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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of retirement systems for paid, |
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partly paid, or volunteer firefighters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13, Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement |
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Act (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 13. (a) A member of a retirement system who meets an |
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applicable length-of-service requirement for service retirement |
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benefits but does not meet the applicable age requirement for |
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service retirement benefits may terminate employment with or |
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otherwise discontinue service for the fire department and remain |
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eligible to receive service retirement benefits from the retirement |
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system on attaining the applicable age, as long as the member does |
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not withdraw contributions in the retirement system. |
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(b) [On termination of employment or other discontinuance
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of service of a person described by Subsection (a) of this section,
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the board of trustees of the retirement system of which the person
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is a member shall issue to the member a certificate of service,
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stating the completion of the service requirement and certifying
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that the member is entitled to applicable service retirement
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benefits on attaining the applicable age, whether or not the member
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performs service after the date of the issuance of the certificate.
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The certificate also shall state that the entitlement is
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conditioned on the member's leaving contributions in the retirement
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system.
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[(c)] A member who terminates employment or otherwise |
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discontinues service after meeting an applicable length-of-service |
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requirement for service retirement may not be required to pay to the |
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retirement system contributions that become due after the date of |
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termination or discontinuance. |
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SECTION 2. Section 19(b), Texas Local Fire Fighters |
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Retirement Act (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) During each period that begins on December 1 of one year |
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and ends on January 31 of the following year, the participating |
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members of a fire fighters' retirement system in a municipality or |
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other political subdivision subject to this section shall elect by |
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secret ballot and certify to the governing body of the municipality |
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or other political subdivision a member to the board of trustees to |
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serve a term of three years. To be elected a member of a board of |
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trustees under this subsection, a person must be a participating |
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member of the retirement system and receive a majority of the votes |
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cast in the election, and at least 50 percent of all participating |
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members of the retirement system must vote in the election. |
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SECTION 3. Section 21A(h), Texas Local Fire Fighters |
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Retirement Act (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as |
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added by Chapter 327, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2001, is redesignated as Subsection (h-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(h-1) [(h)] The fire fighters' pension commissioner shall |
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prepare and maintain a written plan that describes how a person who |
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does not speak English or who has a physical, mental, or |
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developmental disability can be provided reasonable access to the |
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programs administered by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29(b), Texas Local Fire Fighters |
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Retirement Act (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A municipality or other political subdivision that has |
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employees who are participating members of a retirement system |
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shall make contributions to the system each payroll period. Except |
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as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, contributions |
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required under this subsection are computed on the total |
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compensation paid to the employees who are participating members of |
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the system. A municipality or other political subdivision is |
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required to make contributions under this subsection at the same |
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rate paid by employees or 12 [nine] percent, whichever is the |
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smaller rate. The governing body of a municipality or other |
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political subdivision by ordinance may adopt a rate of employer |
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contributions that is greater than the rate required by this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3731 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3731 on May 25, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3731 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 22, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays |
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1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |