89R21072 KFF-F
 
  By: Harless, Perez of Harris, Metcalf H.B. No. 2688
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2688:
 
  By:  Schoolcraft C.S.H.B. No. 2688
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the firefighters' relief and retirement fund of certain
  municipalities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
         Art. 6243e.2(1).  FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND
  IN MUNICIPALITIES OF AT LEAST 2,000,000 [1,600,000] POPULATION.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1, Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes,
  is amended by adding Subdivision (10-a-1) and amending Subdivisions
  (13-e) and (15-f) to read as follows:
               (10-a-1)  "Entry age normal actuarial cost method"
  means an actuarial cost method under which a calculation is made to
  determine the average uniform and constant percentage rate of
  contributions that, if applied to the compensation of each member
  during the entire period of the member's anticipated covered
  service, would be required to meet the cost of all benefits payable
  on the member's behalf.  For purposes of this definition, the
  attribution period of a member's anticipated covered service:
                     (A)  begins with the member's entry age, which is
  the member's age on the first day of the first period of member
  service for which the member accrues benefits under the fund,
  notwithstanding vesting or similar requirements; and
                     (B)  as to each benefit, ends with the member's
  assumed exit age, which for retirement benefits is:
                           (i)  the member's age on the member's latest
  assumed retirement date; and
                           (ii)  if a member elects to participate in
  the DROP, the member's age on subsequently terminating active
  service after the election.
               (13-e)  "Normal retirement age" means:
                     (A)  [for a member, including a member who was
  hired before the year 2017 effective date and who involuntarily
  separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated in
  accordance with an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling,
  hired before the year 2017 effective date,] the age at which a [the]
  member attains 20 years of service; or
                     (B)  [except as provided by Paragraph (A) of this
  subdivision, for a member hired or rehired on or after the year 2017
  effective date,] the age at which a member first attains both the
  age of at least 50 and at least 10 years of service [the sum of the
  member's age, in years, and the member's years of participation in
  the fund equals at least 70].
               (15-f)  "PROP account" means the notional account
  established to reflect the credits and contributions of a member or
  surviving spouse who made a PROP election in accordance with
  Section 5A of this article [before the year 2017 effective date].
         SECTION 3.  Sections 2(a) and (h-2), Article 6243e.2(1),
  Revised Statutes, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A firefighters' relief and retirement fund is
  established in each incorporated municipality that has a population
  of at least 2,000,000 [1,600,000] and a fully paid fire department.
         (h-2)  If the board establishes a pension benefits committee
  under Subsection (h-1) of this section, that committee, even if it
  is composed of fewer than all the trustees of the board, may
  deliberate and act in place of the board regarding each application
  for benefits submitted to the fund by a member or the member's
  survivor. Final action of a pension benefits committee on an
  application for benefits is binding, subject only to any right of
  appeal to the board under law, rule, or policy at the time the
  application is filed. Except to the extent the final action of a
  pension benefits committee may be appealed to the board, the final
  action of the pension benefits committee on an application for
  benefits constitutes the final action of the board[, including for
  purposes of filing an appeal to a district court under Section 12 of
  this article].
         SECTION 4.  Section 3A(b), Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  In a written agreement entered into between the
  municipality and the board under this section, the parties may not:
               (1)  [alter Sections 13A through 13F of this article,
  except and only to the extent necessary to comply with federal law;
               [(2)]  increase the assumed rate of return to more than
  seven percent per year;
               (2) [(3)]  extend the amortization period of a
  liability layer to more than 30 years from the first day of the
  fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing
  valuation study in which the liability layer is first recognized;
  or
               (3) [(4)]  allow a municipal contribution rate in any
  year that is less than or greater than the municipal contribution
  rate required under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as
  applicable.
         SECTION 5.  Section 4(a), Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A member who terminates active service for any reason
  other than death is entitled to receive a service pension provided
  by this section if the member was:
               (1)  hired as a firefighter before the year 2017
  effective date, including a member who was hired before the year
  2017 effective date and who involuntarily separated from service
  but has been retroactively reinstated in accordance with an
  arbitration, civil service, or court ruling, at the age at which the
  member attains 20 years of service; and
               (2)  except as provided by Subdivision (1) of this
  subsection and subject to Subsection (b-2) of this section, hired
  or rehired as a firefighter on or after the year 2017 effective
  date, at the age at which the member attains 20 years of service
  [when the sum of the member's age in years and the member's years of
  participation in the fund equals at least 70].
         SECTION 6.  Section 5, Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes,
  is amended by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (b), and (d) and
  adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a)  A member who is eligible to receive a service pension
  under Section 4 [4(a)(1)] of this article and who remains in active
  service may elect to participate in the deferred retirement option
  plan provided by this section. [A member who is eligible to receive
  a service pension under Section 4(a)(2) of this article may not
  elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan
  provided by this section.] On subsequently terminating active
  service, a member who elected the DROP may apply for a monthly
  service pension under Section 4 of this article, except that the
  effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP
  will be considered the member's retirement date for determining the
  amount of the member's monthly service pension. The member may also
  apply for any DROP benefit provided under this section on
  terminating active service. An election to participate in the
  DROP, once approved by the board, is irrevocable.
         (a-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-3) of this
  section, the [The] monthly benefit of a DROP participant who has at
  least 20 years of participation on the year 2017 effective date is
  increased at retirement by two percent of the amount of the member's
  original benefit for every full year of participation in the DROP by
  the member for up to 10 years of participation in the DROP. For the
  [a] member's final year of participation, but not beyond the
  member's 10th year in the DROP, if a full year of participation is
  not completed, the member shall receive a prorated increase of
  0.166 percent of the member's original benefit for each month of
  participation in that year.
         (a-2)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-3) of this
  section, the monthly benefit of a DROP participant who had less than
  20 years of participation on the year 2017 effective date is
  increased at retirement by one percent of the amount of the member's
  original benefit for every full year of participation in the DROP by
  the member for up to 10 years of participation in the DROP. For the
  member's final year of participation, but not beyond the member's
  10th year in the DROP, if a full year of participation is not
  completed, the member shall receive a prorated increase of 0.083
  percent of the member's original benefit for each month of
  participation in that year.
         (a-3)  An increase provided by Subsection (a-1) or (a-2) of
  this section [subsection] does not apply to benefits payable under
  Subsection (l) of this section. An increase under each of those
  subsections [this subsection] is applied to the member's benefit at
  retirement and is not added to the member's DROP account. The total
  increase under:
               (1)  Subsection (a-1) of this section [subsection] may
  not exceed 20 percent for 10 years of participation in the DROP by
  the member; or
               (2)  Subsection (a-2) of this section may not exceed 10
  percent for 10 years of participation in the DROP by the member.
         (b)  A member may elect to participate in the DROP by
  complying with the election process established by the board. The
  member's election may be made at any time beginning on the date the
  member has completed 20 years of participation in the fund and is
  otherwise eligible for a service pension under Section 4 [4(a)(1)]
  of this article. Beginning on the first day of the month following
  the month in which the member makes an election to participate in
  the DROP, subject to board approval, and ending on the year 2017
  effective date, amounts equal to the deductions made from the
  member's salary under Section 13(c) of this article shall be
  credited to the member's DROP account. Beginning after the year
  2017 effective date, amounts equal to the deductions made from the
  member's salary under Section 13(c) of this article may not be
  credited to the member's DROP account.
         (d)  A member's DROP account shall be credited with earnings
  at an annual rate equal to 75 [65] percent of the [compounded]
  average annual return earned by the fund over the five years
  preceding, but not including, the year during which the credit is
  given. Notwithstanding the preceding, however, the credit to the
  member's DROP account shall be at an annual rate of not less than
  2.5 percent, irrespective of actual earnings.
         SECTION 7.  Sections 8(a) and (c), Article 6243e.2(1),
  Revised Statutes, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A [On or after the year 2017 effective date, a] member
  who [is hired as a firefighter before the year 2017 effective date,
  including a member who was hired before the year 2017 effective date
  and who involuntarily separated from service but has been
  retroactively reinstated in accordance with an arbitration, civil
  service, or court ruling,] terminates active service for any reason
  other than death with at least 10 years of participation, but less
  than 20 years of participation, is entitled to a monthly deferred
  pension benefit, beginning at age 50, in an amount equal to 1.7
  percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the
  amount of the member's years of participation.
         (c)  A [Except as provided by Subsection (a) of this section,
  a member who is hired or rehired as a firefighter on or after the
  year 2017 effective date or a] member who terminates active service
  [employment] for any reason other than death before the member has
  completed 10 years of participation is entitled only to a refund of
  the member's contributions without interest and is not entitled to
  a deferred pension benefit under this section or to any other
  benefit under this article. The member's refund shall be paid as
  soon as administratively practicable after the effective date of
  the member's termination of active service.
         SECTION 8.  Section 11(d), Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
         (d)  In computing a member's years of participation, time
  served in the armed forces of the nation during war or national
  emergency is considered continuous service. Except for that
  military service, credit for prior service shall be given only if a
  member returns to active service as a firefighter before the 10th
  [fifth] anniversary of a previous effective date of termination.
  Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary,
  contributions, benefits, and service credit with respect to
  qualified military service shall be provided in accordance with
  Section 414(u) of the code. A member who is engaged in active duty
  in any of the military services of the United States shall receive
  credited pension service for the period of the military service if
  the member returns to employment with the employer municipality's
  fire department with an honorable discharge within the period
  required by the federal reemployment Act and the period of military
  service does not exceed the period prescribed by that Act. If a
  member sustains an injury while on military leave under the terms of
  the federal reemployment Act, pension benefits are payable based on
  the off-duty disability benefit provisions prescribed by Section
  6(e) of this article. If a member dies while on military leave
  under the terms of the federal reemployment Act, death benefits are
  payable to eligible survivors based on the off-duty death benefits
  prescribed by Section 7 of this article. This subsection is
  intended to comply with the federal reemployment Act. The board may
  make, maintain, and amend policies and procedures as desirable or
  necessary to implement the federal reemployment Act. In this
  subsection, "federal reemployment Act" means the Uniformed
  Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C.
  Section 4301 et seq.), as amended.
         SECTION 9.  Section 13B, Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
  Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  The fund and the municipality shall separately cause
  their respective actuaries to prepare a risk sharing valuation
  study in accordance with this section and actuarial standards of
  practice. A risk sharing valuation study must:
               (1)  be dated as of the first day of the fiscal year in
  which the study is required to be prepared;
               (2)  be included in the fund's standard valuation study
  prepared annually for the fund;
               (3)  calculate the unfunded actuarial accrued
  liability of the fund;
               (4)  be based on actuarial data provided by the fund
  actuary or, if actuarial data is not provided, on estimates of
  actuarial data;
               (5)  estimate the municipal contribution rate, taking
  into account any adjustments required under Section 13E or 13F of
  this article for all applicable prior fiscal years;
               (6)  subject to Subsection (g) of this section, be
  based on the following assumptions and methods that are consistent
  with actuarial standards of practice:
                     (A)  an [ultimate] entry age normal actuarial cost 
  method;
                     (B)  for purposes of determining the actuarial
  value of assets:
                           (i)  except as provided by Subparagraph (ii)
  of this paragraph and Section 13E(c)(1) or 13F(c)(2) of this
  article, an asset smoothing method recognizing actuarial losses and
  gains over a five-year period applied prospectively beginning on
  the year 2017 effective date; and
                           (ii)  for the initial risk sharing valuation
  study prepared under Section 13C of this article, a
  marked-to-market method applied as of June 30, 2016;
                     (C)  closed layered amortization of liability
  layers to ensure that the amortization period for each layer begins
  12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in
  which the liability layer is first recognized;
                     (D)  each liability layer is assigned an
  amortization period;
                     (E)  except as provided by Subsection (a-1) of
  this section, each liability loss layer amortized over a period of  
  15 [30] years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12
  months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which
  the liability loss layer is first recognized[, except that the
  legacy liability must be amortized from July 1, 2016, for a 30-year
  period beginning July 1, 2017];
                     (F)  the amortization period for each liability
  gain layer being:
                           (i)  equal to the remaining amortization
  period on the largest remaining liability loss layer and the two
  layers must be treated as one layer such that if the payoff year of
  the liability loss layer is accelerated or extended, the payoff
  year of the liability gain layer is also accelerated or extended; or
                           (ii)  if there is no liability loss layer, a
  period of 15 [30] years from the first day of the fiscal year
  beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation
  study in which the liability gain layer is first recognized;
                     (G)  liability layers, including the legacy
  liability, funded according to the level percent of payroll method;
                     (H)  the assumed rate of return, subject to
  adjustment under Section 13E(c)(2) of this article or, if Section
  13C(g) of this article applies, adjustment in accordance with a
  written agreement, except the assumed rate of return may not exceed
  seven percent per annum;
                     (I)  the price inflation assumption as of the most
  recent actuarial experience study, which may be reset by the board
  by plus or minus 50 basis points based on that actuarial experience
  study;
                     (J)  projected salary increases and payroll
  growth rate set in consultation with the municipality's finance
  director; and
                     (K)  payroll for purposes of determining the
  corridor midpoint and municipal contribution rate must be projected
  using the annual payroll growth rate assumption, which for purposes
  of preparing any amortization schedule may not exceed three
  percent; and
               (7)  be revised and restated, if appropriate, not later
  than:
                     (A)  the date required by a written agreement
  entered into between the municipality and the board; or
                     (B)  the 30th day after the date required action
  is taken by the board under Section 13E or 13F of this article to
  reflect any changes required by either section.
         (a-1)  With respect to any liability loss layer with a payoff
  year that was accelerated under Section 13E(c)(4) of this article,
  the board and municipality may at any time enter into a written
  agreement to extend the payoff year of the liability loss layer to a
  payoff year that is not later than 15 years from the first day of the
  fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing
  valuation study in which the liability loss layer is first
  recognized.
         SECTION 10.  Section 13C(g), Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
         (g)  The municipality and the board may agree on a written
  transition plan for resetting the corridor midpoint:
               (1)  if at any time the funded ratio is equal to or
  greater than 100 percent; [or]
               (2)  for any fiscal year after the payoff year of the
  legacy liability; or
               (3)  on a one-time basis other than a time described by
  Subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection.
         SECTION 11.  Sections 13E(b) and (c), Article 6243e.2(1),
  Revised Statutes, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  If the funded ratio is:
               (1)  less than 90 percent, the municipal contribution
  rate for the fiscal year equals the corridor midpoint; or
               (2)  equal to or greater than 90 percent and the
  municipal contribution rate is:
                     (A)  equal to or greater than the minimum
  contribution rate, the estimated municipal contribution rate is the
  municipal contribution rate for the fiscal year; or
                     (B)  except as provided by Subsection (e) of this
  section, less than the minimum contribution rate for the
  corresponding fiscal year, the municipal contribution rate for the
  fiscal year equals the minimum contribution rate [achieved in
  accordance with Subsection (c) of this section].
         (c)  For purposes of Subsection (b)(2)(B) of this section,
  the following adjustments may, by written agreement between the
  municipality and board entered into not later than the April 30
  before the first day of the next fiscal year, [shall] be applied
  sequentially [to the extent required] to increase the estimated
  municipal contribution rate to equal the minimum contribution rate:
               (1)  first, adjust the actuarial value of assets equal
  to the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment
  causes the municipal contribution rate to increase;
               (2)  second, [under a written agreement between the
  municipality and the board entered into not later than April 30
  before the first day of the next fiscal year,] reduce the assumed
  rate of return;
               (3)  third, [under a written agreement between the
  municipality and the board entered into not later than April 30
  before the first day of the next fiscal year,] prospectively
  restore all or part of any benefit reductions or reduce increased
  employee contributions, in each case made after the year 2017
  effective date; and
               (4)  fourth, accelerate the payoff year of the existing
  liability loss layers, including the legacy liability, by
  accelerating the oldest liability loss layers first, to an
  amortization period that is not less than 10 years from the first
  day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the
  risk sharing valuation study in which the liability loss layer is
  first recognized.
         SECTION 12.  Sections 5A(o), 12, and 13G(a), Article
  6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes, are repealed.
         SECTION 13.  Sections 1(13-e) and 4, Article 6243e.2(1),
  Revised Statutes, as amended by this Act, apply to a member who
  retires on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 14.  Section 5, Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, as amended by this Act, applies to a member who
  participates in the deferred retirement option plan on or after the
  effective date of this Act regardless of whether the member began
  participation in the plan before, on, or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 15.  (a)  Section 13B, Article 6243e.2(1), Revised
  Statutes, as amended by this Act, applies only to a risk sharing
  valuation study conducted under that section after June 30, 2026.
         (b)  For purposes of this section and Section 13B(a)(6)(E),
  Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes, all existing liability loss
  layers must be re-amortized over a period of 15 years.
         (c)  For purposes of this section and Section
  13B(a)(6)(F)(ii), Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes, effective
  on the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the
  date of the first risk sharing valuation study conducted after June
  30, 2026, all existing liability gain layers must be re-amortized
  over a period of 15 years.
         SECTION 16.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.