State Board of Education members get paid like legislators

The text as introduced · 547 words

By: Shofner
H.B. No. 4497

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the compensation, reimbursement of expenses, and

retirement benefits of a member of the State Board of Education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 7.105, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 7.105. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. [ (a) ] A

member of the board is [ not ] entitled to receive compensation and

reimbursement of the member's expenses in the same amount and

manner as a member of the legislature as provided by Section 24,

Article III, Texas Constitution .

[ (b) A member of the board is entitled to reimbursement of

the member's expenses as provided by law. ]

SECTION 2. Section 810.003(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) This section applies only to a person who is:

(1) a member of the elected class of the Employees

Retirement System of Texas as described by Section 812.002(a)(1) ,

[ or ] (2) , or (4) ; or

(2) otherwise eligible for membership in a public

retirement system wholly or partly because the person was elected

or appointed to an elected office.

SECTION 3. Section 812.002(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) Membership in the elected class of the retirement system

is limited to:

(1) persons who hold state offices that are normally

filled by statewide election and that are not included in the

coverage of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One or the

Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two;

(2) members of the legislature; [ and ]

(3) district and criminal district attorneys, to the

extent that they receive salaries from the state general revenue

fund ; and

(4) members of the State Board of Education .

SECTION 4. Section 820.053(c), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c) For purposes of this section, a member of the elected

class of membership under Section 812.002(a)(2) or (4) shall have

the member's accumulated account balance computed as if the

contributions to the account were based on the state base salary,

excluding longevity pay payable under Section 659.0445, being paid

a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in

accordance with Section 659.012(a).

SECTION 5. (a) In this section, "retirement system" means

the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

(b) For purposes of Subtitle B, Title 8, Government Code, as

amended by this Act, including Section 820.002, Government Code:

(1) the date a person described by Section

812.002(a)(4), Government Code, as added by this Act, took office

is considered to be September 1, 2025; and

(2) only service performed by that person on or after

that date is creditable in the retirement system.

(c) For purposes of administering the changes in law made by

this Act to Subtitle B, Title 8, Government Code, the retirement

system, the State Board of Education, and, if necessary as

determined by the retirement system, the Texas Education Agency,

shall enter into a memorandum of understanding on the collection of

member contributions and other matters the retirement system

considers advisable.

(d) The retirement system may adopt rules to implement

Subtitle B, Title 8, Government Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.