BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 805

By: Huberty

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently enacted legislation made significant changes to the Houston firefighters' relief and retirement fund. Since implementation of those changes, it has been noted that, because the legislature made annual cost of living increases available only for retirees 55 years of age or older, a small number of members who retired when the old law was in effect are no longer eligible to receive a cost of living increase to which they were previously entitled and may have to wait for as many as seven years to again receive a benefit increase. H.B. 805 seeks to ensure that these members are not unfairly penalized by making the annual benefit increases applicable to these members.

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

H.B. 805 amends provisions of the Revised Statutes governing the Houston firefighters' relief and retirement fund to make the annual increase in benefits payable based on the service of a member who has terminated active service and who is or would have been at least 55 years old applicable also to benefits payable based on the service of a member who has terminated active service in a manner that entitles them to a service pension before July 1, 2017, and who is or would have been at least 48 years old.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.