Honorable Bill Callegari, Chair, House Committee on Pensions
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1882 by Callegari (Relating to the Employees Retirement System of Texas.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to allow the Employees Retirement System (ERS) to obtain Criminal History Record Information from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on certain applicants for employment, employees, and candidates for appointment or election. The bill would also make individuals working with a university or institution of higher education ineligible for coverage under ERS. The bill would remove any language "or its equivalent" for 20 years or more of active federal military duty. The bill would allow retirees to change an optional service retirement annuity selection to a standard service retirement annuity selection if the retiree has executed a written, notarized instrument releasing ERS from any claim by the designated beneficiary to the annuity, and transfers all of the beneficiary's interest to the retiree or if they are ordered to do so by a divorce decree.
The bill would amend the Insurance Code by changing the definition of a child related to eligibility for the state's Group Benefits Program. The bill would also reduce the waiting period for eligibility under the Group Benefits Program to no more than 90 days. The ERS and DPS indicate that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
327 Employees Retirement System, 405 Department of Public Safety