1 | 1 | | By: Callegari, Murphy (Senate Sponsor - Duncan) H.B. No. 3357 |
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2 | 2 | | (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013; |
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3 | 3 | | May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on State |
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4 | 4 | | Affairs; May 17, 2013, reported favorably, as amended, by the |
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5 | 5 | | following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 17, 2013, sent to printer.) |
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6 | 6 | | |
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7 | 7 | | |
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8 | 8 | | COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Duncan |
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9 | 9 | | Amend H.B. 3357 as follows: |
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10 | 10 | | (1) Strike SECTION 6 of the bill, adding Section 825.103(h), |
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11 | 11 | | Government Code (page 3, lines 63-67). |
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12 | 12 | | (2) In SECTION 9 of the bill (page 5, lines 4-10), strike |
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13 | 13 | | amended Section 825.212(c), Government Code, and substitute the |
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14 | 14 | | following: |
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15 | 15 | | (c) This chapter modifies the common law of conflict of |
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16 | 16 | | interests as applied to trustees, employees, and contracts of the |
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17 | 17 | | retirement system to the extent that violations of the common law of |
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18 | 18 | | conflict of interests do not void retirement system contracts. The |
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19 | 19 | | retirement system shall by rule or policy adopt procedures for |
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20 | 20 | | disclosing and curing violations of the common law of conflict of |
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21 | 21 | | interests and any such rule or policy may specify time periods in |
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22 | 22 | | which disclosures and cures must be completed [An employee who has a |
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23 | 23 | | business or commercial relationship that could reasonably be |
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24 | 24 | | expected to diminish the employee's independence of judgment in the |
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25 | 25 | | performance of the employee's responsibilities to the retirement |
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26 | 26 | | system shall disclose that relationship in writing to a person |
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27 | 27 | | designated by the board]. |
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28 | 28 | | (3) Strike SECTION 22 of the bill, repealing certain |
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29 | 29 | | provisions of the Government Code, and substitute the following |
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30 | 30 | | appropriately numbered SECTION: |
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31 | 31 | | SECTION 22. The following laws are repealed: |
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32 | 32 | | (1) Section 825.211, Government Code; |
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33 | 33 | | (2) Sections 825.212(d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), |
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34 | 34 | | Government Code; |
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35 | 35 | | (3) sections 825.402(b), (c), and (d), Government |
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36 | 36 | | Code; |
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37 | 37 | | (4) Section 825.404(d), Government Code; |
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38 | 38 | | (5) Section 825.411, Government Code; and |
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39 | 39 | | (6) Section 1579.103, Insurance Code. |
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40 | 40 | | (4) Strike SECTION 23 of the bill, providing an effective |
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41 | 41 | | date for the Act, and substitute the following appropriately |
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42 | 42 | | numbered SECTION: |
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43 | 43 | | SECTION 23. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) Except as provided by |
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44 | 44 | | Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect immediately |
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45 | 45 | | if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to |
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46 | 46 | | each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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47 | 47 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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48 | 48 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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49 | 49 | | (b) Sections 824.1012 and 824.1013, Government Code, as |
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50 | 50 | | amended by this Act, take effect September 1, 2013. |
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51 | 51 | | (5) Renumber SECTIONS of the bill appropriately. |
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52 | 52 | | COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 2 By: Duncan |
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53 | 53 | | Amend H.B. No. 3357 (engrossed version) by inserting the |
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54 | 54 | | following new SECTIONS, appropriately numbered, and renumbering |
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55 | 55 | | the subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly: |
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56 | 56 | | SECTION ____. Section 12.055, Education Code, is amended to |
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57 | 57 | | read as follows: |
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58 | 58 | | Sec. 12.055. APPLICABILITY OF LAWS AND RULES TO CAMPUS OR |
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59 | 59 | | PROGRAM GRANTED CHARTER. (a) A campus or program for which a |
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60 | 60 | | charter is granted under this subchapter is subject to federal and |
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61 | 61 | | state laws and rules governing public schools, except that the |
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62 | 62 | | campus or program is subject to this code and rules adopted under |
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63 | 63 | | this code only to the extent the applicability to a campus or |
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64 | 64 | | program for which a charter is granted under this subchapter of a |
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65 | 65 | | provision of this code or a rule adopted under this code is |
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66 | 66 | | specifically provided. |
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67 | 67 | | (b) A school district may contract with another district or |
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68 | 68 | | an open-enrollment charter holder for services at a campus charter. |
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69 | 69 | | An employee of the district or open-enrollment charter holder |
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70 | 70 | | providing contracted services to a campus charter is eligible for |
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71 | 71 | | membership in and benefits from the Teacher Retirement System of |
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72 | 72 | | Texas if the employee would be eligible for membership and benefits |
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73 | 73 | | if holding the same position at the employing district or |
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74 | 74 | | open-enrollment charter school operated by the charter holder. |
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75 | 75 | | SECTION ____. Section 12.057, Education Code, is amended by |
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76 | 76 | | adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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77 | 77 | | (b-1) An employee of a charter holder, as defined by Section |
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78 | 78 | | 12.1012, who is employed on a campus or in a program granted a |
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79 | 79 | | charter under this subchapter and who qualifies for membership in |
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80 | 80 | | the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be covered under the |
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81 | 81 | | system in the same manner and to the same extent as a qualified |
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82 | 82 | | employee of an independent school district who is employed on a |
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83 | 83 | | regularly operating campus or in a regularly operating program. |
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84 | 84 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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85 | 85 | | AN ACT |
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86 | 86 | | relating to the administration of and benefits payable by the |
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87 | 87 | | Teacher Retirement System of Texas. |
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88 | 88 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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89 | 89 | | SECTION 1. Sections 551.130(e) and (j), Government Code, |
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90 | 90 | | are amended to read as follows: |
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91 | 91 | | (e) The location where a quorum is physically present must |
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92 | 92 | | be open to the public during the open portions of a telephone |
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93 | 93 | | conference call meeting. The open portions of the meeting must be |
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94 | 94 | | audible to the public at the location where the quorum is present |
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95 | 95 | | and be recorded [tape-recorded] at that location. The [tape] |
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96 | 96 | | recording shall be made available to the public. |
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97 | 97 | | (j) A person who is not a member of the board may [not] speak |
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98 | 98 | | at the meeting from a remote location by telephone conference |
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99 | 99 | | call[, except as provided by Section 551.129]. |
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100 | 100 | | SECTION 2. The heading to Section 824.1012, Government |
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101 | 101 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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102 | 102 | | Sec. 824.1012. POST-RETIREMENT CHANGE IN RETIREMENT |
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103 | 103 | | PAYMENT PLAN [REVOCATION OF BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION] FOR CERTAIN |
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104 | 104 | | RETIREMENT BENEFIT OPTIONS. |
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105 | 105 | | SECTION 3. Sections 824.1012(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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106 | 106 | | are amended to read as follows: |
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107 | 107 | | (a) As an exception to Section 824.101(c), a retiree who |
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108 | 108 | | selected an optional service retirement annuity under Section |
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109 | 109 | | 824.204(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5) or an optional disability |
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110 | 110 | | retirement annuity under Section 824.308(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5) |
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111 | 111 | | and who has received at least one payment under the plan selected |
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112 | 112 | | may change the optional annuity selection made by the retiree to a |
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113 | 113 | | standard service or disability retirement annuity as provided for |
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114 | 114 | | in this section. If the beneficiary is the spouse or former spouse |
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115 | 115 | | of the retiree, the beneficiary must sign a notarized consent to the |
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116 | 116 | | change, or [may revoke the designation of the beneficiary to |
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117 | 117 | | receive the annuity on the death of the retiree, if] a court in a |
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118 | 118 | | divorce proceeding involving the retiree and beneficiary must |
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119 | 119 | | approve or order the change [approves or orders the revocation] in |
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120 | 120 | | the divorce decree or acceptance of a property settlement [or if the |
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121 | 121 | | beneficiary is the spouse, a former spouse, or an adult child of the |
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122 | 122 | | retiree and signs a notarized consent to the revocation]. The |
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123 | 123 | | change in plan selection [revocation] takes effect when the |
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124 | 124 | | retirement system receives it. |
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125 | 125 | | (b) A change [revocation] described by Subsection (a) |
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126 | 126 | | cancels the optional annuity selection made by the retiree, |
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127 | 127 | | effective with the beginning of payments of the annuity as |
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128 | 128 | | recomputed under this subsection. The retiree is entitled to |
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129 | 129 | | receive payments of a standard service or disability retirement |
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130 | 130 | | annuity, as applicable, reduced for early retirement, if |
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131 | 131 | | applicable, beginning with the payment for the month after the |
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132 | 132 | | month in which the retirement system receives the notice of change |
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133 | 133 | | [revocation] and ending on the death of the retiree. The change |
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134 | 134 | | also cancels the designation of beneficiary with respect to the |
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135 | 135 | | optional annuity benefit but does not cancel a designation with |
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136 | 136 | | respect to any other benefit payable by the retirement system on the |
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137 | 137 | | death of the retiree. |
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138 | 138 | | SECTION 4. Section 824.1013(b), Government Code, is amended |
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139 | 139 | | to read as follows: |
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140 | 140 | | (b) If the beneficiary designated at the time of the |
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141 | 141 | | retiree's retirement is the spouse [or former spouse] of the |
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142 | 142 | | retiree at the time of the designation: |
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143 | 143 | | (1) the spouse [or former spouse] must give written, |
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144 | 144 | | notarized consent to the change; [or] |
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145 | 145 | | (2) if the parties divorce after the designation, the |
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146 | 146 | | former spouse who was designated beneficiary must give written, |
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147 | 147 | | notarized consent to the change; or |
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148 | 148 | | (3) a court with jurisdiction over the marriage must |
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149 | 149 | | have ordered the change. |
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150 | 150 | | SECTION 5. Sections 825.002(c), (e), and (e-1), Government |
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151 | 151 | | Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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152 | 152 | | (c) The governor shall appoint two members of the board from |
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153 | 153 | | a slate of three members of the retirement system who are currently |
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154 | 154 | | employed by a public school district, charter school, or regional |
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155 | 155 | | education service center and who have been nominated in accordance |
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156 | 156 | | with Subsection (f) by the members of the retirement system whose |
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157 | 157 | | most recent credited service was performed for a public school |
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158 | 158 | | district, charter school, or regional education service center. |
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159 | 159 | | The two members hold office for staggered terms. |
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160 | 160 | | (e) The governor shall appoint one member of the board from |
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161 | 161 | | a slate of three persons who have been nominated in accordance with |
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162 | 162 | | Subsection (f) by the following groups collectively: |
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163 | 163 | | (1) members of the retirement system whose most recent |
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164 | 164 | | credited service was performed for an institution of higher |
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165 | 165 | | education; |
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166 | 166 | | (2) members of the retirement system whose most recent |
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167 | 167 | | credited service was performed for a public school district, |
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168 | 168 | | charter school, or regional education service center; and |
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169 | 169 | | (3) persons who have retired and are receiving |
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170 | 170 | | benefits from the retirement system. |
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171 | 171 | | (e-1) A person may be nominated for appointment to the board |
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172 | 172 | | under Subsection (e) if the person is: |
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173 | 173 | | (1) a member of the retirement system who is currently |
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174 | 174 | | employed by an institution of higher education; |
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175 | 175 | | (2) a member of the retirement system who is currently |
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176 | 176 | | employed by a public school district, charter school, or regional |
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177 | 177 | | education service center; or |
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178 | 178 | | (3) a former member of the retirement system who has |
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179 | 179 | | retired and is receiving benefits from the system. |
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180 | 180 | | SECTION 6. Section 825.103, Government Code, is amended by |
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181 | 181 | | adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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182 | 182 | | (h) The board of trustees may accept on behalf of the |
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183 | 183 | | retirement system gifts of money, services, or other property from |
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184 | 184 | | any public or private source. |
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185 | 185 | | SECTION 7. Section 825.115, Government Code, is amended by |
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186 | 186 | | adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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187 | 187 | | (d) The board of trustees or its audit committee may conduct |
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188 | 188 | | a closed meeting in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 551, with |
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189 | 189 | | the retirement system's internal or external auditors to discuss: |
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190 | 190 | | (1) governance, risk management or internal control |
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191 | 191 | | weaknesses, known or suspected compliance violations or fraud, |
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192 | 192 | | status of regulatory reviews or investigations, or identification |
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193 | 193 | | of potential fraud risk areas and audits for the annual internal |
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194 | 194 | | audit plan; or |
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195 | 195 | | (2) the auditors' ability to perform duties in |
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196 | 196 | | accordance with the Internal Audit Charter, relevant auditing |
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197 | 197 | | standards, and Chapter 2102. |
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198 | 198 | | (e) The board of trustees may conduct a closed meeting in |
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199 | 199 | | accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 551, to deliberate or confer |
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200 | 200 | | with one or more employees, consultants, or legal counsel of the |
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201 | 201 | | retirement system or a third party regarding a procurement to be |
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202 | 202 | | awarded by the board of trustees if, before conducting the closed |
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203 | 203 | | meeting, a majority of the trustees in an open meeting vote that |
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204 | 204 | | deliberating or conferring in an open meeting would have a |
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205 | 205 | | detrimental effect on the position of the retirement system in |
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206 | 206 | | negotiations with a third person. The board of trustees is required |
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207 | 207 | | to vote or take final action on the procurement in an open meeting. |
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208 | 208 | | SECTION 8. Section 825.204, Government Code, is amended by |
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209 | 209 | | adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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210 | 210 | | (d) The medical board is not subject to subpoena regarding |
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211 | 211 | | findings it makes in assisting the executive director or board of |
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212 | 212 | | trustees under this section, and its members may not be held liable |
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213 | 213 | | for any opinions, conclusions, or recommendations made under this |
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214 | 214 | | section. |
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215 | 215 | | SECTION 9. Sections 825.212(a), (b), and (c), Government |
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216 | 216 | | Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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217 | 217 | | (a) The [In addition to any other requirements provided by |
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218 | 218 | | law, the] board of trustees shall adopt a code or codes of [enforce |
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219 | 219 | | an] ethics, including standards of ethical conduct and disclosure |
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220 | 220 | | requirements, applicable to: |
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221 | 221 | | (1) trustees; |
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222 | 222 | | (2) [policy as provided by this section for] |
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223 | 223 | | employees; and |
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224 | 224 | | (3) any contractors or any categories of contractors |
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225 | 225 | | that the board of trustees determines provide: |
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226 | 226 | | (A) advice or opinion [of and consultants and |
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227 | 227 | | advisors] to the retirement system that is the basis for a |
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228 | 228 | | significant decision or action by or on behalf of the retirement |
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229 | 229 | | system; or |
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230 | 230 | | (B) significant services to the retirement |
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231 | 231 | | system that relate to the administration and operation of the |
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232 | 232 | | retirement system. |
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233 | 233 | | (b) In any code of ethics adopted under this section, [Each |
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234 | 234 | | employee of the retirement system who exercises significant |
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235 | 235 | | decisionmaking or fiduciary authority, as determined by] the board |
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236 | 236 | | of trustees may: |
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237 | 237 | | (1) impose enhanced[, shall file financial] |
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238 | 238 | | disclosure requirements on employees that [statements with a person |
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239 | 239 | | designated by] the board of trustees determines exercise |
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240 | 240 | | significant fiduciary authority; |
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241 | 241 | | (2) impose disclosure requirements on contractors for |
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242 | 242 | | expenditures on behalf of retirement system trustees or employees |
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243 | 243 | | in amounts equal to or greater than a minimum amount considered |
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244 | 244 | | material by the board of trustees; or |
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245 | 245 | | (3) address topics related to ethical conduct, |
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246 | 246 | | including prohibited conduct, conflicts of interest, waivers of |
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247 | 247 | | conflicts of interest, remedies for conflicts of interest, and |
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248 | 248 | | sanctions. [The content of a financial disclosure statement must |
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249 | 249 | | comply substantially with the requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter |
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250 | 250 | | 572. A statement must be filed not later than the 30th day after the |
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251 | 251 | | date a person is employed in a significant decisionmaking or |
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252 | 252 | | fiduciary position and annually after employment not later than |
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253 | 253 | | April 30. The filing deadline may be postponed by the executive |
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254 | 254 | | director for not more than 60 days on written request or for an |
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255 | 255 | | additional period for good cause, as determined by the chairman of |
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256 | 256 | | the board. The retirement system shall maintain a financial |
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257 | 257 | | disclosure statement for at least five years after the date of its |
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258 | 258 | | filing.] |
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259 | 259 | | (c) This section preempts the common law of conflicts of |
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260 | 260 | | interest as applied to trustees, employees, and contracts of [An |
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261 | 261 | | employee who has a business or commercial relationship that could |
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262 | 262 | | reasonably be expected to diminish the employee's independence of |
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263 | 263 | | judgment in the performance of the employee's responsibilities to] |
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264 | 264 | | the retirement system [shall disclose that relationship in writing |
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265 | 265 | | to a person designated by the board]. |
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266 | 266 | | SECTION 10. Section 825.312(b), Government Code, is amended |
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267 | 267 | | to read as follows: |
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268 | 268 | | (b) The retirement system shall pay from the account all |
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269 | 269 | | administrative expenses of the retirement system [that exceed the |
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270 | 270 | | amounts appropriated under Section 825.404(d) and] that are |
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271 | 271 | | required to perform the fiduciary duties of the board. |
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272 | 272 | | SECTION 11. The heading to Section 825.313, Government |
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273 | 273 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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274 | 274 | | Sec. 825.313. TRANSFERS FROM INTEREST [OR STATE |
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275 | 275 | | CONTRIBUTION] ACCOUNT. |
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276 | 276 | | SECTION 12. Section 825.313(d), Government Code, is amended |
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277 | 277 | | to read as follows: |
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278 | 278 | | (d) The board of trustees, by resolution recorded in its |
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279 | 279 | | minutes, may transfer from the interest account to the expense |
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280 | 280 | | account an amount necessary to cover the expenses of the retirement |
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281 | 281 | | system for the fiscal year [that exceed the amount of operating |
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282 | 282 | | expenses appropriated under Section 825.404(d) and] that are |
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283 | 283 | | required to perform the fiduciary duties of the board[, including |
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284 | 284 | | the expense of servicing mortgages insured by the Federal Housing |
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285 | 285 | | Administration under the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. Section |
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286 | 286 | | 1701 et seq.)]. |
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287 | 287 | | SECTION 13. Section 825.314, Government Code, is amended to |
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288 | 288 | | read as follows: |
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289 | 289 | | Sec. 825.314. USE [AND REPORTING] OF STATE CONTRIBUTIONS |
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290 | 290 | | [AND OTHER APPROPRIATIONS AND ASSETS]. [(a)] The retirement |
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291 | 291 | | system shall use all assets contributed by the state[, other than |
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292 | 292 | | operating expenses appropriated under Section 825.404(d),] to pay |
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293 | 293 | | benefits authorized by this subtitle. |
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294 | 294 | | [(b) The staff of the retirement system shall report to the |
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295 | 295 | | board at each board meeting the amounts and uses since the preceding |
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296 | 296 | | board meeting of any money expended by the system from amounts |
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297 | 297 | | transferred under Section 825.313(d) and include an explanation of |
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298 | 298 | | why the amounts were needed to perform the fiduciary duties of the |
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299 | 299 | | board. The retirement system annually shall prepare and issue to |
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300 | 300 | | each contributing member and annuitant and to the governor, |
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301 | 301 | | lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a |
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302 | 302 | | summary of the reports presented during the preceding year to the |
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303 | 303 | | board.] |
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304 | 304 | | SECTION 14. The heading to Section 825.404, Government |
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305 | 305 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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306 | 306 | | Sec. 825.404. COLLECTION OF STATE CONTRIBUTIONS [AND |
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307 | 307 | | APPROPRIATED OPERATING EXPENSES]. |
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308 | 308 | | SECTION 15. Section 825.404(e), Government Code, is amended |
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309 | 309 | | to read as follows: |
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310 | 310 | | (e) All money appropriated by the state to the retirement |
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311 | 311 | | system shall be paid to the state contribution account in equal |
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312 | 312 | | monthly installments as provided by Section 403.093(c)[, |
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313 | 313 | | Government Code, except money appropriated under Subsection (d), |
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314 | 314 | | which remains in the general revenue fund until expenses are |
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315 | 315 | | approved under Chapter 2103]. |
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316 | 316 | | SECTION 16. Section 825.410(b), Government Code, is amended |
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317 | 317 | | to read as follows: |
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318 | 318 | | (b) Service credit shall be established pursuant to the |
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319 | 319 | | following provisions: |
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320 | 320 | | (1) The retirement system shall credit a member's |
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321 | 321 | | payments made under this section to a suspense account in the trust |
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322 | 322 | | fund until the sum of the payments equals the amount required for |
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323 | 323 | | one year of service credit, at which time the retirement system |
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324 | 324 | | shall deposit the payments in the appropriate accounts in the trust |
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325 | 325 | | fund and grant the applicable amount of service credit. No credit |
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326 | 326 | | shall be established for service pursuant to Section 823.501 [or |
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327 | 327 | | Section 825.403] until a lump sum has been paid or all payroll |
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328 | 328 | | deduction or installment payments have been completed. |
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329 | 329 | | (2) No credit shall be established for other service |
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330 | 330 | | when the cost of establishing the service has been determined by |
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331 | 331 | | using withdrawn service to be reinstated pursuant to Section |
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332 | 332 | | 823.501 [or previously unreported service to be established |
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333 | 333 | | pursuant to Section 825.403] until a lump sum or all payroll |
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334 | 334 | | deductions or installments for the withdrawn [or previously |
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335 | 335 | | unreported] service have been paid. |
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336 | 336 | | (3) All other service shall be credited when |
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337 | 337 | | sufficient payroll deductions or installments have been completed |
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338 | 338 | | to satisfy the cost requirements for a year of service. |
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339 | 339 | | SECTION 17. Sections 825.507(a), (b), (c), (f), and (g), |
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340 | 340 | | Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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341 | 341 | | (a) Records of a participant and information about the |
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342 | 342 | | records of a participant that are in the custody of the retirement |
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343 | 343 | | system or of an administrator, carrier, attorney, consultant, or |
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344 | 344 | | governmental agency, including the comptroller, acting in |
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345 | 345 | | cooperation with or on behalf of the retirement system are |
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346 | 346 | | confidential and not subject to public disclosure [in a form that |
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347 | 347 | | would identify an individual and are exempt from the public access |
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348 | 348 | | provisions of Chapter 552, except as otherwise provided by this |
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349 | 349 | | section]. Because the records and information described by this |
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350 | 350 | | section [subsection] are exempt from the public access provisions |
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351 | 351 | | of Chapter 552, the retirement system or an administering firm, |
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352 | 352 | | carrier, attorney, consultant, or governmental agency, including |
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353 | 353 | | the comptroller, acting in cooperation with or on behalf of the |
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354 | 354 | | retirement system, is not required to accept or comply with a |
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355 | 355 | | request for a record or information about a record or to seek an |
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356 | 356 | | opinion from the attorney general, except as otherwise provided by |
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357 | 357 | | this section. |
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358 | 358 | | (b) The retirement system may release records of a |
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359 | 359 | | participant, or information about the records of a participant, |
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360 | 360 | | including a participant to which Chapter 803 applies, to: |
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361 | 361 | | (1) the participant or the participant's attorney or |
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362 | 362 | | guardian or another person who the executive director determines is |
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363 | 363 | | acting on behalf of the participant; |
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364 | 364 | | (2) the executor or administrator of the deceased |
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365 | 365 | | participant's estate, including information relating to the |
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366 | 366 | | deceased participant's beneficiary, or if an executor or |
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367 | 367 | | administrator of the deceased participant's estate has not been |
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368 | 368 | | named, a person or entity who the executive director determines is |
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369 | 369 | | acting in the interest of the deceased participant's estate, or an |
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370 | 370 | | heir, legatee, or devisee of the deceased participant; |
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371 | 371 | | (3) a spouse or former spouse of the participant if the |
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372 | 372 | | executive director determines that the information is relevant to |
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373 | 373 | | the spouse's or former spouse's interest in member accounts, |
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374 | 374 | | benefits, or other amounts payable by the retirement system; |
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375 | 375 | | (4) an administrator, carrier, consultant, attorney, |
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376 | 376 | | or agent acting on behalf of the retirement system; |
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377 | 377 | | (5) a governmental entity, an employer, or the |
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378 | 378 | | designated agent of an employer, only to the extent the retirement |
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379 | 379 | | system needs to share the information to perform the purposes of the |
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380 | 380 | | retirement system, as determined by the executive director; |
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381 | 381 | | (6) a person authorized by the participant in writing |
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382 | 382 | | to receive the information; |
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383 | 383 | | (7) a federal, state, or local criminal law |
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384 | 384 | | enforcement agency that requests a record for a law enforcement |
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385 | 385 | | purpose; |
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386 | 386 | | (8) the attorney general to the extent necessary to |
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387 | 387 | | enforce child support; or |
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388 | 388 | | (9) a party in response to a subpoena issued under |
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389 | 389 | | applicable law if the executive director determines that the |
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390 | 390 | | participant will have a reasonable opportunity to contest the |
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391 | 391 | | subpoena. |
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392 | 392 | | (c) The records of a participant and information about the |
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393 | 393 | | records remain confidential after release to a person as authorized |
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394 | 394 | | by this section. This section does not prevent the retirement |
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395 | 395 | | system or administering firm or carrier acting in cooperation with |
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396 | 396 | | or on behalf of the retirement system from disclosing or confirming |
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397 | 397 | | [disclosure or confirmation], on an individual basis, [of] the |
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398 | 398 | | status or identity of a participant as a member, former member, |
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399 | 399 | | retiree, deceased member or retiree, beneficiary, or alternate |
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400 | 400 | | payee of the retirement system. |
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401 | 401 | | (f) This section does not authorize the retirement system to |
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402 | 402 | | compile or disclose a list of participants' names, addresses, |
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403 | 403 | | including e-mail addresses, or social security numbers unless the |
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404 | 404 | | executive director determines that a compilation or disclosure is |
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405 | 405 | | necessary to administer the retirement system. |
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406 | 406 | | (g) In this section, "participant" means a member, former |
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407 | 407 | | member, retiree, annuitant, beneficiary, or alternate payee of the |
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408 | 408 | | retirement system, or an employee or contractor of an employer |
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409 | 409 | | covered by the retirement system for whom records were received by |
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410 | 410 | | the retirement system for the purpose of administering the terms of |
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411 | 411 | | the plan, including for audit or investigative purposes. |
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412 | 412 | | SECTION 18. Section 825.515(a), Government Code, is amended |
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413 | 413 | | to read as follows: |
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414 | 414 | | (a) At least annually, the retirement system shall acquire |
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415 | 415 | | and maintain records identifying members and specifying the types |
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416 | 416 | | of positions they hold as members. Employers shall provide to the |
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417 | 417 | | retirement system information specifying the type of position held |
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418 | 418 | | by each member [The type of position shall be identified] as |
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419 | 419 | | Administrative/Professional, Teacher/Full-Time Librarian, |
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420 | 420 | | Support, Bus Driver, or Peace Officer. Employers shall also |
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421 | 421 | | provide to the retirement system the work e-mail address for each |
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422 | 422 | | member. For each member identified as a Peace Officer, the records |
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423 | 423 | | must specify whether the member is an employee of an institution of |
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424 | 424 | | higher education or of a public school that is not an institution of |
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425 | 425 | | higher education. An employer shall provide the information |
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426 | 426 | | required by this section in the form and manner specified by the |
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427 | 427 | | retirement system. |
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428 | 428 | | SECTION 19. Section 1575.003(1), Insurance Code, is amended |
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429 | 429 | | to read as follows: |
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430 | 430 | | (1) "Dependent" means: |
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431 | 431 | | (A) the spouse of a retiree; |
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432 | 432 | | (B) a [an unmarried] child of a retiree or |
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433 | 433 | | deceased active member if the child is younger than 26 [25] years of |
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434 | 434 | | age, including: |
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435 | 435 | | (i) an adopted child or child who is |
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436 | 436 | | lawfully placed for legal adoption; |
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437 | 437 | | (ii) a foster child, stepchild, or other |
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438 | 438 | | child who is in a regular parent-child relationship; or |
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439 | 439 | | (iii) a [recognized] natural child; |
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440 | 440 | | (C) a retiree's [recognized] natural child, |
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441 | 441 | | adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or other child who is in a |
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442 | 442 | | regular parent-child relationship and who lives with or has his or |
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443 | 443 | | her care provided by the retiree or surviving spouse on a regular |
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444 | 444 | | basis regardless of the child's age, if the child has a mental |
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445 | 445 | | disability or is physically incapacitated to an extent that the |
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446 | 446 | | child is dependent on the retiree or surviving spouse for care or |
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447 | 447 | | support, as determined by the trustee; or |
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448 | 448 | | (D) a deceased active member's [recognized] |
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449 | 449 | | natural child, adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or other |
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450 | 450 | | child who is in a regular parent-child relationship, without regard |
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451 | 451 | | to the age of the child, if, while the active member was alive, the |
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452 | 452 | | child: |
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453 | 453 | | (i) lived with or had the child's care |
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454 | 454 | | provided by the active member on a regular basis; and |
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455 | 455 | | (ii) had a mental disability or was |
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456 | 456 | | physically incapacitated to an extent that the child was dependent |
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457 | 457 | | on the active member or surviving spouse for care or support, as |
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458 | 458 | | determined by the trustee. |
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459 | 459 | | SECTION 20. Section 1575.205(c), Insurance Code, is amended |
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460 | 460 | | to read as follows: |
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461 | 461 | | (c) The trustee may spend a part of the money received for |
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462 | 462 | | the group program to offset a part of the costs for optional |
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463 | 463 | | coverage paid by retirees if [the expenditure does not reduce the |
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464 | 464 | | period] the group program is projected to remain financially |
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465 | 465 | | solvent during the currently funded [by more than one year in a] |
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466 | 466 | | biennium. |
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467 | 467 | | SECTION 21. Section 1579.004, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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468 | 468 | | read as follows: |
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469 | 469 | | Sec. 1579.004. DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT. In this chapter, |
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470 | 470 | | "dependent" means: |
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471 | 471 | | (1) a spouse of a full-time employee or part-time |
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472 | 472 | | employee; |
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473 | 473 | | (2) a [an unmarried] child of a full-time or part-time |
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474 | 474 | | employee if the child is younger than 26 [25] years of age, |
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475 | 475 | | including: |
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476 | 476 | | (A) an adopted child or child who is lawfully |
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477 | 477 | | placed for adoption; |
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478 | 478 | | (B) a foster child, stepchild, or other child who |
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479 | 479 | | is in a regular parent-child relationship; and |
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480 | 480 | | (C) a [recognized] natural child; |
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481 | 481 | | (3) a full-time or part-time employee's [recognized] |
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482 | 482 | | natural child, adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or other |
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483 | 483 | | child who is in a regular parent-child relationship and who lives |
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484 | 484 | | with or has his or her care provided by the employee or the |
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485 | 485 | | surviving spouse on a regular basis, regardless of the child's age, |
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486 | 486 | | if the child has a mental disability or is physically incapacitated |
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487 | 487 | | to an extent that the child is dependent on the employee or |
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488 | 488 | | surviving spouse for care or support, as determined by the board of |
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489 | 489 | | trustees; and |
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490 | 490 | | (4) notwithstanding any other provision of this code, |
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491 | 491 | | any other dependent of a full-time or part-time employee specified |
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492 | 492 | | by rules adopted by the board of trustees. |
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493 | 493 | | SECTION 22. The following laws are repealed: |
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494 | 494 | | (1) Section 825.211, Government Code; |
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495 | 495 | | (2) Sections 825.212(d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), |
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496 | 496 | | Government Code; |
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497 | 497 | | (3) Sections 825.402(b), (c), and (d), Government |
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498 | 498 | | Code; |
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499 | 499 | | (4) Section 825.404(d), Government Code; and |
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500 | 500 | | (5) Section 825.411, Government Code. |
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501 | 501 | | SECTION 23. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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502 | 502 | | * * * * * |
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