SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 546
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas proudly
  recognizes the members of the Texas Association of Public
  Employee Retirement Systems on the occasion of their 20th
  annual conference in Austin, which is being held March 28
  through April 1, 2009; and
 
         WHEREAS, Founded in 1989, the Texas Association of Public
  Employee Retirement Systems is an effective voluntary nonprofit
  statewide organization created with the purpose of protecting
  public employee retirement systems in Texas and promoting
  quality management by providing members with outstanding
  educational programs; and
 
         WHEREAS, Since it was chartered, this nonprofit
  educational association has provided forums for discussing state
  and national legislative issues that affect Texas pension
  systems; it has also supplied important information on
  retirement system administration, benefit designs, and federal
  programs; and
 
         WHEREAS, The Texas Association of Public Employee
  Retirement Systems has assumed the tasks of improving the
  management and administration of retirement systems through the
  creation of certified training for trustees and is dedicated to
  addressing the concerns of public employee retirement systems
  and helping to ensure their actuarial integrity; and
 
         WHEREAS, This organization has grown extensively since its
  inception 20 years ago; currently the association's member
  systems represent over 322,000 active and retired participants
  throughout the great State of Texas; and
 
         WHEREAS, Public retirement systems represent a significant
  number of Texas public employees, from police officers and
  firefighters to employees of utility districts, transit systems,
  hospital districts, appraisal districts, and river authorities;
  and
 
         WHEREAS, Many members of the nation's outstanding firms
  that provide professional services to public pension funds are
  also members of the Texas Association of Public Employee
  Retirement Systems; the associate members include actuaries,
  consultants, banks, law firms, and investment managers; and
 
         WHEREAS, The association's annual conferences provide
  excellent opportunities to present training for trustees and
  administrators in order to develop communication between diverse
  parties interested in public retirement plans and to protect the
  rights of public pension systems and the employees they cover,
  and this association is to be commended for the vital role it
  plays in promoting the sound condition of these public funds;
  now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
  Legislature, hereby recognize the many individuals affiliated
  with the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems
  and extend best wishes to them for a successful annual
  conference; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems as an
  expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
 
  Duncan
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 1, 2009.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate