HBA-MPM H.B. 28 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 28
By: McClendon
Pensions & Investments
2/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Finding and retaining qualified state employees has become increasingly
problematic.  A primary concern of retired military veterans who work for
the State of Texas is retirement benefits.  To retain qualified and skilled
employees, such as retired veterans, the state may have to provide benefits
comparable to employers in the private sectior.  House Bill 28 modifies
eligibility requirements for a state employee honorably retired from
military service to establish military service credit in the Employee
Retirement System of Texas.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 28 amends the Government Code regarding military service credit
eligibility requirements for a member of the Employees Retirement System of
Texas.  The bill removes criteria specifying that a member who does not
receive and is ineligible to receive federal retirement payments based on
20 or more years of active federal military duty or its equivalent is
eligible to establish credit.  H.B. 28 also provides that a member no
longer is eligible to receive military credit if released from military
duty for a discharge that is not honorable.  A member has to be released
from military duty under honorable conditions to be eligible to establish
military credit. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage.