By: Capriglione H.B. No. 5627

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RETIREMENT

FUNDING TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" means the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency.

Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RETIREMENT FUNDING TRANSPARENCY. (a) The commission is established to develop and make recommendations regarding methods of incorporating state resources for teacher retirement within the Foundation School Program, aligning staffing incentives with state priorities, and providing uniformity in resourcing retirement obligations.

(b) The commission is composed of seven members, appointed as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The members appointed by:

(1) the governor must have an interest in staffing issues faced by public schools;

(2) the lieutenant governor must be three members of the senate; and

(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must be three members of the house of representatives.

Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate the presiding officer of the commission.

Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.

Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.

(b) The Teacher Retirement System and the office of the comptroller of public accounts shall provide support required by the commission.

(c) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation made to the agency for that purpose.

Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall develop recommendations under this subchapter regarding:

(1) incorporating current and future appropriations for state contributions for retirement of public education personnel into the Foundation School Program as part of the basic allotment or another formula mechanism;

(2) reviewing state and school contribution requirements to ensure:

(A) staffing incentives prioritize classroom instruction; and

(B) uniformity in retirement obligations between public schools; and

(3) employer contribution requirements are sufficient to ensure the long term health of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups composed of not more than three members of the commission to study, discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to refer to the commission for consideration.

Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that recommends statutory changes to implement recommendations under this subchapter.

Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties under this subchapter. As an advisory body, the commission is not subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.

(b) The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government Code.

Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.