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Legislative Updates

Legislative Update No. 42, Session 81
By Tim Lee, Executive DirectorPrinter Friendly ||| Print as PDF

May 20, 2009

Many Issues Still Undecided

Legislative Session Winding Down, But Retirees Still Lack Answers

TRTA is working hard to pass the issues important to you. Still on the table that TRTA believes is possible to be resolved includes a 13th month payment for public education retirees, as well as the ability for you to directly elect your retiree trustee to the TRS Board and more.

Good News First

TRTA has been tracking legislation that would have created a pilot program for TRS-Care program participants. The bill, SB 10, was passed out of the Senate to create an incentive-based health care system that purportedly would base doctor reimbursements on patient treatment outcomes and not the current pay-for-service plan that exists now. These legislative ideas originated from Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst’s office, and were developed in bill form by Senator Robert Duncan.

TRTA originally stated our concerns with these legislative concepts in an earlier Inside Line update that you can read by clicking here. Many TRTA members became very concerned how the proposed pilot program may impact their health care benefits. TRTA was very concerned that this legislation moved out of the Senate so quickly and without constituent group involvement. The membership concerns and the TRTA concerns did result in a positive outcome at today’s House Public Health hearing on SB 10.

State Representative John Zerwas, who is carrying the legislation in the House, agreed to remove TRS and TRS-Care from SB 10 so that NO pilot program would be required for the retiree health insurance program. This will give TRTA the opportunity study the proposal as suggested in SB 10 and to work with the Lieutenant Governor, the Texas Legislature and many other interested parties on determining how this concept may impact TRS-Care.

Again, the Texas House Public Health Committee members have the intent to remove the pilot program requirement for TRS-Care and maintain the pilot program study for the Employees Retirement System. TRTA considers this a victory in the legislative process. The effort now will be to ensure that the decision of the House Public Health Committee remains intact as SB 10 moves through the legislative process.

Not So Good News

The decision to provide TRS retirees with a 13th check still remains unresolved. The deadline for a decision on this critical issue is nearing and TRTA is meeting with Senate and House members urging conferee concurrence on this vital issue.

The decision is being held up based on a legal question of whether or not the Texas Legislature is able to fund and distribute the 13th check in a way that was identified by the Texas House. TRTA is actively involved in these discussions and will pursue this benefit increase to the very end.

TRTA members wanting to help can keep calling their state legislators and asking them to urge the budget conferees to concur on the $1,000 capped 13th check. Due to the lateness of the legislative session, TRTA does encourage those who want to be involved in this communications campaign to both call and email your legislators.

As TRTA always recommends, direct constituent contact works best! Over 6,600 of you have already sent an email to the 31 members of the Texas Senate!

TRTA is now expanding this email campaign to Texas House members, as well. We need the House to remain united on the 13th check, and we need the House and Senate both to exhaust every effort to reach an agreement that would provide public education retirees a much needed 13th check.

The TRTA toll-free Contact Your Legislator Hotline is 1.888.674.3788.  Click here to send an email to your Senator or your House member.

HB 2656 Update

Another very important TRTA issue is HB 2656. This legislation passed out of the House and has now been referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee. Senator Jeff Wentworth has agreed to carry this bill in the Senate. TRTA is asking for a public hearing in the State Affairs Committee so that this legislation may move favorably to the full Senate.

HB 2656 is the legislation authored by Representative Doug Miller that provides for an additional retiree representative on the TRS Board of Trustees and also allows TRS retirees to directly elect their representatives on that board.

TRTA is very grateful for all the support this legislation received in the House, but now the Senate needs to take action on this important legislation. TRTA members calling their Senators should also ask that they request HB 2656 be voted favorably out of the Senate State Affairs Committee so that the full Senate may take action on this legislation.

Conclusion

With less than two weeks left in legislative session, the push is on now to try and pass the 13th check and HB 2656. TRTA needs your help. Legislators need to hear from you about these issues. Your dedication and loyal service has greatly influenced the decisions being made in Austin. Please, continue to make these calls and send the emails and I know we will make a difference for the issues that matter most to you and to all TRTA members.

Thank you,

Tim Lee
Executive Director
Texas Retired Teachers Association

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