H.R. No. 780 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems is holding its 22nd Annual Conference in Austin, March 27 through 30, 2011, and the event provides a welcome opportunity to honor this notable organization; and WHEREAS, Founded in 1989, TEXPERS is a voluntary statewide organization focused on the goals of protecting public employee retirement systems in Texas as well as promoting quality management by providing members with outstanding educational programs; and WHEREAS, Since it was chartered, this nonprofit association has provided forums for discussing state and national legislative issues that affect Texas pension systems; it has also supplied important information on retirement system administration, benefit design, and federal programs relating to public pensions; and WHEREAS, TEXPERS has assumed the task of improving the management and administration of retirement systems through the creation of certified training for trustees; moreover, it is dedicated to helping ensure the actuarial integrity of systems and to addressing other urgent concerns; and WHEREAS, This organization has grown extensively over the past 22 years; currently, its members are public retirement systems that represent more than 300,000 active and retired public employees, including police officers, firefighters, and employees of utility districts, transit systems, hospital districts, appraisal districts, and river authorities from all areas of the state; and WHEREAS, Firms that provide professional services to public pension funds belong to TEXPERS as associate members; these include actuarial, consulting, and law firms and banks and investment management companies; and WHEREAS, As part of its annual conference, the association offers training for trustees and administrators, opportunities for communication between the diverse parties interested in public retirement plans, and information needed to protect the rights of public pension systems and the employees they cover, and the association is to be commended for the vital role it plays in promoting the sound condition of these public funds; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize the many individuals affiliated with the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems and extend to them sincere best wishes for a successful gathering at the 22nd Annual Conference; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the association as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Truitt ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 780 was adopted by the House on March 30, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House