HBA-GUM S.B. 82 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 82
By: Brown
Pensions & Investments
5/21/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One (which is
applicable to a judge whose service commenced on or before August 31, 1985)
automatically adjusts the standard service retirement annuity of its
members in order to compensate for cost-of-living adjustments made to
judicial salaries.  At present, no cost-of-living adjustment exists for
members of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two (which is
applicable to a judge whose service commenced on or after September 1,
1985).  S.B. 82 provides that the standard service retirement annuity for a
member of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two is adjusted from
time to time due to periodic changes in the state salary being paid a judge
of a court of the same classification as the last court of the retiree. 

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 Sections 839.102(a) and (c), Government Code, as follows:

(a)  Establishes that the standard service retirement annuity for a member
of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two is an amount equal to
50 percent of the state salary, as adjusted from time to time, rather than
at the time the member retires, being paid to a judge of the court of the
same classification as the retiree, except for an increase in applicable
state salary for certain members. 

(c)  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 2001, if the comptroller
determines that implementation of the change in law made by this Act would
not necessitate additional state contributions for the Judicial Retirement
System of Texas Plan Two.  Authorizes the comptroller to make the
determination earlier than September 1, 2001, in which case the effective
date of this Act is the date of the earlier determination.  Requires the
comptroller to file notice of such a determination with the secretary of
state for publication in the Texas Register.   
            
(b)  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.