88R1039 BDP-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 377
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a joint select committee to study the
feasibility and sustainability of providing a cost-of-living
adjustment applicable to certain benefits paid by the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "committee" means the
joint select committee established under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE. (a) A joint select
committee is established for the purposes of this Act and is
composed of the following members:
(1) two members of the senate appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(2) two members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(3) one member of the public who is appointed by the
lieutenant governor from lists of names submitted by stakeholder
groups; and
(4) one member of the public who is appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives from lists of names
submitted by stakeholder groups.
(b) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives shall make the appointments required under
Subsection (a) of this section as soon as possible after the
effective date of this Act, but not later than November 1, 2023.
(c) If a vacancy occurs, the appropriate appointing officer
shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired
term in the same manner as the original appointment.
SECTION 3. PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS. (a) The
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives
shall jointly select the presiding officer of the committee.
(b) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding
officer.
SECTION 4. COOPERATION OF STATE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OR
OFFICE. If needed to perform the duties of the committee, the
committee may request the assistance of a state agency, department,
or office. The state agency, department, or office shall provide
the committee with the requested assistance.
SECTION 5. EXPENSES. (a) Each member of the committee is
entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
incurred in performing committee duties.
(b) Each legislative member is entitled to reimbursement
from the appropriate fund of the member's respective house.
(c) Each public member is entitled to reimbursement from
funds appropriated to the committee.
SECTION 6. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES; STUDY. (a) The
committee shall study the feasibility and sustainability of
providing a cost-of-living adjustment payable to annuitants
receiving a retirement benefit annuity under the Teacher Retirement
System of Texas. The study must seek to identify and recommend a
financial structure capable of providing the cost-of-living
adjustment.
(b) The committee has all other powers and duties provided
to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and
house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government
Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on
administration.
SECTION 7. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2024, the
committee shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and the speaker of the house of representatives a report of the
committee's findings and recommendations under this Act.
SECTION 8. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE; EXPIRATION. The
committee is abolished and this Act expires September 15, 2024.
SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.