Bill

HB 681

84(R) - 2015
House Pensions
House Pensions
Pensions

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Kenneth Sheets

Bill Caption

Relating to the eligibility for service retirement annuities of certain persons, including elected officials convicted of certain crimes.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

The bill declares if certain members of the elected class of the Employee Retirement System of Texas commit any of the following felonies while in office, they are ineligible to receive service retirement annuity. Qualifying felonies include: bribery, embezzlement, extortion, or other theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy or the attempt to commit any of the above crimes. If a member's conviction is overturned, they would be entitled to receive an amount equal to the accrued total of payments and interest earned on the payments withheld during the suspension period; and may resume annuity payments.

Vote Recommendation Notes

The bill promotes personal responsibility by holding elected members accountable for their criminal actions while serving in public office. Mishandling taxpayers' money while in office should not entitle elected officials to receive a portion of taxpayers' money upon retirement. Therefore, we support HB 681.