TRS Board of Trustees to Meet in Lubbock: A Retreat-Style Meeting with a Hefty Agenda
The TRS Board of Trustees is meeting in Lubbock February 15-17. This is a regularly scheduled meeting that will cover a variety of topics. TRTA will be your voice at these important meetings. The TRS Board is placing a heavy emphasis on being visible and open with its members. The 6th largest pension plan in […]
TRS Still Under Attack, TRTA Responds to Critics
This past Sunday (February 5), the Houston Chronicle ran a guest column by Bill King suggesting that public pension plans in Texas are facing a crisis. As you have read in two recent TRTA news bulletins, it is our position that TRS Texas is not in crisis. In an effort to defend your Teacher Retirement […]
Additional News on Traditional Retirement Plans
Last week, the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) held their regularly scheduled board meeting. A presentation comparing the traditional defined benefit retirement plan (such as the one administered by TRS) and the defined contribution plan (such as a privatized 401k) was provided by an external consulting firm. TRTA requested […]
TRS December Board of Trustees Meeting Overview
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) held their regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on December 8 and 9. TRS Investments Experience Difficult Quarter This meeting provided a substantial overview for the previous quarter and offered news that reflects market conditions from the last three months. In other words, the pension trust fund had […]
Happy New (Fiscal) Year!
New State Fiscal Year Means Less for TRS, Fight over Defined Benefit Plans Looms, Anita Palmer Appointed as Retiree Representative on TRS Board After time off to recoup from a busy legislative session, the TRTA Inside Line email service is now resuming. We plan to communicate with you every other week, and more often as […]
End of Special Session, etc.
The special legislative session has ended, with the House adjourning sine die on Wednesday June 29 and the Senate doing so the day before. TRTA members have been waiting to learn the outcome of SB 1, to which Representative Larry Gonzales attached an amendment intended to provide financial relief to TRS annuitants. A conference committee […]
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 […]
Update on TRS Board Bill — Going to the Governor
HB 2120 Passes Senate Now Awaits Governor’s Decision HB 2120 passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday, May 24. The bill, which would allow the designated higher education retiree position on the TRS Board of Trustees to be open to any member of TRS, now goes to the Governor for his signature or veto. HB 2120 […]
UPDATE – SB 1581 Falls to Point of Order
SB 1581 Dies on Procedural Issue The bill that was earlier thought to be a vehicle for an amendment by Representative Larry Gonzales has died on a procedural ruling known as a “Point of Order” by Representative Yvonne Davis (D-Dallas). TRTA thanks all the members that responded so quickly to our earlier email on this […]
An Opportunity to Promote the TRTA Agenda : Protect TRS Retirees!
Delayed Again Thousands of TRTA members are emailing Texas House members urging them to vote “NO!” on the amendment to create HRA accounts for TRS-Care participants. Like many other bills, the bill with this amendment (SB 1811) has been delayed. The most recent news is that the Texas House will hear the bill tonight (Friday, […]