Bill Text: TX HB1939 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to assist the board of trustees of the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-07 - Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services [HB1939 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB1939-Introduced.html

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82R5935 TJS-F
By: Menendez H.B. No. 1939

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of an advisory committee to assist the
board of trustees of the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 855, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 855.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 855.117. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The board of
trustees shall establish an advisory committee to:
(1) provide input to the board on matters relating to
the retirement system;
(2) facilitate communication between the retirement
system and its members, retirees, beneficiaries, and participating
municipalities; and
(3) allow stakeholders, municipal officials and
policy makers, and employee organizations to share their input and
perspective on issues under review by the board.
(b) The advisory committee consists of:
(1) a trustee of the board of trustees appointed by the
board who shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member and
presiding officer of the advisory committee; and
(2) individual class members and group class members
appointed in accordance with this section.
(c) The board of trustees shall appoint nine individual
class members to serve staggered three-year terms so that three
individual class members' terms expire at the end of each calendar
year. An individual class member may not serve more than two terms.
The board shall fill the position of an individual class member:
(1) at the December meeting of the board of trustees
that occurs immediately before the date on which a member's term is
due to expire; and
(2) in the event of a vacancy, at the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the board.
(d) Individual class members must be highly qualified and
diverse, as determined by the board of trustees, and their
membership must fairly represent different geographic regions of
the state, differently sized municipalities, different employment
and professional backgrounds, and the diverse workplaces of
participating municipalities. To serve as an individual class
member, a person must be:
(1) a member of the retirement system;
(2) a retiree of a participating municipality;
(3) an elected official of a participating
municipality;
(4) a former trustee of the board of trustees; or
(5) a qualified individual, as determined by the
board, with knowledge of the funding and operation of public
retirement systems.
(e) An individual class member serves at the will of the
board of trustees.
(f) Group class membership may only be composed of one
representative and one alternate representative from each of the
following organizations:
(1) the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of
Texas;
(2) the Texas Municipal Police Association;
(3) the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters;
(4) the Service Employees International Union;
(5) the Texas Municipal League;
(6) the Government Finance Officers Association of
Texas;
(7) the Texas Municipal Human Resources Association;
and
(8) any other organization designated by the board of
trustees.
(g) An alternate representative shall attend an advisory
committee meeting, including a joint meeting with the board of
trustees, if the representative of an organization is unable to
attend.
(h) Each organization listed in Subsection (f) may, at the
organization's sole discretion, nominate the representative and
the alternate to serve as a group class member of the advisory
committee. Each organization shall communicate the organization's
nomination to the board of trustees in writing. The board shall
appoint the nominee to the advisory committee at the next scheduled
meeting of the board after the nomination is received by the board.
If a member of the group class resigns, is removed, or becomes
unable to serve on the advisory committee, the organization may
nominate another person to that position in writing to the board and
the board shall appoint the nominee to the advisory committee at the
board's next scheduled meeting.
(i) A group class member may be removed by the board of
trustees for cause or at the will of the organization that nominated
the member.
(j) The advisory committee shall meet quarterly or at the
call of the presiding officer. All meetings shall take place at the
offices of the retirement system or at a place specified by the
presiding officer. The presiding officer shall determine the
agenda for a meeting in advance of the meeting.
(k) A quorum of the advisory committee is a majority of all
of the members attending a meeting, excluding alternates not
attending on behalf of a representative. A majority vote of a
quorum of the advisory committee is required for action by the
advisory committee. Each member of the individual class and each
representative of an organization in the group class is entitled to
one vote.
(l) The advisory committee shall:
(1) participate in an annual joint meeting with the
board of trustees to receive from the board a presentation of the
retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation;
(2) review and provide input to the board regarding
potential legislative changes affecting the retirement system;
(3) provide input to the board regarding issues
affecting the retirement system's participating municipalities,
members, retirees, and beneficiaries; and
(4) maintain communication with statewide
professional organizations, including employer and employee
groups.
(m) The advisory committee shall report on its activities to
the board of trustees at meetings with and special presentations
before the board, which shall be scheduled as needed.
(n) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2012, the board of
trustees of the Texas Municipal Retirement System shall establish
the advisory committee required by Section 855.117, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.