BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1436

By: Paxton

Pensions

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One is a retirement plan administered for judges in Texas. Currently, certain service retirement annuities are capped at 90 percent of the salary being paid to a judge of a court of the same classification as the court on which the retiree last served. Interested parties assert that keeping qualified, experienced judges on the bench is important to the effective administration of justice in Texas. S.B. 1436 seeks to provide a greater incentive for certain judges to continue to serve in Texas courts until retirement.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1436 amends the Government Code to cap the service retirement annuity of certain qualifying members under the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One at 100 percent, rather than 90 percent, of the applicable state salary being paid a judge of the same classification as the court on which the retiree last served before retirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.