SB 220, as engrossed, would abolish the office of the Fire Fighters Pension Commissioner; however the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) would continue to function as a state agency with the power to hire an executive director. The provisions of the bill would cause TESRS to incur an annualized $20,000 per year in administrative costs from additional actuarial fees from the requirements for audits of the actuarial valuation and frequency of actuarial experience studies. This cost is not estimated to result in a significant actuarial impact to the fund.  Additionally, the engrossed version of the bill would allow a retiree of the pension system to serve as a trustee on the current six-member TESRS board.

The bill would transfer certain services currently provided by the FFPC to local pension systems organized under the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA). SB 220, as engrossed, would require the PRB to provide technical assistance, information and training to local pension systems organized under the TLFFRA, refer appeals to State Office of Administrative Hearings; and based on the availability of resources, the PRB may be required to designate one staff person to provide these services. The PRB is also required to customize the training to meet the specific needs of board members of these local pension systems. The bill is not estimated to have a significant actuarial impact on these local pension systems.