By: Capriglione H.B. No. 5627
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Public School
Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RETIREMENT
FUNDING TRANSPARENCY
Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement
Funding Transparency.
Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
RETIREMENT FUNDING TRANSPARENCY. (a) The commission is
established to develop and make recommendations regarding methods
of incorporating state resources for teacher retirement within the
Foundation School Program, aligning staffing incentives with state
priorities, and providing uniformity in resourcing retirement
obligations.
(b) The commission is composed of seven members, appointed
as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant
governor; and
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives.
(c) The members appointed by:
(1) the governor must have an interest in staffing
issues faced by public schools;
(2) the lieutenant governor must be three members of
the senate; and
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must
be three members of the house of representatives.
Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate the presiding officer of the commission.
Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The
agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.
(b) The Teacher Retirement System and the office of the
comptroller of public accounts shall provide support required by
the commission.
(c) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation
made to the agency for that purpose.
Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall
develop recommendations under this subchapter regarding:
(1) incorporating current and future appropriations
for state contributions for retirement of public education
personnel into the Foundation School Program as part of the basic
allotment or another formula mechanism;
(2) reviewing state and school contribution
requirements to ensure:
(A) staffing incentives prioritize classroom
instruction; and
(B) uniformity in retirement obligations between
public schools; and
(3) employer contribution requirements are sufficient
to ensure the long term health of the Teacher Retirement System of
Texas.
(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups
composed of not more than three members of the commission to study,
discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to
refer to the commission for consideration.
Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the
commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and
the legislature that recommends statutory changes to implement
recommendations under this subchapter.
Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)
The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its
duties under this subchapter. As an advisory body, the commission
is not subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.
(b) The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government
Code.
Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter
expires January 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.