Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HJR2 Fiscal Note / Fiscal Note

Filed 04/03/2023

                    LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD     Austin, Texas       FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION             March 31, 2023       TO: Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: HJR2 by Bonnen (proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and providing a one-time transfer of funds for contributions, actuarially determined payments, and benefit enhancements.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted     No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $204,406. This resolution would propose an amendment to Section 67-a, Article XVI, of the Texas Constitution that would authorize the Legislature to provide a onetime or ongoing benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The benefit enhancement would be contingent on an accompanying appropriation of funds sufficient to fully pay for the benefit enhancement.According to the Pension Review Board, TRS is considered actuarially sound, with an amortization period of 27 years as of August 31, 2023. Government Code, Section 821.006 defines actuarial soundness, for the purposes of making modifications to benefit and contribution levels, as less than 31 years. The benefit enhancement would take place only if the fund is considered actuarially sound. The approval of the proposed amendment to Section 67-a of Article XVI by voters would result in a cost to the state of $3.45 billion for the purposes of providing the benefit enhancements. Although the resolution is self-enabling, the fiscal impact is shown in the fiscal note for HB 600. These funds would be transferred to TRS in the 2024 fiscal year after the amendment takes effect and would not be considered an appropriation of state tax revenues. The proposed amendment would be submitted to voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.  Local Government ImpactNo fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.  Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 323 Teacher Retirement System  LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MOc, ASA, MMo

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 31, 2023

 

 

  TO: Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: HJR2 by Bonnen (proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and providing a one-time transfer of funds for contributions, actuarially determined payments, and benefit enhancements.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted   

TO: Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HJR2 by Bonnen (proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and providing a one-time transfer of funds for contributions, actuarially determined payments, and benefit enhancements.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

 Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

 Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 HJR2 by Bonnen (proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and providing a one-time transfer of funds for contributions, actuarially determined payments, and benefit enhancements.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted 

 HJR2 by Bonnen (proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and providing a one-time transfer of funds for contributions, actuarially determined payments, and benefit enhancements.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted 



No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $204,406.

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $204,406.

This resolution would propose an amendment to Section 67-a, Article XVI, of the Texas Constitution that would authorize the Legislature to provide a onetime or ongoing benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The benefit enhancement would be contingent on an accompanying appropriation of funds sufficient to fully pay for the benefit enhancement.According to the Pension Review Board, TRS is considered actuarially sound, with an amortization period of 27 years as of August 31, 2023. Government Code, Section 821.006 defines actuarial soundness, for the purposes of making modifications to benefit and contribution levels, as less than 31 years. The benefit enhancement would take place only if the fund is considered actuarially sound. The approval of the proposed amendment to Section 67-a of Article XVI by voters would result in a cost to the state of $3.45 billion for the purposes of providing the benefit enhancements. Although the resolution is self-enabling, the fiscal impact is shown in the fiscal note for HB 600. These funds would be transferred to TRS in the 2024 fiscal year after the amendment takes effect and would not be considered an appropriation of state tax revenues. The proposed amendment would be submitted to voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.

This resolution would propose an amendment to Section 67-a, Article XVI, of the Texas Constitution that would authorize the Legislature to provide a onetime or ongoing benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The benefit enhancement would be contingent on an accompanying appropriation of funds sufficient to fully pay for the benefit enhancement.



According to the Pension Review Board, TRS is considered actuarially sound, with an amortization period of 27 years as of August 31, 2023. Government Code, Section 821.006 defines actuarial soundness, for the purposes of making modifications to benefit and contribution levels, as less than 31 years. The benefit enhancement would take place only if the fund is considered actuarially sound. 



The approval of the proposed amendment to Section 67-a of Article XVI by voters would result in a cost to the state of $3.45 billion for the purposes of providing the benefit enhancements. Although the resolution is self-enabling, the fiscal impact is shown in the fiscal note for HB 600. These funds would be transferred to TRS in the 2024 fiscal year after the amendment takes effect and would not be considered an appropriation of state tax revenues. 



The proposed amendment would be submitted to voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.

 Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 323 Teacher Retirement System

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 323 Teacher Retirement System

LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MOc, ASA, MMo

JMc, MOc, ASA, MMo