A surviving dependent seeking group coverage under
  Subsection (d):
               (1)  must apply for the coverage not later than the 30th
  day after the date on which the individual who was eligible to
  participate in the group benefits program dies; and
               (2)  shall pay for the coverage at the group rate as
  provided by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 38.  Section 1551.354, Insurance Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read
  as follows:
         (b)  The executive director may cause the filing of an action
  for interpleader [a suit] concerning the claim in a district court
  in Travis County on behalf of the Employees Retirement System of
  Texas to protect the group coverage plan from double or multiple
  liability.
         (c)  A person may not pursue a counterclaim or other cause of
  action against the Employees Retirement System of Texas, a trustee,
  officer, or employee of the retirement system, or a carrier or
  administering firm for the retirement system in connection with a
  transaction or occurrence related to the interpleader action.
         (d)  A person who violates Subsection (c) is liable for the
  costs and attorney's fees incurred by the Employees Retirement
  System of Texas, a trustee, officer, or employee of the retirement
  system, or a carrier or administering firm for the retirement
  system as a result of the violation.
         SECTION 39.  Subchapter H, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1551.362 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1551.362.  SUBPOENA. Notwithstanding any other law,
  the Employees Retirement System of Texas may issue a subpoena that
  conforms to Rule 176, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, including a
  preappeal investigative subpoena or any subpoena otherwise
  authorized by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, that the
  retirement system determines necessary to protect the interests of
  a program or system administered by the retirement system.
         SECTION 40.  Section 1551.401, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  Except as provided by Section 1551.259(d), the
  retirement system may deposit to the credit of the fund any
  unclaimed money on a finding that a good faith effort has been made
  to locate the person entitled to the money.
         SECTION 41.  The following laws are repealed:
               (1)  Section 833.1035(c), Government Code;
               (2)  Section 833.104, Government Code;
               (3)  Section 835.1015(c), Government Code;
               (4)  Section 838.1035(c), Government Code;
               (5)  Section 838.104, Government Code;
               (6)  Section 840.1025(c), Government Code;
               (7)  Section 840.1027(c), Government Code;
               (8)  Section 1551.218(c), Insurance Code; and
               (9)  Section 1551.221, Insurance Code.
         SECTION 42.  Under Section 67, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution, the Employees Retirement System of Texas may
  distribute a supplemental annuity payment on behalf of the State of
  Texas using money appropriated from the general revenue fund to the
  retirement system by an Act of the 81st Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2009, that is enacted and becomes law.
         SECTION 43.  Sections 811.010 and 811.011, Government Code,
  as added by this Act, and Sections 815.512, Government Code, and
  1551.354, Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an
  action filed by or against the Employees Retirement System of
  Texas, the trustees, officers, or employees of the retirement
  system, or an administering firm, carrier, or other governmental
  agency acting in cooperation with or on behalf of the retirement
  system on or after the effective date of this Act. An action filed
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect when the action was filed, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 44.  Section 837.003(e), Government Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a service retirement, disability
  retirement, or death benefit annuity that becomes payable by the
  Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A service retirement, disability
  retirement, or death benefit annuity that becomes payable by the
  Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two before the effective
  date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  annuity becomes payable, and that law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 45.  Section 1551.004, Insurance Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an individual claimed as a dependent for a
  plan year beginning on or after September 1, 2010. An individual
  claimed as a dependent for a plan year that began before September
  1, 2010, is governed by the law in effect when the individual was
  claimed as a dependent, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 46.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
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