Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1071 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 05/05/2021

                    By: Hinojosa, Campbell S.B. No. 1071
 Lucio


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to disability retirement benefits for certain peace
 officers under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 814.207(e), Government Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (e)  If a retiring member or retiree under this section
 presents evidence satisfactory to the retirement system that the
 person's occupational disability makes the person incapable of
 substantial gainful activity solely because of the disability and
 is considered a total disability under federal social security law,
 the retirement system shall, notwithstanding Section 811.006,
 increase the person's occupational disability retirement annuity
 to a monthly amount computed based on the maximum salary authorized
 under Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule
 prescribed by the General Appropriations Act, as adjusted from time
 to time [100 percent of the officer's average monthly
 compensation].
 SECTION 2.  (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section,
 the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall recompute an annuity
 that first became payable before September 1, 2021, as though
 Section 814.207(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act, was in
 effect on the date the increased annuity first became payable.
 (b)  The first payment of an annuity recomputed under
 Subsection (a) of this section is payable on the first payment date
 occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 3.  The Employees Retirement System of Texas is
 required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
 legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
 the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
 purpose, the Employees Retirement System of Texas may, but is not
 required to, implement a provision of this Act using other
 appropriations available for that purpose.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.