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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Public School |
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Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RETIREMENT |
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FUNDING TRANSPARENCY |
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Sec. 48.351. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement |
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Funding Transparency established by this subchapter. |
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Sec. 48.352. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER |
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RETIREMENT FUNDING TRANSPARENCY. (a) The commission is |
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established to develop and make recommendations regarding |
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incorporating state resources for teacher retirement benefits |
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within the Foundation School Program, aligning staffing incentives |
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with state priorities, and providing uniformity in resourcing |
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retirement obligations to fund teacher retirement benefits. |
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(b) The commission is composed of seven members, appointed |
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as follows: |
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(1) one member appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(c) The commission members appointed by: |
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(1) the governor must have an interest in staffing |
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issues faced by public schools; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor must be three members of |
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the senate; and |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must |
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be three members of the house of representatives. |
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Sec. 48.353. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. |
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Sec. 48.354. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 48.355. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The |
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agency shall provide administrative support for the commission. |
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(b) The Teacher Retirement System of Texas and the office of |
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the comptroller shall provide additional support required by the |
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commission. |
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(c) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation |
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made to the agency for that purpose. |
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Sec. 48.356. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations regarding: |
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(1) incorporating current and future appropriations |
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that constitute state contributions for retirement of public |
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education personnel into the Foundation School Program as part of |
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the basic allotment or another formula mechanism; |
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(2) reviewing state and employer contribution |
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requirements to ensure: |
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(A) staffing incentives prioritize classroom |
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instruction; and |
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(B) retirement obligations between public |
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schools are uniform; and |
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(3) establishing employer contribution requirements |
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sufficient to ensure the actuarial soundness of the Teacher |
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Retirement System of Texas for the foreseeable future. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than three members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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Sec. 48.357. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that recommends statutory changes to implement |
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recommendations developed under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 48.358. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its |
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duties under this subchapter. The commission is not subject to |
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Chapter 551, Government Code. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government |
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Code. |
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Sec. 48.359. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter |
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expires January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |