Capriglione Bill’s Seven-Member Commission Writes A Report, Then Expires

The text as introduced · 559 words

By: Capriglione
H.B. No. 5627

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Public School

Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RETIREMENT

FUNDING TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"

means the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement

Funding Transparency.

Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER

RETIREMENT FUNDING TRANSPARENCY. (a) The commission is

established to develop and make recommendations regarding methods

of incorporating state resources for teacher retirement within the

Foundation School Program, aligning staffing incentives with state

priorities, and providing uniformity in resourcing retirement

obligations.

(b) The commission is composed of seven members, appointed

as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant

governor; and

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the

house of representatives.

(c) The members appointed by:

(1) the governor must have an interest in staffing

issues faced by public schools;

(2) the lieutenant governor must be three members of

the senate; and

(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must

be three members of the house of representatives.

Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall

designate the presiding officer of the commission.

Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of

the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the

commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and

necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.

Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The

agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.

(b) The Teacher Retirement System and the office of the

comptroller of public accounts shall provide support required by

the commission.

(c) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses

of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation

made to the agency for that purpose.

Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall

develop recommendations under this subchapter regarding:

(1) incorporating current and future appropriations

for state contributions for retirement of public education

personnel into the Foundation School Program as part of the basic

allotment or another formula mechanism;

(2) reviewing state and school contribution

requirements to ensure:

(A) staffing incentives prioritize classroom

instruction; and

(B) uniformity in retirement obligations between

public schools; and

(3) employer contribution requirements are sufficient

to ensure the long term health of the Teacher Retirement System of

Texas.

(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups

composed of not more than three members of the commission to study,

discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to

refer to the commission for consideration.

Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2026, the

commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and

the legislature that recommends statutory changes to implement

recommendations under this subchapter.

Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)

The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its

duties under this subchapter. As an advisory body, the commission

is not subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.

(b) The commission is subject to Chapter 552, Government

Code.

Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF

SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter

expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.