BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 936

By: Huffman

Pensions

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert the benefits of studying certain issues relating to public retirement systems in Texas. S.B. 936 seeks to create a joint interim committee to conduct such a study.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 936 creates a joint interim committee to study and assess certain state public retirement systems and to report on specified issues relating to such retirement systems. The bill requires the committee to be composed of three senators appointed by the lieutenant governor and three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives each to designate a co-chair from among the committee members, and requires the committee to convene at the joint call of the co-chairs. The bill grants the committee all other powers and duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and house of representatives, by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1961, and by policies of the senate and house committees on administration. The bill sets out the issues the committee is required to review and assess, study, and consider.

S.B. 936 requires the committee, not later than January 15, 2019, to report the committee's findings and recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor and requires the committee to include in its recommendations specific statutory and regulatory changes that appear necessary from the results of the committee's study. The bill requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to appoint the members of the committee not later than the 60th day after the bill's effective date. The bill abolishes the committee and sets the bill's provisions to expire on January 20, 2019.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.