86R7527 KFF-F
 
  By: Noble H.B. No. 2178
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to terminating participation in the Texas Emergency
  Services Retirement System.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 862.001, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 862.001.  PARTICIPATION BY DEPARTMENT. (a)  The
  governing body of a department that performs emergency services
  may, in the manner provided for taking official action by the body,
  elect to participate in the pension system.  A governing body shall
  notify the executive director as soon as practicable of an election
  made under this subsection.  [Except as provided by Subsection (b),
  an election to participate under this subsection is irrevocable.]
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The]
  governing body of a department that makes an election under
  Subsection (a) may not terminate participation in the pension
  system [not later than the fifth anniversary of the date of the
  election to participate, except that a department that begins
  participation after September 1, 2005, may not terminate that
  participation].
         (c)  The governing body of a department that makes an
  election under Subsection (a) may terminate participation in the
  pension system if:
               (1)  the department consists of both volunteer
  firefighters and at least six full-time firefighters;
               (2)  the full-time firefighters described by
  Subdivision (1) are employees of a home-rule municipality:
                     (A)  governed by the same governing body; and
                     (B)  of which the department is a part; and
               (3)  the governing body elects to provide retirement
  benefits to the volunteer firefighters described by Subdivision (1)
  through participation in an alternative retirement system.
         (d)  If a governing body of a department elects to terminate
  participation in the pension system under Subsection (c), the
  department forfeits all contributions to the system necessary to
  pay the benefits of vested members.
         (e)  The state board may adopt rules necessary to implement
  this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.