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.