HBA-SEB H.B. 2084 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2084
By: Counts
Pensions and Investments
3/21/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a member of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas (retirement
system) Plan One contributes to the retirement system at the same rate that
a member of the elected class would contribute to the Employees Retirement
System of Texas.  At the same time, a member of the Judicial Retirement
System of Texas Plan Two contributes six percent of the member's state
compensation to the retirement system.  Plan One provides retirement
benefits to a person who became a judge, justice or commissioner of the
supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, a
district court, or a commission to one of those courts before September 1,
1985.  Plan Two serves a person in the same field, but who was eligible for
membership in the retirement system after that date.    

A member of either plan of the retirement system who continues to
contribute to the retirement system after 20 years of service does not
accrue any additional retirement benefits beyond those already credited
during the 20 years.  H.B. 2084 provides that a member of either plan
ceases making contributions to the retirement system after 20 years of
service.  In this way, the member receives in compensation the amount that
the member has been contributing monthly to the retirement system. 
 
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 835.101, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(a)  Requires a payroll officer responsible for paying the state
compensation of a judicial officer who is a member of the Judicial
Retirement System of Texas Plan One to deduct a contribution computed at
the rate required of a member of the employee class of the Employees
Retirement System of Texas from the state compensation of the judicial
officer, except as provided by Subsection (c).  Makes a conforming change. 

(c)  Provides that a member ceases making contributions under this section
(Member Contributions) if the member accrues 20 years of service credit in
the retirement system. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 840.102, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (g), to make conforming changes with respect to
the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.