More News from TRS Board Meeting: A Look at TRS-Care Funding

The TRS Board of Trustees received some very good news about the overall condition of the pension trust fund, but the news was not as good for the TRS-Care health insurance program. The TRS prediction on the program’s fund balance sees a dramatic shift as of FY 2014. The plan is expected to be running […]

TRS Board Meeting Review

No “Silver Bullet” to Fix TRS-Care Funding Fund Surplus Will Suffer Massive Shortfalls by End of Next Fiscal Year The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting in Austin this week. During the meeting, TRS trustees received a report that today’s health fund surplus is being depleted completely. This […]

TRTA Action Alert : Retain the Gonzales Amendment to SB 1

TRTA members can still influence outcome on possible supplemental payment The current special legislative session is in its final days, but there is at least one big issue that TRTA members are waiting to learn its final outcome. An amendment added to SB 1 by Representative Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock) would authorize TRS to make […]

TRTA Update: Regular Over, Special Starts

Regular Session Ends, A Special Session Begins… What You Need to Know The complete TRTA recap of the 82nd Regular Legislative Session will appear in The VOICE (the TRTA quarterly publication) next month. For now, here are key highlights about the end of the regular session and what you should know about the special session […]

Bad Politics, Questionable Policy for TRS-Care

Good News on Budget Agreement for TRS Retirees, BUT… Last Minute Budget Maneuver May Have TRS Jumping Through Hoops The long-awaited conference committee report on the state budget was released last night, with good and bad news for TRS retirees. The Good News Legislative conferees agreed to keep the funding for the TRS-Care health insurance […]

Action Alert — Second Chance for HB 3542

Another Chance for HB 3542! Good News on Budget Negotiations for TRS-Care Participants The Texas House should take up SB 1581, the “school finance” bill, tonight. This bill is being prepped for several possible amendments. One amendment that will be offered to SB 1581 is a bill the Texas House previously approved with a vote […]

HRA Amendment Not Added

Update on HRA Amendment and SB 1811 Legislature Does NOT Add HRA to TRS-Care Thousands of TRTA members emailed and called their legislators asking them to vote “NO!” on an amendment adding Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) to the TRS-Care program. With much gratitude to the TRTA membership and the Texas Legisalture, this amendment was NOT […]

TRTA Action Alert: Last Minute Attempt to Change TRS – Care

Chisum Amendment Creates Defined Contribution Plan…This Time for your Health Insurance! Click Here to Send an Email Asking your Texas Representative to Vote “NO!” on this Amendment–Read Complete Update Below The Texas House reportedly will consider another “fiscal matters” bill tomorrow. The bill, SB 1811, already has hundreds of amendments that will be considered along […]

TRTA Update May 12, 2011 “A Good Day for TRTA”

TRTA Members Make a Difference TRS Language Adopted in Senate, HB 3542 and HB 2120 Move to Third Reading TRTA members have done a great job educating and encouraging their legislators to vote on these critical bills. The actions taken earlier this week and today have helped advance the TRTA agenda to protect retiree benefits […]

TRTA Action Alert: We Need Your Help to Protect TRS Funding

TRTA Action Alert–Contact Your Senator   The Senate may take up a “fiscal-matters” bill tomorrow dealing with TRS and the TRS-Care fund. Senator Robert Duncan has authored SB 1666, SB 1667, and SB 1671. These bills all address issues pertaining to TRS. These bills may also be used to move a funding plan forward that […]