Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB288 Fiscal Note / Fiscal Note

Filed 05/31/2021

                    LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD     Austin, Texas       FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION             May 25, 2021       TO: Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: SB288 by Seliger (Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.), As Passed 2nd House     No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill provides that if the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) determines that a retiree who has returned to work is in violation of employment after retirement (EAR) laws and rules, TRS shall first provide a written warning regarding the consequences of further employment that exceeds EAR limitations. If, after the retiree has been notified, the member is still in violation, TRS would be required to provide notice to the retiree and either require the retiree to pay a prorated amount of their annuity that is attributable to when the violation occurred, or pay TRS the difference between the amount of hours the retiree was permitted to work and the amount of hours the retiree actually worked. If the retiree were still in violation after the second notice, TRS would be authorized to withhold the entire monthly annuity. House adopted amendments which provide that TRS may not withhold the pension of any retiree, or collect contributions on behalf of the retiree, who is performing duties related to the mitigation of student learning loss attributable to COVID-19, funded wholly through Federal funds enacted for purposes of providing relief related to COVID-19, for positions through December 31, 2024. Amendments also provide that TRS may not withhold monthly benefit payments for a retiree in a position that is deemed necessary, as determined by the Board of Trustees, for implementing a special education program. Amendments also state that TRS may not collect contributions on behalf of retirees who retire on or after September 1, 2005 if located in an area subject to disaster declaration made by the President, Governor or a local governing body.This analysis assumes that the provisions of the bill could be absorbed by TRS using existing resources.According to the actuarial impact statement provided by the Pension Review Board, while the effects of each individual component of the amendments described above may not have a meaningful effect on the actuarial soundness of the plan, the accumulation of them has the potential to have a measurable impact on the actuarial soundness of the pension fund.   Local Government ImpactNo fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.  Source Agencies: b > td > 323 Teacher Retirement System, 338 Pension Review Board  LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, LBO, AH, RSTE, KK, AAL

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 25, 2021

 

 

  TO: Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: SB288 by Seliger (Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.), As Passed 2nd House   

TO: Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB288 by Seliger (Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.), As Passed 2nd House

 Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate

 Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 SB288 by Seliger (Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.), As Passed 2nd House 

 SB288 by Seliger (Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.), As Passed 2nd House 



No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill provides that if the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) determines that a retiree who has returned to work is in violation of employment after retirement (EAR) laws and rules, TRS shall first provide a written warning regarding the consequences of further employment that exceeds EAR limitations. If, after the retiree has been notified, the member is still in violation, TRS would be required to provide notice to the retiree and either require the retiree to pay a prorated amount of their annuity that is attributable to when the violation occurred, or pay TRS the difference between the amount of hours the retiree was permitted to work and the amount of hours the retiree actually worked. If the retiree were still in violation after the second notice, TRS would be authorized to withhold the entire monthly annuity. House adopted amendments which provide that TRS may not withhold the pension of any retiree, or collect contributions on behalf of the retiree, who is performing duties related to the mitigation of student learning loss attributable to COVID-19, funded wholly through Federal funds enacted for purposes of providing relief related to COVID-19, for positions through December 31, 2024. Amendments also provide that TRS may not withhold monthly benefit payments for a retiree in a position that is deemed necessary, as determined by the Board of Trustees, for implementing a special education program. Amendments also state that TRS may not collect contributions on behalf of retirees who retire on or after September 1, 2005 if located in an area subject to disaster declaration made by the President, Governor or a local governing body.This analysis assumes that the provisions of the bill could be absorbed by TRS using existing resources.According to the actuarial impact statement provided by the Pension Review Board, while the effects of each individual component of the amendments described above may not have a meaningful effect on the actuarial soundness of the plan, the accumulation of them has the potential to have a measurable impact on the actuarial soundness of the pension fund. 

 Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies: b > td > 323 Teacher Retirement System, 338 Pension Review Board

323 Teacher Retirement System, 338 Pension Review Board

LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, LBO, AH, RSTE, KK, AAL

JMc, LBO, AH, RSTE, KK, AAL