Amend SB 1459 (house committee printing) as follows:
(1) On page 17, line 17, strike "and (d)" and substitute "(d), and (e)".
(2) On page 17, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following new Subsection (b) and reletter subsequent subsections of that SECTION accordingly:
(b) Sections 814.404 and 814.507, Government Code, as added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2014.
(3) Add the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Subchapter E, Chapter 814, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 814.404 to read as follows:
Sec. 814.404. ASSIGNMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT FOR FUNERAL SERVICES. (a) A beneficiary to whom a benefit is payable under this subchapter may by assignment provide that part or all of the benefit be paid in consideration for services provided in connection with the death of the member directly to a funeral director or funeral establishment licensed under:
(1) Chapter 651, Occupations Code; or
(2) the comparable law of another state.
(b) The board of trustees by rule may establish requirements for forms, documentation, and procedures necessary for an effective assignment under this section.
SECTION ____. Subchapter F, Chapter 814, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 814.507 to read as follows:
Sec. 814.507. ASSIGNMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT FOR FUNERAL SERVICES. (a) A beneficiary to whom a benefit is payable under this subchapter may by assignment provide that part or all of the benefit be paid in consideration for services provided in connection with the death of the retiree directly to a funeral director or funeral establishment licensed under:
(1) Chapter 651, Occupations Code; or
(2) the comparable law of another state.
(b) The board of trustees by rule may establish requirements for forms, documentation, and procedures necessary for an effective assignment under this section.
SECTION ____. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall adopt rules to implement Sections 814.404 and 814.507, Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The change in law made by this Act by the enactment of Sections 814.404 and 814.507, Government Code, applies only to a benefit that is payable on or after January 1, 2014. A benefit that is payable before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before January 1, 2014, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.