HBA-TBM H.B. 1521 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1521
By: Wilson
Pensions & Investments
2/20/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, law enforcement officers commissioned by the Department of
Public Safety, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Alcoholic
Beverage Commission of Texas, and the Texas State Board of Pharmacy are
entitled to earn special retirement benefits unavailable to other members
of the Employees Retirement System of Texas.  Law enforcement officers
commissioned by the Texas Lottery Commission, however, receive the standard
state employee retirement benefits.  These officers are responsible for
investigations of gambling violations which involve serious criminal
violations including homicide, armed robbery, arson, and theft.  House Bill
1521 provides the law enforcement officers commissioned by the Texas
Lottery Commission with the same retirement benefits received by law
enforcement officers commissioned by other state agencies.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1521 amends the Government Code to provide that a member of the
Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) who has been commissioned as a
law enforcement officer by the Texas Lottery Commissioner may be considered
a law enforcement officer for the purposes of membership in ERS.  The bill
requires the Texas Lottery Commission (commission) to certify to ERS before
October 1, 2001, the name of each law enforcement officer employed by the
commission, and other information that ERS determines to be necessary for
the crediting of service and financing of benefits.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.