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AN ACT
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relating to financial assistance paid to the survivors of certain |
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law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees |
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killed in the line of duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 615.022, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 615.022. PAYMENT TO SURVIVORS. (a) If there is an |
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eligible surviving spouse, the state shall pay the benefits |
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described by Subsection (d) [$500,000] to the eligible surviving |
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spouse. |
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(b) If there is no eligible surviving spouse, the state |
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shall pay the benefits described by Subsection (d) [$500,000] in |
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equal shares to surviving children. |
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(c) If there is no eligible surviving spouse or child, the |
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state shall pay the benefits described by Subsection (d) [$500,000] |
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in equal shares to surviving parents. |
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(d) An eligible survivor, or eligible survivors in equal |
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shares, are entitled to receive a lump sum payment in the amount |
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provided by this subsection. The lump sum payment amount payable to |
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an eligible survivor during the 12 months beginning September 1, |
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2019, is $500,000. Effective September 1 of each following year, |
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the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas by |
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rule shall adjust the amount of the lump sum payment required under |
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this subsection by an amount equal to the percentage change in the |
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Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the |
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Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor |
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for the preceding year. The amount paid to an eligible survivor or |
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survivors as adjusted under this subsection is calculated based on |
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the date of the decedent's death and not on the date the eligible |
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survivor or survivors file a claim under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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payment of assistance to survivors of certain public employees on |
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or after the effective date of this Act regardless of the date the |
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public employee died. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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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. 3635 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 2, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3635 was passed by the Senate on May |
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22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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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 |