Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1527 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 03/31/2025

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                            By: West S.B. No. 1527




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the administration of, contributions to, and benefits
 under the public retirement systems for police and firefighters in
 certain municipalities.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 2.01, Article 6243a-1, Revised Statutes,
 is amended by adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
 (3-a)  "Actuarially determined contribution rate"
 means for any city fiscal year, the city contribution rate:
 (A)  expressed as a percentage of members'
 projected aggregate computation pay for the fiscal year; and
 (B)  actuarially determined in accordance with
 Section 4.02 of this article.
 SECTION 2.  Article 6243a-1, Revised Statutes, is amended by
 adding Section 2.026 to read as follows:
 Sec. 2.026.  ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS. (a)  As a public
 retirement system within the meaning of Section 802.001, Government
 Code, the pension system is subject to and must comply with Chapter
 802, Government Code.
 (b)  Any plan or rule adopted under former Section 2.025 of
 this article:
 (1)  may not be implemented; and
 (2)  is unenforceable.
 SECTION 3.  Article 6243a-1, Revised Statutes, is amended by
 adding Section 3.014 to read as follows:
 Sec. 3.014.  CITY AND BOARD APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN
 ACTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the
 following actions must be approved by the board and the city council
 if, as a result of taking the action, the action will result in an
 increase in the pension system's liabilities:
 (1)  the settlement of any lawsuit by the board;
 (2)  any proposed increase to benefits by the board,
 including any adjustment under Section 6.12 of this article; and
 (3)  any changes to actuarial assumptions under Section
 2.02 of this article, including the current discount rate.
 SECTION 4.  Section 4.02, Article 6243a-1, Revised Statutes,
 is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1),
 (e-1), (f), (g), (h), and (h-1) to read as follows:
 (d)  Subject to Section 4.025 of this article, the city shall
 make contributions to the pension system biweekly using an
 actuarially determined contribution rate with a five-year step-up
 period beginning October 2024. Subject to Subsections (e-1) and
 (f) of this section, the actuarially determined contribution rate
 for any given city fiscal year is the sum of the following as
 determined in the actuarial valuation for the plan year preceding
 the fiscal year:
 (1)  an established 30-year closed amortization amount
 with five-year step-up and no step-down for the unfunded actuarial
 accrued liability and administrative expenses, determined based on
 the January 1, 2023, actuarial valuation, as shown in the following
 fixed dollar schedule, divided by the members' projected aggregate
 computation pay for each city fiscal year:
 City Fiscal Year  Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount City Fiscal Year Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
City Fiscal Year Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
 Ending  Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount Ending Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
Ending Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
 September 30 Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount September 30 Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
September 30 Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount
 2025 $161,656,000 $7,000,000 $168,656,000 2025 $161,656,000 $7,000,000 $168,656,000
2025 $161,656,000 $7,000,000 $168,656,000
 2026 $179,482,000 $7,000,000 $186,482,000 2026 $179,482,000 $7,000,000 $186,482,000
2026 $179,482,000 $7,000,000 $186,482,000
 2027 $197,889,000 $7,000,000 $204,889,000 2027 $197,889,000 $7,000,000 $204,889,000
2027 $197,889,000 $7,000,000 $204,889,000
 2028 $217,163,000 $7,000,000 $224,163,000 2028 $217,163,000 $7,000,000 $224,163,000
2028 $217,163,000 $7,000,000 $224,163,000
 2029 $237,336,000 $7,000,000 $244,336,000 2029 $237,336,000 $7,000,000 $244,336,000
2029 $237,336,000 $7,000,000 $244,336,000
 2030 $242,341,000 $7,000,000 $249,341,000 2030 $242,341,000 $7,000,000 $249,341,000
2030 $242,341,000 $7,000,000 $249,341,000
 2031 $248,399,000 $7,000,000 $255,399,000 2031 $248,399,000 $7,000,000 $255,399,000
2031 $248,399,000 $7,000,000 $255,399,000
 2032 $254,609,000 $7,000,000 $261,609,000 2032 $254,609,000 $7,000,000 $261,609,000
2032 $254,609,000 $7,000,000 $261,609,000
 2033 $260,975,000 $7,000,000 $267,975,000 2033 $260,975,000 $7,000,000 $267,975,000
2033 $260,975,000 $7,000,000 $267,975,000
 2034 $267,499,000 $7,000,000 $274,499,000 2034 $267,499,000 $7,000,000 $274,499,000
2034 $267,499,000 $7,000,000 $274,499,000
 2035 $274,186,000 $7,000,000 $281,186,000 2035 $274,186,000 $7,000,000 $281,186,000
2035 $274,186,000 $7,000,000 $281,186,000
 2036 $281,041,000 $7,000,000 $288,041,000 2036 $281,041,000 $7,000,000 $288,041,000
2036 $281,041,000 $7,000,000 $288,041,000
 2037 $288,067,000 $7,000,000 $295,067,000 2037 $288,067,000 $7,000,000 $295,067,000
2037 $288,067,000 $7,000,000 $295,067,000
 2038 $295,269,000 $7,000,000 $302,269,000 2038 $295,269,000 $7,000,000 $302,269,000
2038 $295,269,000 $7,000,000 $302,269,000
 2039 $302,650,000 $7,000,000 $309,650,000 2039 $302,650,000 $7,000,000 $309,650,000
2039 $302,650,000 $7,000,000 $309,650,000
 2040 $310,217,000 $7,042,000 $317,259,000 2040 $310,217,000 $7,042,000 $317,259,000
2040 $310,217,000 $7,042,000 $317,259,000
 2041 $317,972,000 $7,218,000 $325,190,000 2041 $317,972,000 $7,218,000 $325,190,000
2041 $317,972,000 $7,218,000 $325,190,000
 2042 $325,921,000 $7,399,000 $333,320,000 2042 $325,921,000 $7,399,000 $333,320,000
2042 $325,921,000 $7,399,000 $333,320,000
 2043 $334,069,000 $7,584,000 $341,653,000 2043 $334,069,000 $7,584,000 $341,653,000
2043 $334,069,000 $7,584,000 $341,653,000
 2044 $342,421,000 $7,773,000 $350,194,000 2044 $342,421,000 $7,773,000 $350,194,000
2044 $342,421,000 $7,773,000 $350,194,000
 2045 $350,982,000 $7,967,000 $358,949,000 2045 $350,982,000 $7,967,000 $358,949,000
2045 $350,982,000 $7,967,000 $358,949,000
 2046 $359,756,000 $8,167,000 $367,923,000 2046 $359,756,000 $8,167,000 $367,923,000
2046 $359,756,000 $8,167,000 $367,923,000
 2047 $368,750,000 $8,371,000 $377,121,000 2047 $368,750,000 $8,371,000 $377,121,000
2047 $368,750,000 $8,371,000 $377,121,000
 2048 $377,969,000 $8,580,000 $386,549,000 2048 $377,969,000 $8,580,000 $386,549,000
2048 $377,969,000 $8,580,000 $386,549,000
 2049 $387,418,000 $8,795,000 $396,213,000 2049 $387,418,000 $8,795,000 $396,213,000
2049 $387,418,000 $8,795,000 $396,213,000
 2050 $397,104,000 $9,014,000 $406,118,000 2050 $397,104,000 $9,014,000 $406,118,000
2050 $397,104,000 $9,014,000 $406,118,000
 2051 $407,031,000 $9,240,000 $416,271,000 2051 $407,031,000 $9,240,000 $416,271,000
2051 $407,031,000 $9,240,000 $416,271,000
 2052 $417,207,000 $9,471,000 $426,678,000 2052 $417,207,000 $9,471,000 $426,678,000
2052 $417,207,000 $9,471,000 $426,678,000
 2053 $427,637,000 $9,708,000 $437,345,000 2053 $427,637,000 $9,708,000 $437,345,000
2053 $427,637,000 $9,708,000 $437,345,000
 2054 $438,328,000 $9,950,000 $448,278,000 2054 $438,328,000 $9,950,000 $448,278,000
2054 $438,328,000 $9,950,000 $448,278,000
 (2)  normal cost; and
 (3)  subject to Subsection (d-1) of this section, new
 amortization layers as necessary to amortize the difference between
 the expected remaining balance of all previous years' layers and
 the actual unfunded actuarial accrued liability for the given
 valuation [in an amount equal to the sum of:
 [(1)  the greater of:
 [(A)  34.5 percent of the aggregate computation
 pay paid to members during the period for which the contribution is
 made; or
 [(B)  the applicable amount set forth below:
 [(i)  $5,173,000 for the biweekly pay
 periods beginning with the first biweekly pay period that begins
 after September 1, 2017, and ends on the last day of the first
 biweekly pay period that ends after December 31, 2017;
 [(ii)  $5,344,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;
 [(iii)  $5,571,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;
 [(iv)  $5,724,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
 [(v)  $5,882,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph;
 [(vi)  $6,043,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (v) of this paragraph;
 [(vii)  $5,812,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (vi) of this paragraph;
 [(viii)  $6,024,000 for the 26 biweekly pay
 periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period
 described by Subparagraph (vii) of this paragraph through the
 biweekly pay period that ends after December 31, 2024; and
 [(ix)  $0 for each subsequent biweekly pay
 period beginning with the first biweekly pay period following the
 last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (viii) of this
 paragraph; and
 [(2)  except as provided by Subsection (e) of this
 section, an amount equal to 1/26th of $13 million].
 (d-1)  For purposes of Subsection (d)(3) of this section, new
 amortization layers must be amortized over a closed amortization
 period of 20 years or until January 1, 2053, whichever is later. If
 the actuarial assets of the fund exceed the actuarial liabilities
 for a given valuation, the outstanding layers may be collapsed into
 a single layer with a closed amortization period of 20 years or
 until January 2, 2053, whichever is later.
 (e-1)  Before July 1 of each year, the pension system's
 qualified actuary and the city's actuary shall respectively
 calculate and recommend an actuarially determined contribution
 rate for the following city fiscal year. If the difference between
 the recommended rates is:
 (1)  three percent or less, the actuarially determined
 contribution rate shall be the rate recommended by the pension
 system's qualified actuary; or
 (2)  greater than three percent, the board and the city
 council shall engage in a 30-day reconciliation period:
 (A)  during which, if the pension system's
 qualified actuary and the city's actuary reconcile their respective
 calculations, the reconciled rate shall be the actuarially
 determined contribution rate; or
 (B)  at the conclusion of which, if the pension
 system's qualified actuary and the city's actuary do not reconcile
 their respective calculations, the average of the rates recommended
 by each actuary under this section shall be the actuarially
 determined contribution rate.
 (f)  If in any plan year the actuarially determined
 contribution rate, excluding the amounts provided under Subsection
 (d)(1) of this section, is outside of the minimum or maximum rates
 shown in the following schedule, the difference between the
 actuarially determined contribution rate and the minimum or
 maximum, as applicable, will be amortized over a closed period of 20
 years or until January 1, 2053, whichever is later:
 Plan Year City Fiscal Year Ending September 30 Minimum Rate Maximum Rate Plan Year City Fiscal Year Ending September 30 Minimum Rate Maximum Rate
Plan Year City Fiscal Year Ending September 30 Minimum Rate Maximum Rate
 2023 2025 6.78% 6.78% 2023 2025 6.78% 6.78%
2023 2025 6.78% 6.78%
 2024 2026 6.66% 6.66% 2024 2026 6.66% 6.66%
2024 2026 6.66% 6.66%
 2025 2027 6.57% 6.57% 2025 2027 6.57% 6.57%
2025 2027 6.57% 6.57%
 2026 2028 6.51% 6.51% 2026 2028 6.51% 6.51%
2026 2028 6.51% 6.51%
 2027 2029 6.45% 6.45% 2027 2029 6.45% 6.45%
2027 2029 6.45% 6.45%
 2028 2030 1.39% 11.39% 2028 2030 1.39% 11.39%
2028 2030 1.39% 11.39%
 2029 2031 1.34% 11.34% 2029 2031 1.34% 11.34%
2029 2031 1.34% 11.34%
 2030 2032 1.29% 11.29% 2030 2032 1.29% 11.29%
2030 2032 1.29% 11.29%
 2031 2033 1.25% 11.25% 2031 2033 1.25% 11.25%
2031 2033 1.25% 11.25%
 2032 2034 1.21% 11.21% 2032 2034 1.21% 11.21%
2032 2034 1.21% 11.21%
 2033 2035 1.17% 11.17% 2033 2035 1.17% 11.17%
2033 2035 1.17% 11.17%
 2034 2036 1.14% 11.14% 2034 2036 1.14% 11.14%
2034 2036 1.14% 11.14%
 2035 2037 1.12% 11.12% 2035 2037 1.12% 11.12%
2035 2037 1.12% 11.12%
 2036 2038 1.09% 11.09% 2036 2038 1.09% 11.09%
2036 2038 1.09% 11.09%
 2037 2039 1.06% 11.06% 2037 2039 1.06% 11.06%
2037 2039 1.06% 11.06%
 2038 2040 1.03% 11.03% 2038 2040 1.03% 11.03%
2038 2040 1.03% 11.03%
 2039 2041 0.99% 10.99% 2039 2041 0.99% 10.99%
2039 2041 0.99% 10.99%
 2040 2042 0.97% 10.97% 2040 2042 0.97% 10.97%
2040 2042 0.97% 10.97%
 2041 2043 0.95% 10.95% 2041 2043 0.95% 10.95%
2041 2043 0.95% 10.95%
 2042 2044 0.94% 10.94% 2042 2044 0.94% 10.94%
2042 2044 0.94% 10.94%
 2043 2045 0.95% 10.95% 2043 2045 0.95% 10.95%
2043 2045 0.95% 10.95%
 2044 2046 0.96% 10.96% 2044 2046 0.96% 10.96%
2044 2046 0.96% 10.96%
 2045 2047 0.96% 10.96% 2045 2047 0.96% 10.96%
2045 2047 0.96% 10.96%
 2046 2048 0.96% 10.96% 2046 2048 0.96% 10.96%
2046 2048 0.96% 10.96%
 2047 2049 0.96% 10.96% 2047 2049 0.96% 10.96%
2047 2049 0.96% 10.96%
 2048 2050 0.96% 10.96% 2048 2050 0.96% 10.96%
2048 2050 0.96% 10.96%
 2049 2051 0.96% 10.96% 2049 2051 0.96% 10.96%
2049 2051 0.96% 10.96%
 2050 2052 0.96% 10.96% 2050 2052 0.96% 10.96%
2050 2052 0.96% 10.96%
 2051 2053 0.96% 10.96% 2051 2053 0.96% 10.96%
2051 2053 0.96% 10.96%
 2052 2054 0.96% 10.96% 2052 2054 0.96% 10.96%
2052 2054 0.96% 10.96%
 (g)  If the city council determines that the fund is
 projected to be fully funded in over 30 years, the city council may,
 in its sole discretion, waive the requirements of Subsection (f) of
 this section. The board may recommend to the city council that the
 city council waive the requirements of Subsection (f) of this
 section.
 (h)  Notwithstanding Subsection (d) or any other provision
 of this section, for the city's fiscal years ending September 30,
 2025, through September 30, 2029, the city contribution amount may
 not under any circumstances exceed the sum of:
 (1)  the applicable fixed dollar amount under
 Subsection (d)(1) of this section; and
 (2)  the maximum percentage provided under Subsection
 (f) of this section multiplied by the members' projected aggregate
 computation pay for the applicable city fiscal year.
 (h-1)  This subsection and Subsection (h) of this section
 expire October 1, 2029.
 SECTION 5.  Section 3.014, Article 6243a-1, Revised
 Statutes, as added by this Act, applies only to an action taken on
 or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 6.  The following provisions of Article 6243a-1,
 Revised Statutes, are repealed:
 (1)  Section 2.025; and
 (2)  Section 4.02(e).
 SECTION 7.  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, 2025.



City Fiscal Year Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount



Ending Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount



September 30 Amortization of January 1, 2023 Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Administrative Expenses Total Fixed Dollar Amount



2025 $161,656,000 $7,000,000 $168,656,000



2026 $179,482,000 $7,000,000 $186,482,000



2027 $197,889,000 $7,000,000 $204,889,000



2028 $217,163,000 $7,000,000 $224,163,000



2029 $237,336,000 $7,000,000 $244,336,000



2030 $242,341,000 $7,000,000 $249,341,000



2031 $248,399,000 $7,000,000 $255,399,000



2032 $254,609,000 $7,000,000 $261,609,000



2033 $260,975,000 $7,000,000 $267,975,000



2034 $267,499,000 $7,000,000 $274,499,000



2035 $274,186,000 $7,000,000 $281,186,000



2036 $281,041,000 $7,000,000 $288,041,000



2037 $288,067,000 $7,000,000 $295,067,000



2038 $295,269,000 $7,000,000 $302,269,000



2039 $302,650,000 $7,000,000 $309,650,000



2040 $310,217,000 $7,042,000 $317,259,000



2041 $317,972,000 $7,218,000 $325,190,000



2042 $325,921,000 $7,399,000 $333,320,000



2043 $334,069,000 $7,584,000 $341,653,000



2044 $342,421,000 $7,773,000 $350,194,000



2045 $350,982,000 $7,967,000 $358,949,000



2046 $359,756,000 $8,167,000 $367,923,000



2047 $368,750,000 $8,371,000 $377,121,000



2048 $377,969,000 $8,580,000 $386,549,000



2049 $387,418,000 $8,795,000 $396,213,000



2050 $397,104,000 $9,014,000 $406,118,000



2051 $407,031,000 $9,240,000 $416,271,000



2052 $417,207,000 $9,471,000 $426,678,000



2053 $427,637,000 $9,708,000 $437,345,000



2054 $438,328,000 $9,950,000 $448,278,000



Plan Year City Fiscal Year Ending September 30 Minimum Rate Maximum Rate



2023 2025 6.78% 6.78%



2024 2026 6.66% 6.66%



2025 2027 6.57% 6.57%



2026 2028 6.51% 6.51%



2027 2029 6.45% 6.45%



2028 2030 1.39% 11.39%



2029 2031 1.34% 11.34%



2030 2032 1.29% 11.29%



2031 2033 1.25% 11.25%



2032 2034 1.21% 11.21%



2033 2035 1.17% 11.17%



2034 2036 1.14% 11.14%



2035 2037 1.12% 11.12%



2036 2038 1.09% 11.09%



2037 2039 1.06% 11.06%



2038 2040 1.03% 11.03%



2039 2041 0.99% 10.99%



2040 2042 0.97% 10.97%



2041 2043 0.95% 10.95%



2042 2044 0.94% 10.94%



2043 2045 0.95% 10.95%



2044 2046 0.96% 10.96%



2045 2047 0.96% 10.96%



2046 2048 0.96% 10.96%



2047 2049 0.96% 10.96%



2048 2050 0.96% 10.96%



2049 2051 0.96% 10.96%



2050 2052 0.96% 10.96%



2051 2053 0.96% 10.96%



2052 2054 0.96% 10.96%