Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2471 by Geren (Relating to eligibility for law enforcement officer service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas by certain peace officers commissioned by the comptroller.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2471, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,202,078) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
The Employees Retirement System(ERS) and the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) are required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, ERS and the CPA may, but are not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($1,154,828)
2025
($47,250)
2026
($47,250)
2027
($47,250)
2028
($47,250)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2024
($1,154,828)
2025
($47,250)
2026
($47,250)
2027
($47,250)
2028
($47,250)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to allow law enforcement officers commissioned by the CPA to participate in the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental (LECOS) Plan. The CPA would be required to certify to ERS the names of employees and other information necessary for the crediting of service and financing of benefits under the LECOS plan.
Methodology
The Government Code states that a new monetary benefit may not be established for LECOS unless the fund is actuarially sound. According to ERS, the LECOS fund is not currently actuarially sound. According to information previously provided by ERS, an appropriation of approximately $825.7 million would required in order to make the fund sound as of August 31, 2024. This amount is included in House Bill 1, as engrossed, and is assumed in this analysis.
ERS estimates that approximately 30 individuals from the CPA would be added to LECOS under the provisions of the bill. According to an actuarial review utilizing the February 28, 2023 limited actuarial valuation, the cost of prefunding the actuarial liabilities for adding these individuals to LECOS is estimated by ERS to be a one-time cost of $1.1 million in General Revenue Funds; this amount would be in addition to the amount included in House Bill 1. ERS estimates there will be an increased annual state contribution to LECOS of approximately $47,250 per year in General Revenue Funds.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 327 Employees Retirement System