By: Bucy H.B. No. 225
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a joint select committee to study the
  feasibility and sustainability of providing a cost-of-living
  adjustment applicable to certain benefits paid by the Teacher
  Retirement System of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "committee" means the
  joint select committee established under Section 2 of this Act.
         SECTION 2.  JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE. (a) A joint select
  committee is established for the purposes of this Act and is
  composed of the following members:
               (1)  two members of the senate appointed by the
  lieutenant governor;
               (2)  two members of the house of representatives
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (3)  one member of the public who is appointed by the
  lieutenant governor from lists of names submitted by stakeholder
  groups; and
               (4)  one member of the public who is appointed by the
  speaker of the house of representatives from lists of names
  submitted by stakeholder groups.
         (b)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
  representatives shall make the appointments required under
  Subsection (a) of this section as soon as possible after the
  effective date of this Act, but not later than November 1, 2021.
         (c)  If a vacancy occurs, the appropriate appointing officer
  shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired
  term in the same manner as the original appointment.
         SECTION 3.  PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS. (a) The
  lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives
  shall jointly select the presiding officer of the committee.
         (b)  The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding
  officer.
         SECTION 4.  COOPERATION OF STATE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OR
  OFFICE.  If needed to perform the duties of the committee, the
  committee may request the assistance of a state agency, department,
  or office. The state agency, department, or office shall provide
  the committee with the requested assistance.
         SECTION 5.  EXPENSES. (a) Each member of the committee is
  entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
  incurred in performing committee duties.
         (b)  Each legislative member is entitled to reimbursement
  from the appropriate fund of the member's respective house.
         (c)  Each public member is entitled to reimbursement from
  funds appropriated to the committee.
         SECTION 6.  COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES; STUDY. (a) The
  committee shall study the feasibility and sustainability of
  providing a cost-of-living adjustment payable to annuitants
  receiving a retirement benefit annuity under the Teacher Retirement
  System of Texas. The study must seek to identify and recommend a
  financial structure capable of providing the cost-of-living
  adjustment.
         (b)  The committee has all other powers and duties provided
  to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and
  house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government
  Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on
  administration.
         SECTION 7.  REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the
  committee shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
  and the speaker of the house of representatives a report of the
  committee's findings and recommendations under this Act.
         SECTION 8.  ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE; EXPIRATION. The
  committee is abolished and this Act expires September 15, 2022.
         SECTION 9.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
  immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
  elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
  Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.