Executive Summary:
- HB 9 headed to the House floor.
- Please keep calling (1.888.674.3788) and emailing your Representatives asking for their support of SB 12!
- TRS-Care “golden ticket” bill and return to work bills to be heard in committees.
The Texas House has placed HB 9 on the calendar for April 24. HB 9 relates to the Teacher Retirement System’s (TRS) pension fund and a potential 13thcheck for retirees. HB 9 is the same bill as SB 12, which was delayed last week, and SB 12 will be eligible for consideration again in the House on April 25.
The finish line for the legislative session is in sight. The House has signaled that it wants to ensure that the TRS pension fund becomes actuarially sound and provides a 13thcheck to retirees.
The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) has created an action alert for its members to contact legislators. It’s very important to let legislators know that putting as much funding towards retirees as possible is of the utmost importance!
Meanwhile, the House Pensions, Investments and Financial Services (PIFS) committee will be holding a hearing on HB 2567. HB 2567 by Giovanni Capriglione (R – Southlake) allows for a one-time opportunity for retirees who left TRS-Care, the state-run health care program for retirees, to return. Several representatives worked with TRTA to file the legislation, and it represents the only legislation heard by the PIFS committee related to TRS-Care this session.
Last week, the PIFS committee passed two other retiree-related bills out of committee, and both bills are on their way to be debated in the House.
HB 2227 by Rep. Gene Wu (D – Houston) would allow those who retired by Aug. 31, 2018 to return to work full time without having to observe a 12-month break in service, and it lessens the penalties for minor violations in return to work laws.
Another bill relating to return to work is HB 2929 by Rep. Dan Flynn (R – Canton). Flynn’s bill would create a more member-friendly appeals process when a retiree disagrees with a TRS decision.
Stay tuned to the Inside Line as these bills continue to develop! We need to finish this session strong to get as much help for retirees as much as possible!
Thank You
Thank you for your commitment to TRTA. Many bills are in motion that can positively impact your retirement! It’s a very important time to stay tuned to the Inside Line, as there will be multiple updates from now until the end of session in May.
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