HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
             Interim Charges 2, 4, and 5 

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Jim Murphy 

Due to the ongoing pandemic and the uncertainty as to scheduling interim hearings, the House Committee on Pensions, Investments, & Financial Services requests written submissions from interested parties and the public with regard to the interim charges listed below.

Submissions are due by 5pm CT on Friday, August 28th, 2020.

Email submissions to Jason.Briggs@house.texas.gov in Word format.  Submissions should not exceed six (6) pages of text.  This page limit is not inclusive of any photos, graphs, spreadsheets, or charts.  All submissions must include the submitter's name, organization or entity, mailing address, email, and telephone number.

All submissions will be circulated to each member of the committee after the deadline.  A copy of all received comments will be made available to the public by the Chair.

The Committee seeks responses on the interim charges listed below:

Interim Charge 2: Monitor the Teacher Retirement System's (TRS) actions in implementing high deductible regional plans for certain school districts interested in providing alternatives to the current TRS-ActiveCare options.

Interim Charge 4: Review and evaluate the actuarial soundness of the Employees Retirement System and TRS pension funds.  Examine the cost of and potential strategies for achieving and maintaining the actuarial soundness of the funds.  Examine the effect the unfunded liabilities could have on the state's credit.  Examine the state's investment policies and practices, including investment objectives, targets, disclosure policies, and transparency.

Interim Charge 5: Monitor the State Auditor's review of agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction.