VERNON'S CIVIL STATUTES TITLE 109. PENSIONS

VERNON'S CIVIL STATUTES

TITLE 109. PENSIONS

Art. 6228. MOTHERS' AID. Any widow who is the mother of a child or children under sixteen years of age, and who is unable to support them and maintain her home, may present to the Commissioners' Court of the county wherein she has resided for the preceding two years a sworn petition for aid showing:

First:--Her name, time and place of her marriage, date of the death of her husband, or date of his confinement in the penitentiary or in an insane asylum, or date of his abandonment of her; names, sex, and the dates and places of their birth.

Second:--Her length or residence in the State, her present residence, and her residence during each of the previous five years.

Third:--All the property belonging to her and to each of her children, including any future or contingent interest she or any of them may have.

Fourth:--The efforts made by her to support her children.

Fifth:--The name, relationship, and address of each of her husband's relatives that may be known.

By "widow", as used herein, means a mother who is widowed by death or divorce, or whose husband has abandoned her for more than the two preceding years, or whose husband is confined in the penitentiary or in a State Hospital for the insane.

A copy of said petition and a notice of the time and place it will be presented to said Court shall be served on or mailed to the County Judge of said county at least five days before the time the court shall be requested in said petition to hear the same. When service is complete said Court shall examine under oath those who desire to be heard, and may subpoena witnesses; or the Court may refer said matter to a Commissioner to be appointed by it to hear said witnesses. Such Commissioner shall make a report to the Court stating the facts as proven before him. If the Court concludes that unless relief is granted the widow will be unable to properly support and educate her children, and that they may become a public charge, it may make an order directing a monthly payment to her, out of the County Funds, for the support of such children, not more than Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars for one child, and Six ($6.00) Dollars additional for each other child. Such allowance shall be discontinued as to any such child who reaches the age of sixteen. The Court shall have the right to refuse any such petition, and its action in so doing shall be final. The Court shall see that any widow receiving such aid is properly caring for her children. When it is found that she is not properly caring for her children, or that she is an improper guardian for them, or when the Court finds that she no longer needs such aid, it shall thereupon revoke at any time with or without notice any order made pursuant to this Article.

Acts 1917, 35th Leg., p. 313, ch. 120. Amended by Acts 1931, 42nd Leg., p. 425, ch. 256, Sec. 1.

Art. 6228a-5. ANNUITIES OR INVESTMENTS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES; SALARY REDUCTIONS.

Sec. 1. (a) This section and Section 2 of this Act apply to:

(1) the governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education;

(2) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(3) the Texas Education Agency;

(4) the Texas School for the Deaf;

(5) the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired;

(6) the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and the state schools, state hospitals, and other facilities and institutions under its jurisdiction;

(7) the Texas Department of Health and facilities and institutions under its jurisdiction;

(8) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and facilities and institutions under its jurisdiction; and

(9) the governing boards of Centers for Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, county hospitals, city hospitals, city-county hospitals, hospital authorities, hospital districts, affiliated state agencies, and each of their political subdivisions.

(b) An entity described by Subsection (a) of this section may enter into agreements with the entity's employees for the purchase of annuities or for contributions to any type of investment for the entity's employees as authorized in Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent amendments.

Sec. 2. (a) If an employee of an entity covered by Section 1 of this Act is paid by the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the comptroller may take the action, in regard to that employee, that is authorized by Subsection (b) of this section. If an employee of an entity covered by Section 1 is not paid by the comptroller, the governing board of the entity may take the action in regard to that employee.

(b) The comptroller or the governing board, as appropriate, may:

(1) reduce the salary of participants when authorized by the participants and shall apply the amount of the reduction to the purchase of annuity contracts or to contributions to any type of investment authorized in Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent amendments, the exclusive control of which will vest in the participants; and

(2) develop a system to allow or require participants to electronically authorize:

(A) participation under this Act;

(B) purchases of annuity contracts; and

Sec. 3. (a) A state agency may permit some or all of the employees of the agency to participate in an employer-sponsored program described by Section 457(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including subsequent amendments of that law.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1111, Sec. 46(10), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

(c) In this section, "state agency" means a board, office, commission, department, institution, court, or other agency in any branch of state government.

Sec. 4. In this section and in Sections 5, 6, 9, 9A, 9B, 10, 11, and 12 of this Act:

(1) "Educational institution" means a school district or an open-enrollment charter school.

(2) "Eligible qualified investment" means a qualified investment product offered by a company that is eligible to offer the product under Section 6 of this Act.

(3) "Employee" means an employee of an educational institution.

(4) "Qualified investment product" means an annuity or investment that:

(A) meets the requirements of Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent amendments;

(B) complies with applicable federal insurance and securities laws and regulations; and

(5) "Salary reduction agreement" means an agreement between an educational institution and an employee to reduce the employee's salary for the purpose of making direct contributions to or purchases of a qualified investment product.

Sec. 5.

(a) An educational institution may enter into a salary reduction agreement with an employee of the institution only if the qualified investment product is an eligible qualified investment.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(1), eff. September 1, 2019.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(1), eff. September 1, 2019.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(1), eff. September 1, 2019.

(f) To the greatest degree possible, educational institutions that enter into a salary reduction agreement with employees under this section shall require that contributions to eligible qualified investments be made by automatic payroll deduction and deposited directly in the investment accounts.

Sec. 6.

(a) An insurance company is eligible to offer qualified investment products to the employees of educational institutions under this Act if the company satisfies the following criteria:

(1) the company is licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance and is in compliance with minimum capital and surplus requirements, including applicable risk-based capital and surplus requirements prescribed by rules adopted by the department; and

(2) the company has experience in providing qualified investment products and has a specialized department dedicated to the service of qualified investment products, as determined by the educational institution.

(b) A company that offers qualified investment products other than annuity contracts, including a company that offers custodial accounts under Section 403(b)(7), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is eligible to offer qualified investment products to employees of educational institutions under this Act.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(d-1) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(d-2) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(f-1) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(g) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

(i) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

Sec. 7. Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(3), eff. September 1, 2019.

Sec. 8. Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(4), eff. September 1, 2019.

Sec. 8A. Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(5), eff. September 1, 2019.

Sec. 9. (a) An educational institution may not:

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (8) of this subsection and Subsection (b) of this section, refuse to enter into a salary reduction agreement with an employee if the qualified investment product that is the subject of the salary reduction is an eligible qualified investment;

(2) require or coerce an employee's attendance at any meeting at which qualified investment products are marketed;

(3) limit the ability of an employee to initiate, change, or terminate a qualified investment product at any time the employee chooses;

(4) grant exclusive access to an employee by discriminating against or imposing barriers to any agent, broker, or company that provides qualified investment products under this Act;

(5) grant exclusive access to information about an employee's financial information, including information about an employee's qualified investment products, to a company or agent or affiliate of a company offering qualified investment products unless the employee consents in writing to the access;

(6) accept any benefit from a company or from an agent or affiliate of a company that offers qualified investment products;

(7) use public funds to recommend a qualified investment product offered by a company or an agent or affiliate of a company that offers a qualified investment product; or

(8) enter into or continue a salary reduction agreement with an employee if the qualified investment product that is the subject of the salary reduction agreement is not an eligible qualified investment without first providing the employee with notice in writing that:

(A) indicates the reason the subject of the salary reduction agreement is no longer an eligible qualified investment; and

(B) clearly states that by signing the notice the employee is agreeing to enter into or continue the salary reduction agreement.

(b) An educational institution may refuse to enter into a salary reduction agreement with an employee if:

(1) the eligible qualified investment product that is the subject of the salary reduction agreement is offered by a company that does not comply with the educational institution's administrative requirements;

(2) the educational institution imposes the administrative requirements uniformly on all companies that offer eligible qualified investment products; and

(3) the administrative requirements are necessary to comply with employer responsibilities imposed by:

(A) Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent amendments;

(B) any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that applies to Section 403(b);

(C) any regulation adopted in relation to a law described by Paragraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision that is effective after December 31, 2007; or

(D) any change to this Act that becomes effective after January 1, 2007.

Sec. 9A. A person, other than an employee of an educational institution, or an affiliate of the person may not enter into or renew a contract under which the person is to provide services for or administer a plan offered by the institution under Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, unless the person:

(1) holds a license or certificate of authority issued by the Texas Department of Insurance;

(2) is registered as a securities dealer or agent or investment advisor with the State Securities Board; or

(3) is a financial institution that:

(A) is authorized by state or federal law to exercise fiduciary powers; and

(B) has sufficient presence in this state to serve the employees of educational institutions who participate in the plan.

Sec. 9B. (a) This section applies to an entity under this Act that enters into a contract with an educational institution to administer a plan offered by the institution under Section 403(b), Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) If a person described by Subsection (a) holds a meeting at which qualified investment products will be marketed to employees of the educational institution, the person must provide representatives of other companies eligible to sell qualified investment products under Section 6 of this Act an opportunity to attend and market their qualified investment products at the meeting.

Sec. 10. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) sells or offers for sale an investment product that is not an eligible qualified investment and that the person knows will be the subject of a salary reduction agreement;

(2) violates the licensing requirements of Title 13, Insurance Code, with regard to a qualified investment product that the person knows will be the subject of a salary reduction agreement; or

(3) engages in activity described by Subchapter B, Chapter 541, Insurance Code, with regard to a qualified investment product that the person knows will be the subject of a salary reduction agreement.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes a criminal offense under the Insurance Code, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or under the Insurance Code, but not under both this section and the Insurance Code.

Sec. 10A. (a) A person who violates this Act is subject to a civil penalty in an amount that does not exceed:

(1) $10,000 for a single violation; or

(2) $1,000,000 for multiple violations.

(b) For purposes of determining the amount of a civil penalty under this section, the court shall consider the following factors:

(1) the seriousness, nature, circumstances, extent, and persistence of the conduct constituting the violation;

(2) the harm to other persons resulting directly or indirectly from the violation;

(3) cooperation by the person in any inquiry conducted by the state concerning the violation, efforts to prevent future occurrences of the violation, and efforts to mitigate the harm caused by the violation;

(4) the history of previous violations by the person;

(5) the need to deter the person or others from committing such violations in the future; and

(6) other matters as justice may require.

(1) for injunctive relief to restrain a violation by a person who is or who appears to be in violation of or threatening to violate this Act; or

(2) to collect a civil penalty under this section.

(d) An action under this section must be filed in a district court in Travis County.

(e) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief under this section, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses.

Sec. 11. (a) A person who offers to sell an annuity contract that is or will likely be the subject of a salary reduction agreement shall provide notice to a potential purchaser as provided by this section.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(6), eff. September 1, 2019.

(1) be in at least 14-point type;

(2) contain spaces for:

(A) the name, address, and telephone number of the agent and company offering the annuity contract for sale;

(B) the name, address, and telephone number of the company underwriting the annuity;

(D) the name of the state agency that issued the person's license;

(E) the name of the company account representative who has the authority to respond to inquiries or complaints; and

(F) with respect to fixed annuity products:

(i) the current interest rate or the formula used to calculate the current rate of interest;

(ii) the guaranteed rate of interest and the percentage of the premium to which the interest rate applies;

(iii) how interest is compounded;

(iv) the amount of any up-front, surrender, withdrawal, deferred sales, and market value adjustment charges or any other contract restriction that exceeds 10 years;

(v) the time, if any, the annuity is required to be in force before the purchaser is entitled to the full bonus accumulation value;

(vi) the manner in which the amount of the guaranteed benefit under the annuity is computed;

(vii) whether loans are guaranteed to be available under the annuity;

(viii) what restrictions, if any, apply to the availability of money attributable to the value of the annuity once the purchaser is retired or separated from the employment of the employer;

(ix) the amount of any other fees, costs, or penalties;

(x) whether the annuity guarantees the participant the right to surrender a percentage of the surrender value each year, and the percentage, if any; and

(xi) whether the annuity guarantees the interest rate associated with any settlement option; and

(3) state, in plain language:

(A) that the company offering the annuity must comply with Section 6 of this Act and that the annuity must be a qualified investment product;

(B) the civil remedies available to the employee;

(D) the name and telephone number of the Texas Department of Insurance division that specializes in consumer protection; and

(E) the name and telephone number of the attorney general's division that specializes in consumer protection.

(d) A variable annuity must be accompanied by:

(1) a notice that includes any item listed in Subsection (c) of this section that is applicable to variable annuities;

(2) the prospectus; and

(3) any other purchasing information required by law.

(e) An equity-based index contract must state in plain language how the annuity contract will be credited with growth.

(f) If a notice and other information required under this section is not provided, any annuity contract for which the notice is required is voidable at the discretion of the purchaser. Not later than the 30th day after the date an employee notifies the seller in writing of the employee's election to void the contract, the seller shall refund to the employee:

(1) the amount of all consideration paid to the purchaser; and

(2) 10 percent interest up to the date the employee provides the notice to the seller.

(g) A seller who receives a refund request under this section is not required to make a refund otherwise required by this section if, not later than the 30th day after the date the seller receives a request for a refund from the employee, the seller provides a copy of the notice signed by the employee.

Sec. 12. A company that offers an eligible qualified investment that is subject to a salary reduction agreement shall require that each of its representatives are properly licensed and qualified, by training and continuing education, to sell and service the company's eligible qualified investments.

Sec. 13. Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(7), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 1962, 57th Leg., 3rd C.S. p. 60, ch. 22, Sec. 1. Amended by Acts 1969, 61st Leg., p. 2297, ch. 774, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1969; Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 925, ch. 139, Sec. 1, eff. May 10, 1971; Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 2372, ch. 733, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1971; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1862, ch. 441, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 1981; Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 188, ch. 44, art. IV, Sec. 6, eff. April 26, 1983; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 740, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1985; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 449, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 791, Sec. 53, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1340, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1341, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1229, Sec. 21, 22, 23, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 3(b) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1111, Sec. 46(10), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 715 (H.B. 2341), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 17, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 21, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 22, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 23, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 24, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 2427), Sec. 25, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1177 (H.B. 3480), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 148, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.03, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.05, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.06, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.07, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.08, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.09, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(1), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(2), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(3), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(4), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(5), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(6), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 2820), Sec. 1.10(7), eff. September 1, 2019.

Art. 6228a-6. ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS BY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Section 1. [Amends Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. arts. 695g, Sec. 1(d), 2 and 5 and 695h, Sec. 1(d) and 2 and V.T.C.A., Education Code Sec. 17.91.]

Sec. 2. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION FROM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE; CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS TO REMAIN IN FORCE AND EFFECT; SUCCESSION TO RIGHTS, POWERS, DUTIES, ETC. The operation and administration of the programs providing federal social security coverage for: (1) employees of counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions of the State of Texas (Chapter 500, Acts of the 52nd Legislature, 1951, as amended (Article 695g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)); (2) state employees (Chapter 467, Acts of the 54th Legislature, 1955, as amended (Article 695h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)); and (3) employees of County Board of School Trustees and County School Superintendents (Section 17.91, Texas Education Code) shall be and are hereby transferred effective September 1, 1975, from the State Department of Public Welfare to the Employees Retirement System of Texas. All contracts and agreements in existence on the effective date of the transfer between the State Department of Public Welfare and the United States government or any and all local political subdivisions of the State of Texas or any other governmental entity shall remain in full force and effect and, upon validation by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, shall become effective contracts or agreements between the Employees Retirement System of Texas and such United States government or any agency thereof or any political subdivisions or other governmental entity of the State of Texas.

The Employees Retirement System of Texas shall succeed to and be vested with all the rights, powers, duties, personnel, property records, trust funds, and appropriations now held by the State Department of Public Welfare for the operation and administration of the social security programs.

Sec. 3. EMPLOYEES: TRANSFER, APPOINTMENT, DUTIES, QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPENSATION. All personnel employed in the Social Security Division of the State Department of Public Welfare are transferred to the Employees Retirement System of Texas. The system shall appoint all employees and shall prescribe their duties and qualifications for employment. The salaries and compensations of all employees shall be fixed by the Employees Retirement System of Texas commensurate with prevailing rates for similar state positions.

Sec. 4. TRANSFER OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT. All personal property and equipment purchased out of the Social Security Administration Account now in use by the Social Security Division of the State Department of Public Welfare for the operation and administration of the program are hereby transferred to the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Sec. 5. TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds created for social security purposes and specifically those known as the Social Security Fund Account identified in the state comptroller's records as Fund No. 913 and the Social Security Administration Account identified in the state comptroller's records as Fund No. 929 are hereby transferred to the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Sec. 6. NEGOTIATION FOR AND ACQUISITION OF LANDS, BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES. The Employees Retirement System of Texas is hereby authorized to negotiate for and to acquire from the United States government or any agency thereof or from any source whatever by gift, purchase, or leasehold for and on behalf of the State of Texas for use in the state service and in the operation and administration of the federal social security program as it now exists, or as it may hereafter be amended, any lands, buildings, and facilities within the State of Texas and any personal property and equipment wherever located and to take title thereto for and in the name of the State of Texas.

Sec. 7. USE OF TRUST FUNDS. Employees retirement system trust funds shall not be used in any manner or at any time for the administration of the social security trust funds or programs provided for herein.

Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall become effective September 1, 1975.

Sec. 9. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING LAWS; SAVING PROVISIONS. All laws or parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict only. It is expressly provided, however, that Chapter 500, Acts of the 52nd Legislature, 1951, as amended (Article 695g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), Chapter 467, Acts of the 54th Legislature, 1955, as amended (Article 695h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and Section 17.91, Texas Education Code, shall continue in full force and effect except wherein they conflict with this Act and, more particularly, those portions of those articles placing the operation and administration of the federal social security program under the State Department of Public Welfare, and wherever any power, duty, function, or responsibility is placed upon the executive director (commissioner) of public welfare, it shall be vested in the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 966, ch. 366, Sec. 2 to 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.

Art. 6228d. DEATH BEFORE RETIREMENT UNDER COUNTY RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

Sec. 1. Any member of a retirement, disability and death compensation fund established by any county of this State pursuant to Section 62 of Article XVI of the Constitution of Texas, by written designation filed in such form and with such officer or employee as the Commissioners Court shall prescribe, may provide that the contributions made by such member to such fund, together with interest (if any) assigned to such contributions under such plan, shall be paid, in the event of the death of such member before retirement with an allowance of benefits from said fund, to such beneficiary as may be named by him in such written designation. The member may change the beneficiary so designated, or revoke a designation previously made by filing with the Commissioners Court, or such officer or employee as may be designated by such Court, a notice in writing in such form as the Court may prescribe, of such change or revocation.

In the event the member dies before such retirement, without so designating a beneficiary to receive his accumulated contributions and interest if any, or in the event the beneficiary so designated predeceases the member, such sums shall be paid to his estate. Payment of the accumulated contributions and interest of a member to the executor or administrator of his estate, or to his designated beneficiary, shall discharge the fund and its administrative officers from any other or further liability therefor.

Sec. 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all such retirement, disability and death compensation funds, whether such funds were established prior to the passage of this Act or subsequent to the passage of this Act.

Acts 1949, 51st Leg., p. 1174, ch. 588. Amended by Acts 1951, 52nd Leg., p. 230, ch. 136.

Art. 6228h. ASSUMPTION OF PENSION LIABILITIES OF PARTICIPATING SUBDIVISION BY ANNEXING GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. Should any participating subdivision as defined under the provisions of Chapter 127, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, as amended, establishing and regulating the Texas County and District Retirement System, be annexed into, merged with, or in any manner absorbed by a municipality or other governmental entity, such succeeding entity shall assume, provide for and continue all existing pension rights of the employees of such subdivision, and shall further succeed to the rights of such subdivision in the assets of such system.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 992, ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971.

Art. 6228j. RETIREMENT, DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFIT SYSTEMS FOR APPOINTIVE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. (a) A county may create a retirement, disability, and death benefit system for its appointive officers and employees if a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting on the proposition approve the creation at an election called for that purpose and advertised in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks before the election is held. Each member of a system shall contribute to the system an amount determined by the county, but not more than five percent of the member's annual compensation paid by the county. The county shall contribute for each member an equal amount.

(b) The assets of a county system, after a sufficient portion is set aside each year to pay benefits as they accrue, shall be invested in bonds issued or guaranteed by the United States, this state, or counties or cities of this state.

Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1127, ch. 426, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.

Art. 6243a-1. PENSION SYSTEM FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN CERTAIN CITIES.

PART 1. PURPOSE

Sec. 1.01. AMENDMENT, RESTATEMENT, AND CONSOLIDATION. (a) The purpose of this article is to restate and amend the provisions of a former law governing the pension funds for police officers and fire fighters in certain municipalities (Chapter 4, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 1933, also known as Article 6243a) having previously been amended and restated to permit the consolidation of the terms of certain pension plans created under Sections 1, 11A, and 11B of that Act for the purpose of simply and accurately reflecting the joint administration of the plans.

(b) This article does not take away or reduce any accrued benefit contained in the plans created under former Article 6243a or under this article as it existed on or before August 31, 2017.

PART 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 2.01. DEFINITIONS. In this article:

(1) "415 compensation" means a member's wages, salary, and other amounts received for personal services rendered in the course of employment with the city during a limitation year and permitted to be treated as compensation for purposes of Section 415(c) of the code, including differential wage payments described in Section 414(u)(12) of the code. The term does not include amounts picked up under Section 4.03(i) of this article.

(2) "Active service" means any period that a member receives compensation as a police officer or fire fighter from either department for services rendered.

(3) "Actuarial equivalent" means a form of benefit differing in time, duration, or manner of payment from a standard benefit payable under this article but having the same value when computed using the assumptions set forth in this article.

(4) "Alternate payee" has the meaning given the term by Section 414(p) of the code or any successor provision.

(5) "Alternative investment" means an investment in an asset other than a traditional asset. The term includes an investment in private equity funds, private real estate transactions, hedge funds, and infrastructure.

(6) "Annual additions" means the sum of the following amounts credited to a member's account under any defined contribution plan maintained by the city for the limitation year:

(A) city contributions;

(B) member contributions, other than rollover contributions from a plan maintained by any employer other than the city;

(D) amounts allocated after March 31, 1984, to an individual medical benefit account, as defined in Section 415(l)(2) of the code, that is part of a pension or annuity plan maintained by the city.

For any limitation year beginning before January 1, 1987, only that portion of member contributions equal to the lesser of member contributions in excess of six percent of 415 compensation or one-half of member contributions to the combined pension plan or any qualified defined contribution plan maintained by the city is treated as annual additions.

(7) "Annual benefit" means the aggregate benefit attributable to city and member contributions payable annually under the combined pension plan, or any plan maintained by the city, exclusive of any benefit not required to be considered for purposes of applying the limitations of Section 415 of the code to the combined pension plan, payable in the form of a straight life annuity beginning at age 62 with no ancillary benefits. Solely for purposes of computing the limitations under the combined pension plan, benefits actually payable to a pensioner are adjusted to the actuarial equivalent of a straight life annuity pursuant to Section 415(b) of the code even though no member may actually receive a benefit in the form of a straight life annuity.

(8) "Article 6243a" means Chapter 4, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 1933 (former Article 6243a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), pertaining to a pension system for police officers, fire fighters, and fire alarm operators in certain cities.

(9) "Assignment pay" means monthly pay, in addition to salary, granted to a Group B member and authorized by the city council for the performance of certain enumerated duty assignments.

(10) "Base pay" means the maximum monthly civil service pay from time to time established by the city for a person who holds the rank of "police officer" in the city's police department or the rank of "fire and rescue officer" in the city's fire department, exclusive of any other form of compensation. The term does not include compensation paid by the city to a person for prior periods of service or compensation that otherwise constitutes back pay unless the compensation is eligible back pay. The board may adopt rules and procedures necessary to include eligible back pay as base pay for purposes of this definition, including rules regarding how increases in benefits will be determined and administered.

(11) "Base pension" means the amount of retirement, death, or disability benefits as determined at the earliest of the time a Group B member and, solely for the purposes of Section 6.12 of this article, a Group A member:

(A) begins participation in DROP;

(B) leaves or left active service;

(D) becomes entitled to a disability pension under the combined pension plan.

Solely for purposes of this definition, when a member becomes entitled to a disability pension, the base pension shall be determined as of the date on which the disability pension begins.

(12) "Board" means the board of trustees created under Section 3.01 of this article for the purpose of administering the pension system.

(13) "Child" means a person whose parent, as recognized under the laws of this state, is a primary party.

(14) "City" means each municipality having a population of more than 1.18 million and located predominantly in a county that has a total area of less than 1,000 square miles.

(15) "City attorney" means the chief legal officer of a city.

(16) "City council" means the governing body of the city.

(17) "City manager" means the city manager of a city or the city manager's designee and includes, to the extent of any designation, an interim or acting city manager, chief financial officer, budget director, or assistant city manager. If a city does not have an individual serving in a position otherwise described by this subdivision, "city manager" means the mayor of that city.

(18) "City service incentive pay" means annual incentive pay, adjusted by the city from time to time, in addition to the salary of a member granted to the member under the authority of the city charter and received by the member during active service.

(19) "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(20) "Combined pension plan" means any pension plan created pursuant to this article before September 1, 2017.

(21) "Computation pay" shall be used in determining the amount of the city's contribution under Section 4.02(d) of this article and a Group B member's contribution under Section 4.03(d) of this article and in determining the base pension to be paid to a Group B member or the benefits to be paid to the member's qualified survivors and means the sum of the following:

(A) the biweekly rate of pay of a member for the highest civil service rank the person holds, from time to time, as a result of a competitive examination; plus

(B) the educational incentive pay of a member, computed on a biweekly basis; plus

(D) the city service incentive pay, computed on a biweekly basis, of a member.

The term includes only amounts actually paid in salary or payments made instead of salary to the member and member contributions picked up by the city, and does not include any imputed pay. Furthermore, any compensation received by a member, other than that noted in Paragraphs (A)-(D) of this subdivision (for example, compensation for overtime work, certification pay, and the pay a member would receive from the city in the form of assignment pay), will not be considered in determining the computation pay of a member. Any lump-sum payments for compensatory time, unused sick leave, unused vacation time, or city service incentive pay payable after a member leaves active service, dies, becomes disabled, or resigns, or after any other type of termination may not be considered in determining the computation pay of any member. Computation pay for a member for any given period is determined on the biweekly rates of pay due the member for the entire period. The term does not include compensation paid by the city to a person for prior periods of service or compensation that otherwise constitutes back pay unless the compensation is eligible back pay. The board may adopt rules and procedures necessary to include eligible back pay as computation pay for purposes of this definition, including rules regarding how increases in benefits will be determined and administered.

(22) "Department" means either the police department of the city, the fire department of the city, or both the police and fire departments of the city together.

(23) "Dependent parent" means a natural parent or parent who adopted a primary party and who immediately before the death of a primary party received over half of the parent's financial support from the primary party.

(24) "Disability retirement" means any period that a pensioner receives periodic disability compensation or a disability pension.

(25) "DROP" means the deferred retirement option plan established in accordance with Section 6.14 of this article.

(26) "Educational incentive pay" means incentive pay designed to reward completion of certain hours of college credit, adjusted by the city from time to time, that is paid to a member in addition to the member's salary.

(27) "Eligible back pay," except as otherwise provided by this definition, means additional compensation paid by the city to a member or pensioner:

(A) that constitutes back pay to the member's or pensioner's prior period of service and is otherwise considered taxable wages paid by the city to the member or pensioner for federal income tax purposes; and

(B) for which the pension system receives:

(i) an amount equal to the aggregate member and city contributions that the pension system would have collected with respect to the compensation for all time periods relating to the back pay compensation; and

(ii) interest, calculated using the pension system's actuarial rate of return assumptions in effect for the periods relating to the back pay, compounded annually, on the contribution amounts for the period from the date that the contributions would have been received if the back pay compensation had been paid during the relevant periods of prior service through the date the amount relating to the contributions for back pay is actually received by the pension system.

The term does not include any additional compensation paid by the city to a member or pensioner wholly or partly or directly or indirectly as the result of litigation instituted to recover back pay.

The pension system is not obligated to collect the additional contributions or interest described in Paragraph (B) of this subdivision from the member, pensioner, or city. The pension system may not recognize back pay as eligible back pay until the contributions and interest described in Paragraph (B) of this subdivision have been received.

(28) "Executive director" means the person designated by the board to supervise the operation of the pension system.

(29) "Fund" means all funds and property held to provide benefits to all persons who are or who may become entitled to any benefits under any plan within the pension system, together with all income, profits, or other increments.

(30) "Group A member" means any police officer or fire fighter included in Group A membership under Section 5.01(a)(1) of this article.

(31) "Group B member" means any police officer or fire fighter included in Group B membership under Section 5.01(a)(2) of this article.

(32) "Health director" means any qualified physician designated from time to time by the board.

(33) "Limitation year" means the plan year of the combined pension plan and any defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan of the city in which a member participates.

(34) "Longevity pay" means pay in addition to the salary of a member granted under Section 141.032, Local Government Code, for each year of active service completed by a member in either department.

(35) "Member" means both Group A and Group B members.

(36) "Member's account" means an account established and maintained for a member with respect to the member's total interest in one or more defined contribution plans under this article or maintained by the city resulting in annual additions.

(37) "Nominations committee" means the nominations committee established under Section 3.011 of this article.

(38) "Old plan" means any pension plan created pursuant to Section 1 of Article 6243a.

(39) "Pensioner," "Group A pensioner," or "Group B pensioner" means a former member of the pension system who is on either a service or disability retirement.

(40) "Pension service" means the time, in years, and prorated for fractional years, that a member has contributed to the fund under the terms of the combined pension plan or any plan within the pension system, reduced to reflect refunds that have been received and not fully repaid.

(41) "Pension system" means the fund and any plans created pursuant to this article or Article 6243a and that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the code.

(42) "Plan A" means any plan created pursuant to Section 11A of Article 6243a.

(43) "Plan B" means any plan created pursuant to Section 11B of Article 6243a.

(44) "Police officer" or "fire fighter" means, as appropriate, a police officer, fire fighter, fire and rescue officer, fire alarm operator, fire inspector, apprentice police officer, apprentice fire fighter, or similar employee of either department as defined in the classifications of the human resources department of the city.

(45) "Primary party," "Group B primary party," or "Group A primary party" means a member or pensioner.

(46) "Qualified actuary" means either:

(A) an individual who is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, or a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; or

(B) a firm that employs one or more persons who are Fellows of the Society of Actuaries, Fellows of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, or members of the American Academy of Actuaries and are providing services to the pension system.

(47) "Qualified domestic relations order" has the meaning provided by Section 414(p) of the code.

(48) "Qualified survivor" means a person who is eligible to receive death benefits after the death of a primary party and includes only:

(A) a surviving spouse, if the spouse was continuously married to the primary party from the date when the primary party either voluntarily or involuntarily left active service as a member through the date of the primary party's death;

(B) all surviving, unmarried children who are either under 19 years of age or have a disability, as determined by the board under Section 6.06(o-2) of this article, and who were:

(i) born or adopted before the primary party either voluntarily or involuntarily left active service; or

(ii) born after the primary party left active service if the mother was pregnant with the child before the primary party left active service; and

(C) a surviving dependent parent of a primary party if the primary party is not survived by a spouse or child eligible for benefits.

(49) "Service retirement" means any period that a pensioner receives a retirement pension but does not include any period of disability retirement.

(50) "Spouse" means the person to whom a primary party is legally married under the laws of this state or any other state.

(51) "Traditional asset" includes stocks, bonds, and cash.

(52) "Trustee" means a member of the board.

(53) "Two-thirds vote," in reference to a vote of all the trustees, means a vote of 8 of the 11 trustees of the board.

Sec. 2.02. ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS. (a) If the amount of any benefit or contribution is to be determined on the basis of actuarial assumptions that are not otherwise specifically set forth for that purpose in this article, the actuarial assumptions to be used are those earnings and mortality assumptions being used on the date of the determination by the pension system's qualified actuary and approved by the board.

(b) The actuarial assumptions being used at any particular time shall be attached by the executive director as an addendum to this article and treated for all purposes as a part of any plan created by this article. The executive director shall promptly update any addendum to conform to any changed actuarial assumptions approved by the board.

(c) The actuarial assumptions may be changed by the pension system's qualified actuary at any time if approved by the board, but no such change in actuarial assumptions may result in any decrease in benefits accrued as of the effective date of the change.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (e).

Sec. 2.025. INDEPENDENT ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS AND LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Before July 1, 2024, the State Pension Review Board shall select an independent actuary who the board shall hire to perform an actuarial analysis of the most recently completed actuarial valuation of the pension system. The independent actuary shall submit the analysis to the State Pension Review Board and the board not later than October 1, 2024. The analysis must include the independent actuary's:

(1) conclusion regarding whether the pension system meets State Pension Review Board pension funding guidelines; and

(2) recommendations regarding changes to benefits or to member or city contribution rates.

(b) Subject to Subsection (d) of this section, not later than November 1, 2024, the board shall by rule adopt a plan that:

(1) complies with funding and amortization period requirements applicable to the pension system under Subchapter C, Chapter 802, Government Code; and

(2) takes into consideration the independent actuary's recommendations under Subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(b-1) The board shall provide a copy of the analysis prepared under Subsection (a) of this section and a summary of any rules adopted by the board under Subsection (b) of this section to the State Pension Review Board.

(c) Not later than December 1, 2024, the State Pension Review Board shall submit a report to the legislature regarding actions taken under this section. The report required under this section must include a copy of the analysis prepared under Subsection (a) of this section and a summary of rules adopted by the board under Subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a rule adopted by the board under Subsection (b) of this section that conflicts with a provision of this article remains in effect until:

(1) a law that is enacted by the legislature and becomes law preempts the rule; or

(2) the board amends the rule and the amendment takes effect, provided the board may only amend the rule if the pension system complies with the funding and amortization period requirements applicable to the pension system under Subchapter C, Chapter 802, Government Code.

(e) This section expires September 1, 2025.

Sec. 2.03. REFERENCES TO CERTAIN LAW. A reference to a statute made in this article includes a reference to any regulation, rule, order, or notice made by a governmental entity with the authority under law to adopt the regulation, rule, order, or notice, and on which the governmental entity intends persons to rely, as appropriate.

PART 3. ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 3.01. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. (a) The pension system shall be administered by the board. The board shall execute its fiduciary duty to hold and administer the assets of the fund for the exclusive benefit of members and their beneficiaries under Section 802.203, Government Code, Section 67(f), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and any other applicable law, in a manner that ensures the sustainability of the pension system for purposes of providing current and future benefits to members and their beneficiaries.

(b) Subject to Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) of this section, the board consists of 11 trustees who shall be selected and shall serve as follows:

(1) six trustees appointed by the mayor, in consultation with the city council;

(2) three trustees elected under rules adopted by the board by the members and pensioners of the pension system from a slate of nominees, in a number determined under the rules, selected and vetted by the nominations committee;

(3) subject to Subsection (b-3) of this section, one trustee who is a current or former police officer of the city nominated and elected by members of the pension system under rules adopted by the board; and

(4) subject to Subsection (b-3) of this section, one trustee who is a current or former fire fighter of the city nominated and elected by members of the pension system under rules adopted by the board.

(b-1) To be appointed or elected a trustee under this section, a person:

(1) must have demonstrated financial, accounting, business, investment, budgeting, real estate, or actuarial expertise; and

(2) may not be an elected official of the city.

(b-2) To be appointed or elected a trustee under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section a person may not be an active member or pensioner.

(b-3) If the board determines that it is not possible to nominate or elect a trustee under Subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section who meets the requirements of Subsection (b-1) of this section, the board shall notify the nominations committee and the nominations committee shall select, vet, and nominate a slate of persons, the number of which is determined by board rule, who meet the requirements of Subsection (b-1) of this section, and the members of the pension system shall elect a trustee from the slate of nominees to represent the interests of police officers or fire fighters, as appropriate, of the city on the board. The nomination and election of a trustee under this subsection may be made without regard to whether the trustee is qualified under Subsection (b)(3) or (4), as applicable, of this section.

(b-4) A trustee is not required to reside in a particular city or county of this state.

(d) A vacancy on the board in a trustee position under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, or election. The board by rule shall determine the manner by which a vacancy in a trustee position under Subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section is filled.

(e) The mayor shall determine whether all trustees appointed under Subsection (b)(1) of this section hold office for staggered two-year terms or staggered three-year terms. The nominations committee shall determine whether all trustees elected under Subsection (b)(2), (3), or (4) of this section hold office for staggered two-year terms or staggered three-year terms. A trustee appointed or elected, as applicable, under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section may not serve for more than six consecutive years on the board.

(f) The election of the trustees under Subsection (b)(2), (3), or (4) of this section, including an election under Subsection (b-3) of this section to fill a trustee position under Subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section, shall be held under the supervision of the board, and the board shall adopt such rules governing the election procedure as it considers appropriate, as long as the rules are consistent with generally accepted principles of secret ballot and majority rule. The rules adopted by the board shall be recorded in the minutes of the board and made available to the members of any pension plan within the pension system.

(g) The board shall, in June of each odd-numbered year, elect from among its trustees a chairman, vice chairman, and a deputy vice chairman, each to serve for two-year terms. In addition, the board may elect, if it so chooses, a second deputy vice chairman to serve during the term of the incumbent chairman. The vice chairman shall be authorized to act in the place of the chairman in all matters pertaining to the board. In the absence of both the chairman and the vice chairman, the deputy vice chairman shall be authorized to act. In the absence of the chairman, vice chairman, and deputy vice chairman, the duties shall fall to the second deputy vice chairman.

(h) The executive director, or in the executive director's absence a member of the administrative staff designated by the board, shall serve as the secretary of the board.

(i) The board shall serve without separate compensation from the fund, but a trustee is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and, if applicable, to any appropriate compensation from the city as if the trustee were performing the trustee's regular functions for the police or fire department or for the city. The board shall meet not less than once each month and may meet at any time on the call of its chairman.

(j) The board has full power to make rules pertaining to the conduct of its meetings and to the operation of the pension system as long as its rules are not, subject to Subsections (j-1) and (j-2) of this section, inconsistent with the terms of this article, any pension plan within the pension system, or the laws of this state or the United States to the extent applicable. A board meeting may be held by telephone conference call or by videoconference call in accordance with Sections 551.125 and 551.127, Government Code, except that Section 551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply.

(j-1) Subject to Subsection (o)(2) of this section, the board may adopt a rule that conflicts with this article:

(1) to ensure compliance with the code, including Section 415 of the code, and other applicable federal law;

(2) subject to Subsections (j-5) through (j-8) of this section, to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system within a period that does not exceed 35 years, if the board determines the rule is appropriate based on the evaluations required under Subsection (j-5) of this section; or

(3) subject to Subsections (j-6) and (j-7) of this section and notwithstanding any other law, to increase the benefits provided under this article in any manner the board determines appropriate if the increase will not cause the amortization period of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system to exceed 25 years, after taking into account the impact of the increase.

(j-2) Except as provided by Subsection (j-1) of this section or Section 4.02(b) of this article, a provision of any plan provided by the pension system may only be amended if approved by the board. An amendment described by this subsection:

(1) may not cause the amortization period of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system to exceed 35 years, after taking into account the impact of the amendment, as determined by the board and reviewed by the State Pension Review Board; and

(2) is not required to be ratified by the legislature.

(j-3) The board may correct any defect, supply any omission, and reconcile any inconsistency that may appear in this article in a manner and to the extent that the board believes would:

(1) be expedient for the administration of the pension system;

(2) be for the greatest benefit of all members, pensioners, and qualified survivors; and

(3) not adversely affect the benefits of a member, pensioner, or qualified survivor.

(j-4) The board has full discretion and authority to construe and interpret the combined pension plan and to do all acts necessary to carry out the purpose of the combined pension plan. A decision of the board is final and binding on all affected parties.

(j-5) Not later than January 1, 2018, the board shall conduct an evaluation of:

(1) how benefits are computed under this article to identify potential means of abusing the computation of benefits to inflate pension benefits received by pensioners; and

(2) the impact, including the impact on the combined pension plan, of establishing one or more alternative benefit plans, including a defined contribution plan or a hybrid retirement plan that combines elements of both a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan, for newly hired employees of the city and for members who voluntarily elect to transfer to an alternative benefit plan.

(j-6) The board may not adopt a rule under Subsection (j-1)(2) or (3) of this section unless the rule has first been reviewed by the State Pension Review Board and the State Pension Review Board finds that implementation of a rule under:

(1) Subsection (j-1)(2) of this section complies with the amortization period prescribed by that subdivision and Subsection (j-8) of this section; or

(2) Subsection (j-1)(3) of this section complies with the amortization period prescribed by that subdivision.

(j-7) The board shall provide the State Pension Review Board with a copy of a proposed rule for purposes of Subsection (j-6) of this section at least 90 days before the date the board intends to implement the rule.

(j-8) The board may not adopt a rule under Subsection (j-1)(2) of this section based on an evaluation under Subsection (j-5)(2) of this section if the board determines implementation of the rule would cause the amortization period of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the combined pension plan or any plan established under this article by the pension system to exceed 35 years, after taking into account implementation of the rule.

(j-9) At least twice each year, the board shall have a meeting to receive public input regarding the pension system and to inform the public about the health and performance of the pension system. The State Pension Review Board is entitled to all documents and other information provided to the public or that are the basis for information provided to the public, as determined by the State Pension Review Board, for purposes of this subsection and shall independently review the information to ensure its validity.

(j-10) An employee or other agent acting on behalf of the pension system or the city must certify to the State Pension Review Board that any information provided by the pension system or city, as appropriate, under this article or other law is accurate and based on realistic assumptions.

(k) The board has full power, through the chairman, to issue process for witnesses and to administer oaths to witnesses and examine witnesses as to any matter affecting retirement, disability, or death benefits under any pension plan within the pension system, and to compel witnesses to testify. In addition, the board may request investigative services from either department in connection with any matter before the board.

(l) The board has the responsibility for the administration of the pension system and shall order payment from the fund in accordance with the terms of the appropriate plans within the pension system. Money from the fund may not be paid except on order of the board.

(m) The board has full power to invest the assets of the fund in accordance with Section 4.07 of this article.

(n) Six trustees of the board constitute a quorum at any meeting.

(o) No action may be taken by the board except at a meeting. Except as otherwise specifically provided by this article or other law:

(1) no action shall be taken during a board meeting without the approval of a majority of the trustees of the board; and

(2) no action otherwise authorized by this article or other law may be taken that establishes an alternative benefit plan, reduces the city contribution rate, increases the member contribution rate, or reduces benefits, including accrued benefits, without the approval of at least a two-thirds vote of all the trustees of the board.

(o-1) Only actions of the board taken or approved of during a meeting are binding on the board, and no other written or oral statement or representation made by any person is binding on the board or the pension system.

(p) The board may file suit on behalf of the pension system in a court of competent jurisdiction regardless of the court's location. The board has sole authority to litigate matters on behalf of the pension system. Notwithstanding Chapter 15, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, or any other law, an action against the pension system or the board shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the city or county in which the pension system is located.

(q) The board may purchase from one or more insurers one or more insurance policies that provide for the reimbursement of a trustee or employee of the pension system for liability imposed as damages caused by, and for costs and expenses incurred by the individual in defense of, an alleged act, error, or omission committed by the individual in the individual's capacity as a fiduciary or employee of the pension system. The board may not purchase an insurance policy that provides for the reimbursement of a trustee or employee of the pension system due to the trustee's or employee's dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently.

(r) The board shall adopt a code or codes of ethics consistent with Section 825.212, Government Code. In adopting or amending a code or codes of ethics, the board may consider comments on the policy from the city attorney of the city. The board shall:

(1) review the code or codes of ethics on an annual basis and amend the code or codes as the board considers necessary;

(2) file a copy of the code or codes of ethics adopted or amended in accordance with this subsection with the State Pension Review Board; and

(3) provide a copy of the code or codes of ethics adopted or amended in accordance with this subsection to the city attorney.

(s) The board shall develop an Internet website designed to give active members and pensioners access to the information concerning the pension system and the individual's participation in the pension system required by Section 802.106, Government Code, as well as information concerning the financial health of the pension system.

Sec. 3.011. NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section, the nominations committee consists of:

(1) the executive director, who is a nonvoting member; and

(2) the president, chair, or other executive head of the following organizations or their successor organizations, or that person's designee:

(A) the Dallas Black Firefighters Association;

(B) the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas;

(D) the Dallas Fraternal Order Police Lodge 588;

(E) the Dallas Police Association;

(F) the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters Local No. 58;

(G) the Dallas Hispanic Firefighters Association, Inc.;

(H) the Dallas Police Retired Officers Association;

(I) the Dallas Retired Firefighters Association;

(J) the Retired Black Firefighters Association of Dallas; and

(K) the Dallas Hispanic Retired Fire Fighters Association.

(b) If an organization described by Subsection (a)(2) of this section elects not to participate on the nominations committee, is prohibited from participating on the nominations committee under Subsection (g) of this section, or ceases to exist, the nominations committee members appointed under that subsection consist only of representatives of the remaining organizations, if any.

(d) The nominations committee shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(e) The nominations committee shall nominate trustees to the board in accordance with Sections 3.01(b)(2) and (b-3) of this article.

(f) A person serving on the nominations committee under Subsection (a)(2) of this section serves without compensation and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business of the nominations committee. The executive director may not receive additional compensation for service on the nominations committee.

(g) An organization described by Subsection (a)(2) of this section may not participate on the nominations committee unless the organization is in good standing with the secretary of state, if applicable.

(h) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the nominations committee.

(i) The nominations committee may establish policies and procedures governing its operations.

Sec. 3.012. REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES. (a) In accordance with procedures adopted by board rule, a trustee:

(1) appointed under Section 3.01(b)(1) of this article may be removed by the mayor for cause; and

(2) elected under Section 3.01(b)(2), (3), or (4) of this article may be removed by the nominations committee for cause.

(b) It is a cause for removal of a trustee from the board that the trustee:

(1) does not have at the time of taking office the qualifications required by Section 3.01(b) or (b-1)(1) of this article, subject to Subsection (b-3) of that section;

(2) does not maintain during service on the board the qualifications required by Section 3.01(b) or (b-1)(1) of this article, subject to Subsection (b-3) of that section;

(3) is ineligible for membership under Section 3.01(b-1)(2) or (b-2) of this article; or

(4) is absent from more than 40 percent of the meetings that the trustee is eligible to attend during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority vote of the board.

(c) The validity of an action of the board is not affected by the fact that it is taken when a cause for removal of a trustee exists.

(d) If the executive director has knowledge that a potential cause for removal exists, the executive director shall notify the chairman of the board of the potential cause. The chairman shall then notify the mayor or nominations committee, as appropriate, that a potential cause for removal exists. If the potential cause for removal involves the chairman, the executive director shall notify the vice chairman or next highest ranking officer of the board, who shall then notify the mayor or nominations committee, as appropriate, that a potential cause for removal exists.

Sec. 3.013. TRUSTEE TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed or elected to the board and qualifies for office as a trustee shall complete a training program that complies with this section.

(b) The training program must provide the person with information regarding:

(1) the law governing the pension system's operations;

(2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the pension system;

(3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority of the board;

(4) the results of the most recent formal audit of the pension system;

(5) the requirements of:

(A) laws relating to open meetings, public information, administrative procedure, and disclosing conflicts of interest; and

(B) other laws applicable to a trustee in performing the trustee's duties, including the board's fiduciary duties described under Section 3.01(a) of this article;

(6) the code or codes of ethics adopted under Section 3.01(r) of this article and any applicable ethics policies adopted by the Texas Ethics Commission; and

(7) financial training regarding the risks of investing in alternative investments.

(c) The executive director shall create a training manual that includes the information required by Subsection (b) of this section. The executive director shall distribute a copy of the training manual annually to each trustee. On receipt of the training manual, each trustee shall sign and submit to the executive director a statement acknowledging receipt of the training manual.

Sec. 3.02. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS. In addition to the authority of the board to employ the services of certain consultants set forth in this article, the board has the authority to employ the services of any professional consultant recommended by the executive director, including investment advisors and investment managers, whenever the services of the consultants are considered necessary or desirable and in the best interests of the pension system, as determined by the board in consultation with the executive director. A professional consultant shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the board in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

Sec. 3.025. CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER. The executive director may hire a chief investment officer, subject to confirmation by the board, to assist the pension system regarding the investment of assets of the fund. Compensation for a chief investment officer hired under this section shall be made in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

Sec. 3.03. LEGAL ADVISOR. (a) The city attorney of the city may ex officio be the legal advisor to the board.

(b) Subject to Subsection (b-1) of this section, the city attorney or an assistant city attorney may attend board meetings and may advise the board on any matter on which the pension system requests a legal opinion from the city attorney.

(b-1) The city attorney or an assistant city attorney is not required to provide an opinion under Subsection (b) of this section unless the opinion is requested by the city council on behalf of the pension system. The city attorney or assistant city attorney may decline to provide the opinion if the subject matter of the request is too dependent on disputed facts to permit a generalized opinion, as determined by the city attorney or assistant city attorney.

(c) The board may retain other attorneys to serve as legal advisors to the board. The executive director may hire a chief legal officer, subject to confirmation by the board, or other attorneys if necessary to carry out the business of the pension system. Compensation for a chief legal officer or other attorneys hired under this subsection shall be made in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

Sec. 3.04. APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. (a) The board has the authority to appoint an executive director to assist the board with administering the pension system and ensure that records are kept of the proceedings of the board. Subject to Subsection (a-1) of this section, a person appointed executive director under this section:

(1) must have, to the extent possible, relevant experience in managing a similarly situated business entity; and

(2) may not be a current or former trustee.

(a-1) During any period in which the most recent actuarial valuation of the pension system indicates that the period needed to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system exceeds 35 years, the board shall, to the extent lapsed investments are a significant portion of the pension system's assets, ensure that the executive director appointed under Subsection (a) of this section has, or hires staff that has, appropriate experience in managing a business entity with lapsed investments in a manner that resulted in the improved liquidity or profitability of the business entity.

(b) Subject to Subsections (b-1) and (b-3) of this section, the executive director may select any number of persons the executive director determines appropriate to assist the executive director in carrying out the executive director's duties under this section. Subject to Section 4.01 of this article, the titles and salaries of persons selected to assist the executive director shall be determined by the executive director.

(b-1) The executive director may not select a person to assist the executive director who is an active, former, or retired police officer or fire fighter of the city.

(b-2) The executive director shall establish the organizational structure of pension system employees to optimize administration of the pension system.

(b-3) A former or retired employee of the city may not before the second anniversary of the first day of the month following the date the person terminated employment with the city serve the pension system in any capacity other than as a trustee. Except as specifically provided by this article, including Section 3.01(b)(3) or (4) of this article, or other law, an employee of the city may not serve the pension system in any capacity.

(c) The executive director and those persons selected to assist the executive director may be considered employees of the city. Unless otherwise delegated to the executive director, the board shall have the ultimate authority to retain, discipline, or terminate the engagement of the executive director.

(d) If acting in the executive director's own discretion, the executive director owes a fiduciary duty to the pension system and shall ensure the sustainability of the pension system for the purpose of providing current and future benefits to members of the pension system and their beneficiaries. If the executive director is acting at the direction of the board and not exercising the executive director's own discretion, the executive director does not owe a fiduciary duty under this subsection.

PART 4. FINANCES

Sec. 4.01. PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEES. (a) The board shall pay for all costs of administration out of the income from the fund when in the judgment of the board the costs are necessary, including the cost of:

(1) salaries and benefits for the executive director and administrative staff;

(2) office expenses;

(3) expenses associated with securing adequate office space and associated utilities;

(4) compensation for professional consultants, professional investment managers, or other persons providing professional services; and

(5) any other expenses approved by the board.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(2), eff. September 1, 2017.

(c) No expenditure for the costs of administration, including the payment of any fee for professional consultants, professional investment management services, or any other person providing professional services, may be made from the fund without the approval of the board.

(d) After the board has developed an annual budget for the pension system, the budget shall be presented to the city manager for comment. The city manager may request the board to reconsider the appropriation for any expenditure at a board meeting, but the board shall make the final determination concerning any appropriation.

Sec. 4.02. USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. (a) The financial share of the cost of the pension system to be paid out of the public treasury shall be as provided by this section.

(b) Funds contributed by the city as its share of the amount required to finance the payment of benefits under the pension system may be used for no other purpose. The city is not responsible for the payment of any administrative or professional service fees of the pension system. Any change to the contributions required to be made to the pension system by the city may only be made:

(1) by the legislature;

(2) by a majority vote of the voters of the city; or

(3) in accordance with a written agreement entered into between the pension system, by at least a two-thirds vote of all trustees of the board, and the city, provided that a change made in accordance with this subdivision may not increase the period required to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund.

(c) Funds shall be appropriated by the city to carry out various other provisions contained in this article that authorize expenditures in connection with the administration of the pension system.

(d) Subject to Section 4.025 of this article, the city shall make contributions to the pension system biweekly in an amount equal to the sum of:

(1) the greater of:

(A) 34.5 percent of the aggregate computation pay paid to members during the period for which the contribution is made; or

(B) the applicable amount set forth below:

(i) $5,173,000 for the biweekly pay periods beginning with the first biweekly pay period that begins after September 1, 2017, and ends on the last day of the first biweekly pay period that ends after December 31, 2017;

(ii) $5,344,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;

(iii) $5,571,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;

(iv) $5,724,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;

(v) $5,882,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph;

(vi) $6,043,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (v) of this paragraph;

(vii) $5,812,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (vi) of this paragraph;

(viii) $6,024,000 for the 26 biweekly pay periods immediately following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (vii) of this paragraph through the biweekly pay period that ends after December 31, 2024; and

(ix) $0 for each subsequent biweekly pay period beginning with the first biweekly pay period following the last biweekly pay period described by Subparagraph (viii) of this paragraph; and

(2) except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, an amount equal to 1/26th of $13 million.

(e) The city is required to pay the contribution amount described by Subsection (d)(2) of this section only through the last biweekly pay period that ends after December 31, 2024.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(3), eff. September 1, 2017.

Sec. 4.025. CITY OR MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS IF NO UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITIES. Notwithstanding Section 4.02 or 4.03 of this article, if the pension system has no unfunded actuarial liability according to the most recent actuarial valuation, the annual normal costs must be equally divided between the city and the members unless equally dividing the costs would increase the member contribution rates beyond the rates prescribed by Section 4.03 of this article. The board shall adjust the city contribution rates under Section 4.02 of this article and the member contribution rates under Section 4.03 of this article accordingly, and certify the adjusted rates. After the completion of a subsequent actuarial valuation showing unfunded actuarial liabilities, the contribution rates applicable under Sections 4.02 and 4.03 of this article apply.

Sec. 4.03. MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Subject to Subsection (a-1) of this section and except as provided by Section 4.025 of this article, each Group A member of the combined pension plan shall have 13.5 percent of base pay deducted from the member's wages on a biweekly basis, and the contributions shall be promptly remitted to the fund by the city.

(a-1) If a Group A member is assigned, for any period, to a job-sharing program or any similar work schedule that is considered by the member's department to be less than a full-time work schedule, the member's contributions are determined by multiplying the applicable contribution rate by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours the member actually worked during the period and the denominator of which is the number of hours the member would have worked during the period if the member had been working a full-time work schedule.

(b) Each member shall contribute to the fund under the applicable terms of this article until the member leaves active service with either department. If a member leaves active service with a department, the member shall cease making contributions.

(c) Each Group B member shall authorize the city to deduct from the member's salary a percentage of the member's computation pay. The authorization shall be in writing and filed with the executive director.

(d) Subject to Subsection (d-1) of this section and except as provided by Section 4.025 of this article, for pay periods starting on or after September 1, 2017, each Group B member shall have 13.5 percent of the member's computation pay deducted from the member's wages on a biweekly basis and the contributions shall be promptly remitted to the fund by the city.

(d-1) If a Group B member is assigned, for any period, to a job-sharing program or any similar work schedule that is considered by the member's department to be less than a full-time work schedule, the member's contributions are determined by multiplying the applicable contribution rate by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours the member actually worked during the period and the denominator of which is the number of hours the member would have worked during the period if the member had been working a full-time work schedule.

(d-2) For purposes of Subsection (d) of this section, "computation pay" includes computation pay paid to a Group B member during any period the member is receiving workers' compensation.

(e) The city shall determine the frequency of deductions for member contributions, as long as there is at least one deduction each month.

(f) Each Group B member shall contribute to the fund beginning on the effective date of the member's Group B membership.

(g) The percentage of base pay contributed by Group A members or computation pay contributed by Group B members may not be altered except by an adjustment under Section 4.025 of this article.

(h) The only purposes for which member contributions to the fund and the investment income derived from member contributions may be applied are:

(1) to the payment of benefits prescribed by this article;

(2) to the payment of such administrative and professional service costs of the pension system as are provided for under Section 4.01 of this article or as may be within the discretion of the board to incur; and

(3) to invest any surplus in accordance with Section 4.07 of this article.

(i) Member contributions under this article or any payments a member is entitled to make under this article to receive additional pension service may be picked up by the city under the terms of an appropriate resolution of the city council.

Sec. 4.04. REFUND OF GROUP B MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e) of this section, a Group B member who, either voluntarily or involuntarily, leaves active service is entitled to a refund from the fund of the total amount of the member's Plan B and Group B contributions, without interest, that were paid beginning with the effective date of the member's Group B membership or membership in Plan B. A refund under this subsection results in a total cancellation of pension service credit and the member and any person who would otherwise take by, through, or under the member is not entitled to any benefits from the pension system.

(b) Old plan or Plan A contributions paid to the fund by a Group B member may not be refunded from the fund.

(c) A Group B member who desires a refund of the Plan B or Group B contributions under Subsection (a) of this section must make written application for the refund with the executive director. In no case may any refund be made to a Group B member before the expiration of 30 days after the date the person leaves active service.

(d) Subject to Subsection (k) of this section, if a Group B member with less than five years of pension service either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service and fails to make written application for a refund of contributions within three years after the date of the notice described by Subsection (j) of this section made by the board, the person forfeits the right to withdraw any portion of the contribution, and the total amount of Plan B and Group B contributions the person made will remain in the fund. If the Group B member described by this subsection dies after leaving active service, the deceased member's designee may apply for the refund of the person's contributions, resulting in an appropriate loss of pension service if the application is filed with the executive director within three years after the date of the notice described by Subsection (j) of this section made by the board. Subject to Subsection (k) of this section, if a Group B member's designee fails to apply for a refund of the Group B member's contributions within the three-year period described by this subsection, the designee forfeits any right to the contributions, and the total amount of the Plan B and Group B contributions made by the Group B member will remain in the fund.

(e) Subject to Subsection (k) of this section, if a Group B member with five or more years of pension service either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service and fails to make written application for a refund of the person's Plan B and Group B contributions within three years after the date of the notice described by Subsection (j) of this section made by the board, the person forfeits the right to withdraw any portion of the contributions, and the total amount of the contributions will remain in the fund. A Group B member described by this subsection may, however, apply for a Group B retirement pension under Section 6.02 of this article or, if the Group B member dies before the member is eligible to apply for a Group B retirement pension, the member's qualified survivors may apply for Group B death benefits under Sections 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, and 6.063 of this article. If the Group B member dies before the member is eligible to apply for a Group B retirement pension and the member has no qualified survivors, the Group B member's designee may apply for a refund of the Group B member's Plan B and Group B contributions, resulting in a total cancellation of pension service. Subject to Subsection (k) of this section, if a Group B member's designee fails to apply for a refund of the Group B and Plan B member's contributions within the three-year period described by this subsection, the designee forfeits any right to the contributions, and the total amount of the Plan B and Group B contributions made by the Group B member will remain in the fund.

(f) Subject to Subsections (g) and (h) of this section, a Group B member, other than a Group B member who elects or has elected to receive a Group A benefit or a benefit determined under the old plan or Plan A, who either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service with five or more years of pension service is entitled to:

(1) subject to Subsection (f-1) of this section, have the total amount of the person's Plan B and Group B contributions to the fund refunded in accordance with Subsection (a) of this section, which results in a loss of all of the person's accrued pension service; or

(2) if the Group B member first entered active service before January 1, 1999, elect to take a refund of less than the total amount of the person's Plan B and Group B contributions while leaving a sufficient amount to retain pension service amounting to five or more years.

(f-1) A Group B member who elects to receive a refund under Subsection (f)(1) of this section and any person who would otherwise take by, through, or under the member is not entitled to any benefits from the pension system.

(g) If a Group B member elects a refund of a portion of the person's contributions under Subsection (f)(2) of this section, the amount of the refund shall equal the total amount of the person's Plan B and Group B annual contributions, without interest, for each full year of pension service canceled, computed based on the earliest contributions made.

(h) A Group B member who first entered active service on or after January 1, 1999, is entitled to have the total amount of the person's Group B contributions refunded under Subsection (a) of this section in accordance with Subsection (f)(1) of this section, but may not receive a refund of less than the total amount in accordance with Subsection (f)(2) of this section.

(h-1) A Group B member who leaves active service and later returns to active service is permitted to repay to the fund any previously withdrawn employee contributions and receive pension service in accordance with Section 5.07(d) of this article as a Group B member to the extent that before again leaving active service, the Group B member repays to the fund the previously withdrawn contributions with interest, calculated at the interest rate from time to time used in the pension system's actuarial rate of return assumptions, compounded annually, on the previously withdrawn contributions.

(i) If a person becomes a Group B member under Section 5.01(b) of this article and again, either voluntarily or involuntarily, leaves active service and makes application for a refund of contributions under this section, the person is entitled to a refund from the fund of the following:

(1) the amount of Group B contributions to the fund, without interest, that were paid from the date the person returned to active service following service or disability retirement; plus

(2) the excess, if any, of:

(A) the person's Plan B and Group B contributions to the fund, without interest, that were paid from the effective date of the person's original Group B or Plan B membership in Plan B until the time the person originally left active service because of the service or disability retirement; less

(B) the total amount of benefits the person received during service or disability retirement.

(j) On the 58th anniversary of the birth of a Group B member described by Subsection (d) or (e) of this section, or on the board's receipt of notice of the death of the Group B member, the board shall, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, attempt to notify the Group B member or designee, as applicable, of the status of the person's entitlement to a refund of contributions from the fund.

(k) A Group B member or designee described by Subsection (d) or (e) of this section shall have the person's right, title, interest, or claim to a refund of the Group B member's contributions reinstated only on the board's grant of their written request for a reinstatement and refund. The board's decision shall be based on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis.

Sec. 4.05. INVESTMENT COUNSELOR; QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The board may employ from time to time an investment counselor to advise the board in the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the fund. Only the following are eligible for employment as an investment counselor:

(1) any organization whose regular business functions include rendering investment advisory services to pension and retirement funds and that is registered as an "investment adviser" under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and

(2) any bank, as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, that maintains a trust department and offers investment services to pension and retirement funds.

(b) The investment counselor shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the board and as authorized by Section 4.01 of this article.

Sec. 4.06. INVESTMENT CUSTODY ACCOUNT OR MASTER TRUST AGREEMENTS. (a) If the board contracts for investment management services as authorized by Section 4.07 of this article, it may, with respect to every such contract, also enter into an investment custody account agreement, designating one or more banks as custodian or master trustee for any assets of the fund.

(b) Under a custody account or master trust agreement, the board shall require the designated bank to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities of a custodian in relation to the investment contract to which the custody account or master trust agreement is established.

(c) The authority of the board to make a custody account or master trust agreement is supplementary to its authority to make an investment management contract. Allocation of assets to a custody account or master trust shall be coordinated by the executive director, as authorized by the board, and the bank designated as custodian or master trustee for the assets.

(d) Any custody account or master trust agreement made by the board shall establish such compensation for the custodian or master trustee as may be determined by the board and as authorized by Section 4.01 of this article.

Sec. 4.07. INVESTMENT OF SURPLUS. (a) Subject to Section 4.071 of this article, if the board determines that there is in the fund a surplus exceeding a reasonably safe amount to take care of current demands on the pension system, the board may invest or direct the investment of the surplus for the sole benefit of the pension system.

(b) In making investments and supervising investments, trustees shall exercise the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing that persons of ordinary prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to speculation but in regard to probable income from the assets as well as the probable safety of their capital.

(c) The board has the ultimate responsibility for the investment of funds. The board may exercise this responsibility directly by purchasing or selling securities or other investments, or it may exercise discretion in determining the procedure that it deems most efficient and beneficial for the pension system in carrying out the responsibility. The board may contract for professional advisory services regarding the purchase or sale of securities or other investments pursuant to Section 3.02 of this article. A professional advisory service shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the board in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

(d) The board also has the authority to contract for professional investment management services. Any contract that the board makes with an investment manager shall set forth the board's investment policies and guidelines. A professional investment management service shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the board in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

(e) The board, in exercising its control, may at any time, and shall at frequent intervals, monitor the investments made by any investment manager and shall enforce full compliance with the requirements of the board.

(f) If the board contracts for and receives professional advisory services or professional investment management services, the board has no greater liability under the terms of this section than otherwise provided for under the Government Code or the Texas Trust Code.

(g) A bank or trust company that has custody and trustee powers and a contract with the board to provide assistance in making investments shall be the custodian or master trustee of any of the securities or other assets of the fund. Pursuant to Section 4.06 of this article, the board may designate a bank to serve as custodian or master trustee, or subcustodian or submaster trustee, to perform the customary duty of safekeeping as well as duties incident to the execution of transactions. As the demands of the pension system require, the board shall withdraw from the custodian or master trustee money previously considered surplus in excess of current cash and proceeds from the sale of investments. The money may without distinction be used for the payment of benefits pursuant to each of the plans within the pension system and for other uses authorized by this article and approved by the board.

(h) The board through policy shall establish an investment advisory committee composed of trustees and outside investment professionals to review investment related matters as prescribed by the board and make recommendations to the board. A majority of the members of the committee established under this subsection must be outside investment professionals.

Sec. 4.071. BOARD APPROVAL OF CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS. (a) The executive director, an investment manager, a provider of professional investment management services or professional advisory services, or any other person delegated authority to invest or reinvest pension system assets under this article may not invest pension system assets in a single alternative investment unless the board votes to approve the investment by at least a two-thirds vote of all the trustees.

(b) The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 4.08. ACTUARIAL VALUATION. (a) The board has the authority to employ a qualified actuary to provide a continuing observation of the operation of the pension system and to make recommendations and give advice to the board about the condition of the assets of the fund and the administration of the pension system. A qualified actuary shall receive such compensation as is determined by the board in accordance with Section 4.01 of this article.

(b) A qualified actuary shall perform continuing actuarial observation of the assets of the fund not less than once every two years and make a report of the condition of the assets of the fund to the board. The board may require more frequent reports.

(c) On written request by the city, the executive director shall make available to the city's actuary or auditor the information and documents provided to or used by the pension system's actuary or auditor in conducting an actuarial valuation under this article or preparing any other document prepared under this article.

Sec. 4.09. REWARDS, DONATIONS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS. Any reward, donation, or contribution given to any member as payment or gratuity for service performed in the line of duty shall be turned over to the chief of the member's department, who shall, in turn, forward the reward, donation, or contribution to the executive director of the pension system for deposit in the fund.

PART 5. MEMBERSHIP

Sec. 5.01. MEMBERSHIP IN COMBINED PENSION PLAN. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) of this section, the membership of the combined pension plan is composed of the following persons:

(1) Group A members:

(A) police officers or fire fighters who are on active service and who as of February 28, 1973, had filed a written statement with the pension system of their desire to participate in either the old plan or Plan A;

(B) police officers and fire fighters who are on active service and who were employed and receiving compensation from the city as a police officer or a fire fighter before March 1, 1973, and who made contributions to either the old plan or Plan A attributable to any period of employment before March 1, 1973; and

(C) except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, persons who elect to become Group A members under that subsection; and

(2) Group B members:

(A) police officers and fire fighters who are on active service and who were formerly members of either the old plan or Plan A and who, as of April 30, 1973, had filed a written statement with the pension system of their desire to participate in Plan B;

(B) police officers and fire fighters who are on active service and who on or after March 1, 1973, and before January 1, 1993, became members of Plan B;

(C) as a condition of employment, any police officer or fire fighter who is initially employed as a police officer or a fire fighter by the city on or after January 1, 1993;

(D) as a condition of return to active service and except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, former members of the old plan or Plan A who left active service before March 1, 1973;

(E) as a condition of return to active service and except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, former Group B members who are no longer on active service, whether or not the persons were ever a member of the old plan, Plan A, or the combined pension plan;

(F) Group A members who are on active service and meet the requirements and make an election under Subsection (d) of this section; and

(G) persons who are on active service and make an election under Subsection (e) of this section.

(a-1) Group A or Group B members do not include any employee of the city who is:

(1) required by ordinance or who elects, in accordance with an ordinance, to participate in an alternative benefit plan established under Section 3.01(j-1)(2) of this article based on an evaluation under Section 3.01(j-5)(2) of this article; or

(2) required by ordinance to participate in an alternative benefit plan established under Section 810.002, Government Code.

(b) A person who has received an old plan, Plan A, or combined pension plan retirement or disability pension on or after March 1, 1973, may, if the person returns to active service, elect to participate as a Group A or Group B member by filing a written application for membership with the executive director not later than 60 days after the date of return to active service. If the person described by this subsection does not elect to become a Group A or Group B member, the person shall on leaving active service receive a retirement pension in an amount that is unadjusted for the period of return to active service if the person meets all of the requirements of Group A membership.

(c) A Group B pensioner who was never a member of the old plan, Plan A, or the combined pension plan before January 1, 1993, may, if the person returns to active service, elect to become a Group B member by filing a written application for membership with the executive director not later than 60 days after the date of return to active service. If the person described by this subsection does not elect to again become a Group B member, on leaving active service, if the person meets all applicable requirements of this article, the person shall receive benefits in an amount equal to the amount the person was receiving as of the day before the day the person returned to active service, and the person's base pension shall be the same as the base pension originally computed before the return to active service.

(d) A person who is on active service and is a Group A member may, before the person participates in DROP, irrevocably elect to become a Group B member by filing a written application with the executive director. On and after the filing of the application, the Group A member shall make contributions to the fund at the rate applicable to Group B members. However, the contributions do not, by themselves, establish Group B membership. Group B membership is contingent on the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(1) the person must, before the person elects to participate in DROP, pay an amount to the fund equal to the difference between the contributions the person would have made to the fund had the person been a Group B member for the entire period the person could otherwise have been a Group B member before making application for membership and the contributions the person actually made during that period, plus interest calculated in accordance with procedures adopted by the board from time to time; and

(2) the payments described by this subsection must be completed before the earlier of the date on which the person begins participation in DROP or leaves active service in accordance with procedures adopted by the board from time to time.

(d-1) If the fund does not receive payment under Subsection (d)(1) of this section by the date prescribed by Subsection (d)(2) of this section, all payments made under Subsection (d)(1) of this section, as well as those contribution amounts paid by the person after the person's application for Group B membership that are in excess of the Group A member contribution rate, shall be returned without accrued interest to the person, or in the event of the person's death to the person's designee, as applicable.

(e) A person who is on active service and has never been a member of any plan within the pension system may elect to become a Group B member on a prospective basis by filing a written application for membership with the executive director.

Sec. 5.02. EFFECTIVE DATE OF GROUP B MEMBERSHIP. (a) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who becomes a Group B member under Section 5.01(a)(2)(A) or (B) of this article is the date the Group B member first became a member of Plan B.

(b) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who becomes a Group B member pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(2)(C) of this article is the day the person begins active service.

(c) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who becomes a Group B member and is described by Section 5.01(a)(2)(D) of this article is the date of the person's return to active service.

(d) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who again becomes a Group B member and is described by Section 5.01(a)(2)(E) of this article is the person's original effective date of Group B membership, adjusted for any period for which the person was not on active service or has withdrawn some, but not all, contributions to the fund pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article. If, however, the person withdraws all contributions to the fund in accordance with Section 4.04 of this article, and the person does not replace the previously withdrawn contributions together with interest as provided by Section 4.04(h-1) of this article, the effective date of the person's membership is the date of return to active service.

(e) The effective date of membership for a person who becomes a Group B member pursuant to Section 5.01(b) of this article is the date on which written application for the membership is filed with the executive director. The effective date of membership for a person who becomes a Group A member pursuant to Section 5.01(b) of this article is the person's original effective date of membership in the old plan, Plan A, or the combined pension plan, whichever is applicable.

(f) The effective date of Group B membership for a Group B pensioner who again becomes a Group B member pursuant to Section 5.01(c) of this article is the pensioner's original effective date of membership, adjusted for any period the person was not on active service.

(g) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who joins this plan pursuant to Section 5.01(d) of this article is March 1, 1973.

(h) A person described by Subsection (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of this section shall be given full pension service for the time the person was a contributing member of the old plan, Plan A, the combined pension plan, and Plan B, and the pension service shall be counted as if it had been earned while a Group B member. Neither the length of time persons described by Subsection (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of this section received a retirement or disability pension, whether under the old plan, Plan A, the combined pension plan or Plan B, nor the amount of any benefits paid to the person shall have any effect on the pension service earned by the person. No pension service may be earned while on service retirement or disability retirement, or when the person was not on active service. Except as provided by Sections 5.08 and 5.09 of this article, a person described by Subsection (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of this section may not be allowed to contribute to the fund in order to receive pension service for the time the person was not on active service, regardless of whether the person was actually receiving a pension.

(i) The effective date of Group B membership for a person who becomes a Group B member pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of this article is the date on which written application for Group B membership is filed with the executive director.

Sec. 5.03. TERMINATION OF GROUP B MEMBERSHIP. (a) Group B membership, whether by voluntary application or as a condition of employment, may be terminated by the Group B member only when the person ceases to be on active service.

(b) Once a police officer or fire fighter becomes a Group B member, whether by voluntary application or as a condition of employment, the person may never transfer the membership to become a Group A member and may never transfer the membership to any pension plan for police officers and fire fighters that may be created in the future unless the terms of that plan allow the transfer.

(c) A Group B member who is on active service and was a former contributing member of either the old plan or Plan A may elect, when applying for either a retirement or disability pension if applicable, to terminate membership and receive a Group A retirement or disability pension under the applicable provisions of this article, if the Group B member's application for retirement or disability pension is granted by the board.

(c-1) A Group B member who is not on active service and was a former contributing member of either the old plan or Plan A may elect, when applying for a retirement pension, to terminate membership and receive a Group A retirement pension under the applicable provisions of this article, if the Group B member's application for retirement pension is granted by the board.

(d) If a Group B member described by Subsection (c) or (c-1) of this section has elected and been granted a Group A retirement or disability pension under the applicable provisions of this article, the person is entitled to a reimbursement from the fund. The reimbursement shall be equal to that portion of the person's contributions to the fund, without interest, from the person's effective date of Group B membership until the time the person left active service that is in excess of the total amount the person would have contributed as a Group A member or as a member of the old plan or Plan A for the same period. A Group B member desiring a refund of excess contributions must make written application for the refund with the executive director within three years after the date the person's Group A retirement or disability pension, whichever is applicable, begins, otherwise, the person will lose all right, title, interest, or claim to the refund until such time as the board grants the refund in response to the person's written request. The refund shall be made as soon as practicable after written application is filed with the executive director.

Sec. 5.04. GROUP B MEMBERSHIP MAY BE DECLARED INACTIVE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d)(1) of this section, if a Group B member with less than five years of pension service either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service, the person's Group B membership remains active as long as the person has not withdrawn the person's contributions pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d)(2) of this section, if a Group B member with five or more years of pension service either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service, the person's Group B membership remains active as long as the person has not withdrawn the person's entire contributions pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d)(3) of this section, if the board receives valid information that a Group B primary party has died, the board shall, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, attempt to notify:

(1) the qualified survivors of the primary party of the procedures for applying and qualifying for death benefits under Section 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, or 6.063 of this article; or

(2) if the primary party does not have any qualified survivors, the primary party's designee of the procedures for applying for a refund of the primary party's contributions, if applicable, in accordance with Section 4.04 of this article.

(d)(1) Subject to the provisions of Subdivision (5)(A) of this subsection, the membership of a Group B member described by Subsection (a) of this section shall be declared inactive and all of the person's accrued pension service voided if the person does not return to active service within three years after the date of the notice described by Subdivision (4) of this subsection.

(2) Subject to the provisions of Subdivision (5)(B) of this subsection, the membership of a Group B member described by Subsection (b) of this section shall be declared inactive and all of the person's accrued pension service voided if the person does not file an application for a Group B retirement pension with the board within three years after the date of the notice described by Subdivision (4) of this subsection.

(3) Subject to the provisions of Subdivision (5)(C) of this subsection, if a primary party described by Subsection (c) of this section:

(A) does not have any qualified survivors, the designee has no right, title, interest, or claim for a refund of the primary party's contributions to the fund if the designee does not file an application for the primary party's contributions within three years after the date of the notice described in Subsection (c) of this section; or

(B) has qualified survivors, the qualified survivors have no right, title, interest, or claim to the primary party's death benefits if the qualified survivor does not file an application for the benefits within three years after the date of the notice described in Subsection (c) of this section.

(4) On the 58th anniversary of the birth of a Group B member described by Subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the board shall, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, attempt to notify:

(A) the member of the status of the member's entitlement to benefits or contributions from the fund; or

(B) if the board receives valid information that the member has died, the qualified survivors of the deceased person or, if none exists, the designee of the deceased person.

(5)(A) A Group B member described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall have the person's Group B membership and pension service reinstated on the person's return to active service.

(B) A Group B member described by Subdivision (2) of this subsection shall have the person's Group B membership and pension service reinstated on the person's return to active service or on the grant of the person's written request to the board of the person's desire to apply for a Group B retirement pension under Section 6.02 of this article.

(C) A primary party's qualified survivors or designee, as appropriate, described by Subdivision (3) of this subsection shall have their right, title, interest, or claim to the primary party's refund of the party's contributions reinstated on the board's grant of their written request.

Sec. 5.05. PENSION SERVICE. (a) Subject to Subsection (d) of this section and except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, a member shall receive pension service for the time, computed in years and fractional years for months and days, completed as a member of the combined pension plan, the old plan, Plan A, or Plan B.

(b) A member who elects to pay contributions for time spent on military leave, authorized non-uniformed leave of absence, or for an apprenticeship or probationary period, or for any other reason provided for by this article may receive pension service for the time for which the member is contributing only to the extent provided under Section 5.07(d), 5.08, or 5.09 of this article.

(c) If a member, either voluntarily or involuntarily, leaves active service and later returns to active service, the person shall receive full pension service for the period of the person's original membership, if the person did not withdraw the person's contributions pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article. If, however, the member had withdrawn the person's contributions and did not replace the previously withdrawn contributions as required by Section 4.04 of this article, the member forfeits any pension service attributable to any period of time for which the respective contributions were not repaid.

(d) If a member is assigned, for any period, to a job-sharing program or any similar work schedule that is considered by the member's department to be less than a full-time work schedule, the member's pension service is determined by multiplying the pension service that could have been earned for full-time work during the period by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours the member actually worked during the period and the denominator of which is the number of hours the member would have worked during the period if the member had been working a full-time work schedule. This proration may not affect the computation of pension service for a member during any period the member is on leave:

(1) because of an illness or injury; or

(2) receiving periodic payments of workers' compensation.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, a member may not receive pension service attributable to nonqualified service to the extent the pension service would result in either more than five years of permissive service attributable to nonqualified service being taken into account, or any permissive service being taken into account before the member has completed at least five years of active service. In this subsection, "permissive service" and "nonqualified service" have the meanings described by Section 415(n)(3) of the code.

Sec. 5.06. VESTED RIGHTS OF GROUP B MEMBERS. (a) If a Group B member accrues five years of pension service, whether the pension service is accrued while a Group B member or while a member of the old plan, Plan B, Plan A, the combined pension plan, or a combination of the plans, the Group B member has vested rights and is eligible to apply for a retirement pension in accordance with Section 6.02 of this article.

(b) If a Group B member has vested rights as determined under Subsection (a) of this section, and the Group B member either voluntarily or involuntarily leaves active service before becoming eligible to receive any benefits under Section 6.02 of this article, the person shall be provided with a letter approved by the board and signed by the executive director that, barring unrepaid refunds, clerical error, miscalculation, or other error, is incontestable and shall state:

(1) the total amount of pension service the Group B member had accrued until the date the person left active service;

(2) the total amount of contributions the Group B member made under the terms of Plan B and the combined pension plan; and

(3) the monthly retirement pension due the Group B member at age 58.

Sec. 5.07. PURCHASE OF PENSION SERVICE BY GROUP B MEMBERS. (a) A Group B member who is on active service and has previously elected not to become a contributing member of the old plan or Plan A may purchase pension service from the fund for that period during which the member performed active service with either department until the effective date of the member's Group B membership. No pension service may be given to the Group B member except to the extent that payment is made for the pension service in accordance with Subsection (d) of this section.

(b) Payment for the purchase of pension service under Subsection (a) of this section shall be equal to the amount of contributions the Group B member would have made to the old plan and Plan A had the member been a contributing member of either of the plans during the period for which the pension service is being purchased, plus interest calculated in accordance with procedures adopted by the board from time to time.

(c) Subject to Subsection (d) of this section, a Group B member who is on active service may repay the fund all or a portion of the employee contributions withdrawn by an alternate payee pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order with interest, calculated at the interest rate from time to time used in the pension system's actuarial rate of return assumptions, compounded annually, on the contributions for the period from the date the contributions were withdrawn until the date the principal and accrued interest are repaid, and receive pension service as a Group B member, in accordance with Subsection (d) of this section, for the period for which the contributions and interest were paid.

(d) If payment of the entire amount of pension service a member is entitled to under Subsection (a) or (c) of this section or under Section 4.04(h-1) of this article is not completed by the earlier of the date the Group B member begins participation in DROP or the date the member leaves active service, pension service will be provided only for the number of full years of pension service that the contributions and interest paid under those provisions will purchase, computed based on the most recent years for which the member was entitled to purchase pension service. Except for pension service that is picked up by the city under the authority of Section 414(h)(2) of the code, a fractional year of pension service may be purchased only if less than a full year of pension service is available for purchase.

(e) The amounts paid but insufficient to purchase one or more whole years of pension service that remain available for purchase, including any interest paid by the Group B member, must be returned to the Group B member or, if the Group B member has died, to the Group B member's designee, without any accrued interest on the returned money.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any amounts that have been picked up and paid by the city may not be paid to a member or designee, and the member shall be given credit for all years, and fractions of years, of pension service that can be purchased with the picked-up contributions.

Sec. 5.08. MEMBERS IN UNIFORMED SERVICES. (a) In this section, "service in the uniformed services" has the meaning assigned by the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq.), as amended.

(a-1) A member who is reemployed by the city after an absence due to service in the uniformed services shall receive contributions, benefits, and pension service that are no less favorable than those required by Section 414(u) of the code in accordance with the procedure described by Subsection (c) of this section.

(b) To the extent a provision of this section that was in effect before November 25, 1996, would provide a member who was on active service with the pension system before November 25, 1996, with greater rights, the prior provision of this section applies.

(c) Payment for credit for pension service under this section shall be made in accordance with Section 5.07 of this article and a uniform and nondiscriminatory procedure adopted by the board.

Sec. 5.09. NON-UNIFORMED LEAVE OF ABSENCE. (a) An "authorized non-uniformed leave of absence" means any leave of absence that meets one of the following requirements:

(1) the leave of absence was unpaid and granted by the member's department in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.); or

(2) the leave of absence was unpaid and was an official leave authorized and certified by the chief of the member's department as being beneficial to the department.

(b) Subject to the requirements of this section and any procedures adopted by the board, a member may receive pension service for time spent away from the member's department on an authorized non-uniformed leave of absence. To receive pension service under this section, the member must file with the executive director a written application to pay to the fund both:

(1) the member contributions the member would have made to the fund had the member remained on active service and had there been no change in the member's position or hours of work during the period of the authorized non-uniformed leave of absence; and

(2) the contributions the city would have made to the fund on the member's behalf had the member remained on active service and had there been no change in the member's position or hours of work during the period of the authorized non-uniformed leave of absence.

(b-1) Contributions made under Subsection (b)(2) of this section may not be refunded to the member.

(b-2) The written application described by Subsection (b) of this section must be filed before the member's authorized non-uniformed leave of absence begins, unless the pension system determines that it would not be reasonable to expect the member to file the application before the authorized non-uniformed leave of absence begins, in which case the application must be filed as soon as circumstances permit, as determined by the pension system.

(b-3) To receive pension service under this section, the following additional conditions must also be met:

(1) if the member's contribution rate, the city's contribution rate, or both the member's and city's contribution rates change before the end of the member's authorized non-uniformed leave of absence, the percentage required to be paid by the member also changes, so that the amount paid by the member in accordance with this section always equals the amount that would have been contributed by the member, and by the city on the member's behalf had the member remained on active service;

(2) payment of contributions as set forth in Subsection (b) of this section shall begin coincident with the beginning of the applicable authorized non-uniformed leave of absence and shall be made monthly to the executive director for deposit in the fund, unless the board authorizes the deferment of the payments, in which case the payments must include interest calculated in accordance with Subsection (b-4) of this section;

(3) no pension service will be granted to the member until the member returns to active service, and if the member does not return to active service, the contributions paid, including any interest paid, will be returned to the member except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section;

(4) if the board authorizes the deferment of the payments under Subdivision (2) of this subsection, the payment must be made either by authorizing the deduction of pro rata portions of the total amount due from the member's salary over a one-year period, or by cash payment made to the executive director within one year after the date of the member's return to active service, except that the board may approve a longer period for making the payment if it finds that the one-year limit would work a financial hardship on the member;

(5) the member must return to active service within 90 days after the date the member's authorized non-uniformed leave of absence expires, or if the member's authorized non-uniformed leave of absence does not have a fixed expiration date, within a reasonable time to be determined by the board, or the member forfeits the right to pay for the leave time; and

(6) no member may ever be allowed to pay leave of absence contributions under this section for any time in excess of the time actually spent on an authorized non-uniformed leave of absence.

(b-4) For purposes of Subsection (b-3)(2) of this section, interest is calculated from the date the member's payment was first due, at the interest rate from time to time used in the pension system's actuarial rate of return assumptions, compounded annually until the date the principal and accrued interest are repaid in full.

(c)(1) If a member of the combined pension plan is disabled or dies while on an authorized non-uniformed leave of absence, the member or the member's designee is entitled to a refund of contributions pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article or the member or the member's qualified survivors are entitled to benefits under the provisions of this article, to the extent applicable.

(2) A member who is disabled or dies while on an authorized non-uniformed leave of absence pursuant to this section may receive no pension service for any portion of the period of the leave, except that if the member had, before the member's disability or death, paid for contributions while on an authorized non-uniformed leave of absence in accordance with this section, the member shall receive pension service for the leave time actually paid for at the time of the member's disability or death. The member may receive no pension service for any portion of the period of leave for which contributions were not paid to the executive director for deposit in the fund.

PART 6. BENEFITS

Sec. 6.01. GROUP A RETIREMENT PENSION. (a) A Group A member must have 20 years of pension service to be eligible for a Group A retirement pension under this section. A member's benefit election under this section, once approved, is irrevocable.

(a-1) If a Group A pensioner returns to active service as a police officer or fire fighter with the city, the person's Group A retirement pension ceases until that person again leaves active service with the city.

(a-2) If a Group A pensioner resumes employment with the city in a capacity other than as a police officer or fire fighter, the pensioner's Group A retirement pension continues during the period of employment, except the pensioner may not accrue additional credit for pension service during this period. Additional credit for pension service does not accrue during any period in which a Group A pensioner becomes employed by the city unless the additional credit is attributable to active service as a police officer or fire fighter with the city.

(b) At age 50 a Group A member is eligible to begin drawing a monthly Group A retirement pension. A monthly Group A retirement pension equals 50 percent of the base pay per month, plus 50 percent of any longevity pay the Group A member was receiving at the time the member left active service. Although the number of years used in the computation of longevity pay remains fixed at the earlier of the time a Group A member leaves active service or begins participation in DROP, the monthly rate of longevity pay used in this computation is subject to change in the event of an amendment to the state law governing longevity pay. The monthly Group A retirement pension benefits of Group A pensioners shall be adjusted from time to time in a like manner.

(c) In addition to the amount computed under Subsection (b) of this section, at age 50, a Group A member is eligible to begin drawing an annual Group A retirement pension. An annual retirement pension equals 50 percent of the difference between the annualized amount of city service incentive pay and longevity pay. In determining city service incentive pay and longevity pay for purposes of this element of the annual Group A retirement pension only the following apply:

(1) City service incentive pay is calculated in the same manner as the city service incentive pay is calculated for members currently on active service except:

(A) the annual salary of a Group A pensioner used in calculating city service incentive pay is determined on the basis of the last city civil service rank held by the Group A pensioner when the person was on active service; however, if the rank no longer exists, its closest equivalent shall be determined by the board and applied; and

(B) the annual salary of a Group A pensioner as determined under Paragraph (A) of this subdivision shall be that amount in effect on the last day of September of each year the Group A pensioner's annual retirement pension is calculated.

(2) Longevity pay shall be calculated as 12 times the amount of monthly longevity pay the Group A pensioner was receiving at the time such person left active service, except that the monthly rate of longevity pay used in this computation is subject to change if an amendment to state law governing longevity pay is enacted.

(d) The element of annual retirement pension computed under Subsection (c)(1) of this section is subject to the following limitations:

(1) it shall be prorated for the year in which the pensioner begins receiving a retirement pension;

(2) it shall be payable only to those Group A pensioners who, as Group A members on active service, received city service incentive pay and who receive a monthly Group A retirement pension as determined under Subsection (b) of this section on the last day of September of each year; and

(3) it shall be paid to Group A pensioners as long as the city continues to pay city service incentive pay to Group A members on active service.

(4) Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a Group A member with a minimum of 20 years of pension service may apply for an actuarially reduced retirement pension to begin no earlier than when the member attains age 45 but before the member attains age 50. The Group A member who has made an application may receive a retirement pension calculated under Subsections (b) and (c) of this section reduced by two-thirds of one percent per month for each whole calendar month the benefit is payable before the month in which the Group A member attains age 50.

(e) At age 55 a Group A member is eligible to begin drawing a monthly retirement pension computed as follows:

(1)(A) at the rate of three percent of base pay for each year, prorated for fractional years, of pension service, with a maximum of 32 years of pension service, or 96 percent of base pay; or

(B) if the Group A member had 34 or more years of pension service as of April 30, 1990, then the member's retirement pension is calculated at the rate calculated under the terms of the combined pension plan in effect on April 30, 1990, if the resulting amount would be greater than the amount calculated under Paragraph (A) of this subdivision; plus

(2) one-half of the longevity pay the Group A member was receiving at the time the person left active service; plus

(3) 1/24th, without subsequent adjustment, of the annualized amount of the city service incentive pay the Group A member received at the time the person left active service.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (e) of this section, base pay and longevity pay are the amounts in effect on the earlier of the date the member begins participation in DROP or the date benefits are to begin, without subsequent adjustment.

(g) Notwithstanding Subsection (e) of this section, a Group A member with 20 or more years of pension service may apply for an actuarially reduced Group A retirement pension beginning on or after the date the Group A member attains age 50 but before the person attains age 55. The Group A member may receive a retirement pension calculated under Subsection (e) of this section reduced by two-thirds of one percent per month for each whole calendar month the benefit is payable before the month in which the Group A member attains age 55.

(h) Entitlement to the Group A retirement pension described by this section is subject to the following conditions:

(1) a written application must be filed with the executive director;

(2) the grant of a Group A retirement pension by the board must be made at a meeting of the board held during the month the retirement pension is to become effective, or as soon after that as administratively possible; and

(3) the Group A member must no longer be on active service.

Sec. 6.02. GROUP B RETIREMENT PENSION. (a) If a Group B member has accrued five or more years of pension service, is no longer on active service with the department, has not withdrawn the member's contributions, and otherwise meets the age and pension service requirements under the applicable provision of this section, the member may apply for a Group B retirement pension under this section. A member's benefit election application under a provision of this section, once approved, is irrevocable.

(a-1) If a Group B pensioner returns to active service as a police officer or fire fighter with the city, the person's Group B retirement pension ceases until that person again leaves active service with the city.

(a-2) If a Group B pensioner resumes employment with the city in a capacity other than as a police officer or fire fighter, the pensioner's Group B retirement pension continues during the period of employment except the pensioner may not accrue additional credit for pension service during this period. Additional credit for pension service does not accrue during any period in which a Group B pensioner becomes employed by the city unless the additional credit is attributable to active service as a police officer or fire fighter with the city.

(b) A Group B member who began active service before March 1, 2011, and who has attained at least 50 years of age, or who began active service on or after March 1, 2011, and has attained at least 58 years of age, and who otherwise meets the requirements of Subsection (a) of this section may elect to receive a Group B retirement pension that shall be calculated as follows:

(1) for a member who began active service before March 1, 2011, the member's retirement pension shall be the sum of:

(A) the number of years of pension service before September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times three percent of the average computation pay determined over the 36 consecutive months of pension service in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay; plus

(B) the number of years of pension service on or after September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times the applicable percentage prescribed by Subsection (b-1) of this section of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay; or

(2) for a member who began active service on or after March 1, 2011, the member's retirement pension shall be the number of years of pension service, prorated for fractional years, times 2.5 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the member received the highest computation pay.

(b-1) For purposes of Subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section, the applicable percentage is based on the age of the Group B member when the member's retirement pension begins as set forth below:


Age of Member When Retirement Pension Begins		Percent
58 and older		2.5%
57		2.4%
56		2.3%
55		2.2%
54		2.1%
53 and younger		2.0%

(b-2) Days during which the member earned no pension service due to a termination of active service or otherwise must be disregarded in determining the 36 or 60 consecutive months of highest computation pay under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section, as appropriate. The pension benefit calculated under Subsection (b) of this section may not exceed the greater of:

(1) 90 percent of the member's average computation pay determined under the applicable subsection; or

(2) the vested and accrued benefit of a member as determined on August 31, 2017.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this section, a Group B member who has either attained at least 45 years of age on September 1, 2017, or who attains at least 53 years of age after September 1, 2017, and who otherwise meets the requirements of Subsection (a) of this section may elect to receive an actuarially reduced Group B retirement pension calculated in accordance with Subsection (c-1) of this section:

(1) not earlier than the member's 45th or 53rd birthday, as applicable; and

(2) not later than the member's 50th or 58th birthday, as applicable.

(c-1) Except as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this section and subject to Section 6.021 of this article, a Group B member who applies for an actuarially reduced Group B retirement pension under Subsection (c) of this section shall receive a pension calculated under Subsection (b) of this section, reduced by two-thirds of one percent per month, for each whole calendar month the benefit is payable before the month in which the member attains:

(1) for members who attained at least 45 years of age on September 1, 2017, 50 years of age; or

(2) for members not described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection who attain at least 53 years of age after September 1, 2017, 58 years of age.

(c-2) Subject to Subsection (d-3) of this section and for purposes of Subsection (c-1) of this section, if a Group B member's pension benefit calculated under Subsection (b) of this section is equal to 90 percent of the member's average computation pay, the member is entitled to a Group B retirement pension under Subsection (c) of this section at 45 or 53 years of age, as applicable, that is not actuarially reduced as provided under Subsection (c-1) of this section.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-2) of this section, a Group B member who has accrued 20 or more years of pension service and has been on active service at any time on or after January 1, 1999, may elect to apply for a Group B retirement pension beginning at any time after the Group B member leaves active service, regardless of age. A Group B member may elect a Group B retirement pension under this subsection as follows:

(1) if the member accrued 20 or more years of pension service on or before September 1, 2017, the member may elect a pension under this subsection that is computed in the same manner as the Group B retirement pension under Subsection (b)(1) of this section except that the percentage set forth below must be used instead of the three percent multiplier prescribed by Subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section:


Age of Member When Retirement Pension Begins		Percent
48 and 49		2.75%
47		2.5%
46		2.25%
45 and younger		2%; and

(2) except as provided by Subsection (d-2) of this section and subject to Section 6.021 of this article, if the member accrued 20 or more years of pension service after September 1, 2017, the member may elect a pension under this subsection computed in the same manner as the Group B retirement pension under Subsection (b)(2) of this section except that the percentage set forth below must be used instead of the 2.5 percent multiplier prescribed by Subsection (b)(2) of this section:


Age of Member When Retirement Pension Begins		Percent
57		2.4%
56		2.3%
55		2.2%
54		2.1%
53 and younger		2.0%

(d-1) A member who elects a pension under Subsection (d) of this section is not entitled to:

(1) minimum benefits under either Section 6.10A or 6.11 of this article; or

(2) benefits under Subsection (g) of this section.

(d-2) Subject to Subsection (d-3) of this section and for purposes of Subsection (d) of this section, if a Group B member's pension benefit calculated under Subsection (b) of this section is equal to 90 percent of the member's average computation pay, the member is entitled to a Group B retirement pension under Subsection (d) of this section that is not reduced as provided under Subsection (d)(1) or (2) of this section.

(d-3) For purposes of Subsections (c-2) and (d-2) of this section, a Group B member's pension benefit calculated under Subsection (b) of this section shall be calculated without application of any reduction under Subsection (b-1) of this section.

(e) A Group B member or former Group B member with 34 or more years of pension service as of April 30, 1990, is entitled to receive the greater of a Group B retirement pension calculated under the terms of Plan B as in effect on that date or a Group B retirement pension calculated pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section.

(f) Deleted.

(g) In no event may any Group B member who was at any time a Group A member or a contributing member of the old plan or Plan A, and who satisfied the applicable age and length-of-service requirements of the applicable plan at the time the person left active service, receive a retirement pension in an amount less than the amount the person would be entitled to receive as a Group A member.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a Group B member who was not a Group B member on or after January 1, 1993, shall receive a retirement pension calculated under the applicable provisions of Plan B as that plan existed on the date the member terminated active service.

(i) Entitlement to a Group B retirement pension under Subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this section is subject to the following conditions:

(1) a written application must be filed with the executive director;

(2) the grant of the Group B retirement pension by the board must be made at a meeting of the board held during the month the retirement pension is to become effective, or as soon after as administratively possible; and

(3) the Group B member may no longer be on active service.

Sec. 6.021. AUTHORITY TO ADOPT ALTERNATIVE MULTIPLIERS FOR COMPUTATION OF CERTAIN GROUP B BENEFITS. (a) For purposes of Section 6.02(c-1) or (d)(2) of this article, the board by rule may adopt alternative multipliers, including an alternative table prescribing actuarially appropriate multipliers. In adopting rules under this subsection, the board shall designate the date on which the alternative multiplier shall take effect.

(b) Copies of any alternative multipliers adopted under this section must be maintained at the principal office of the pension system and published on the pension system's publicly available Internet website.

Sec. 6.022. AUTHORITY TO REDUCE RETIREMENT AGE. Notwithstanding any other law, the board may reduce the age at which a Group B member is eligible to begin receiving a retirement pension, including an actuarially reduced retirement pension, under Section 6.02 of this article if the board determines that the reduction will not cause the amortization period of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system to exceed 25 years, after taking into account the impact of the reduction. A board action under this section may not take effect until the State Pension Review Board reviews the board's determination described by this section.

Sec. 6.03. DISABILITY BENEFITS. (a) If a member who is on active service, other than a member participating in DROP, becomes disabled to the extent that the member cannot perform the member's duties with the member's department, the member may apply for a disability pension, subject to any uniform and nondiscriminatory disability application procedure and recall and review procedure adopted by the board and in effect from time to time.

(b) No disability pension may be paid until a member has been prevented, by a disability, from performing the member's duties with the member's department for a period of at least 90 consecutive calendar days, and no disability benefits may be paid for any portion of the 90-day period. The board may waive the waiting period on request by the member, if the request is supported by credible evidence acceptable to the board that the disability is wholly and immediately incapacitating. The board may request from the city such information, including any employment application and any related physical test and medical examination records, as may be desirable in evaluating the disability application.

(c) No disability pension may be paid for any disability if the disability was a result of the member's commission of a felony, except that this restriction may be waived by the board if it believes that facts exist that would mitigate the denial of the member's application for a disability pension.

(d) No disability pension may be paid to a member for any disability if the disability was a result of an intentionally self-inflicted injury or a chronic illness resulting from an addiction by the member through a protracted course of indulgence in alcohol, narcotics, or other substance abuse that was not coerced.

(e) No disability pension may be paid until the health director has either examined the member or reviewed reports of the member's physical or mental condition submitted to the health director by competent outside medical practitioners.

(f) No disability pension may be paid if the chief of the member's department is able to provide the member with duties that are within the member's physical or mental capabilities, even though the duties are different from the duties the member performed before the disability.

(g) Written application for a disability pension must be filed with the executive director not later than the 180th day after the date the member leaves active service. The application must be accompanied by a recommendation from the health director. This recommendation shall contain a statement indicating whether the member became disabled while the member was on duty or off duty and whether the disability was service-connected or was not service-connected.

(h) The recommendation from the health director shall also contain a statement indicating the date the member became disabled or indicating that the disability prevented the member from performing the member's duties for a period of not less than 90 days.

(i) An application for disability retirement will be considered at the meeting of the board held during the month the disability pension is to become effective or as soon after the effective date of the disability pension as possible. No disability pension may be paid, however, until the board has approved the application.

(j) If a person who became a Group B member pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(2)(E) of this article withdraws the person's contributions pursuant to Section 4.04 of this article and leaves active service with vested rights in the old plan, Plan A, or the combined pension plan in existence before January 1, 1993, the Group B member must, on return to active service, earn five years of pension service after the date of return to receive a Group B disability pension. If the Group B member is disabled before earning five years of pension service following a return to active service, the person may receive only a Group A disability pension.

(k) For purposes of Sections 6.04 and 6.05 of this article and this section:

(1) longevity pay and incentive pay are the amounts in effect on the date the benefits are to begin, without subsequent adjustment; and

(2) except as provided by Section 6.05(b-1) of this article, base pay is the amount in effect on the date benefits are to begin, without subsequent adjustment.

(l) Notwithstanding any other law, Subchapter B, Chapter 607, Government Code, applies to all members without regard to the employing department or job assignment.

Sec. 6.035. DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN PERSONS IN UNIFORMED SERVICES. (a) In this section, "uniformed services" has the meaning assigned by the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq.).

(b) This section applies to a person who was released from the uniformed services after December 17, 2001, under conditions that would have made the person eligible for benefits under Section 414(u) of the code if the person could have returned to active service.

(c) If a person subject to this section was unable to return to active service by reason of disability incurred while on a leave of absence due to service in the uniformed services, that person is entitled to a regular disability pension in accordance with Section 6.03 of this article, calculated in accordance with Section 6.04 of this article.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 6.03(g) of this article, a written application for a disability pension must be filed not later than the 180th day after the date of the person's release from the uniformed services.

(e) A person subject to this section is entitled to receive pension service for the period of service with the uniformed services only to the extent that contributions are made for that period in accordance with this article.

Sec. 6.04. CALCULATION OF REGULAR DISABILITY BENEFITS. (a) Subject to Subsection (g) of this section, if a Group A member's application for a Group A disability pension has been approved by the board pursuant to Section 6.03 of this article, including any procedures adopted under that section, the Group A member may elect to receive a Group A disability pension calculated:

(1) in the same manner as the benefit under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article; or

(2) under Subsection (c) of this section.

(b) An election under Subsection (a) of this section, once approved by the board, is irrevocable.

(c) Subject to Subsection (g) of this section, a Group A member who elects to have benefits determined under this subsection is entitled to a monthly disability pension calculated as follows:

(1) at a rate of three percent of base pay for each year, prorated for fractional years, of pension service, with a maximum of 32 years of pension service being credited, or 96 percent of base pay, except that if the Group A member had 34 or more years of pension service as of April 30, 1990, the member is entitled to receive the greater of a disability pension calculated under the terms of the combined pension plan in effect on that date or as calculated under this subdivision; plus

(2) one-half of the longevity pay the Group A member was receiving at the time the member left active service; plus

(3) subject to Subsection (d) of this section, 1/24th of the annualized amount of city service incentive pay the Group A member received at the time the member left active service.

(c-1) The disability pension calculated under Subsection (c) of this section may not exceed the greater of:

(1) 90 percent of the member's average base pay determined under the applicable subsection; or

(2) the vested and accrued disability pension of the member as determined on August 31, 2017.

(d) Payments of the amounts described by Subsection (c)(3) of this section are contingent on the city's continuing payment of city service incentive pay to Group A members on active service.

(e) If a Group B member's application for a Group B disability pension has been approved by the board under Section 6.03 of this article, including any procedures adopted under that section, the Group B member may elect to receive a Group B disability pension calculated in the manner described by Subsection (f) or (f-1) of this section, subject to Subsection (g) of this section.

(f) Subject to Subsections (f-1), (f-3), and (g) of this section, the disability pension of a Group B member shall be calculated as follows:

(1) for a member who began active service before March 1, 2011, the member's disability pension shall be the sum of:

(A) the member's number of years of pension service earned before September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times three percent of the average computation pay determined over the 36 consecutive months of pension service in which the member received the highest computation pay; plus

(B) the number of years of pension service, including pension service credit imputed under Section 6.05(c) of this article, earned on or after September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times 2.5 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the member received the highest computation pay; or

(2) for a member who began active service on or after March 1, 2011, the member's disability pension shall be the number of years of pension service, including pension service credit imputed under Section 6.05(c) of this article, prorated for fractional years, times 2.5 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the member received the highest computation pay.

(f-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (f) of this section, for a Group B member who had 34 or more years of pension service as of April 30, 1990, the member is entitled to receive the greater of a disability pension calculated under the terms of Plan B in effect on April 30, 1990, or calculated under Subsection (f) of this section.

(f-2) For purposes of Subsections (f) and (f-1) of this section:

(1) any partial year of pension service for a Group B member's first 20 years of pension service is counted as a full year of pension service, if the member was considered by the member's department to have worked a normal full-time schedule at the time of the disability;

(2) if the member has less than 36 or 60 consecutive months of pension service, as applicable, the member's average computation pay will be computed based on the member's entire pension service; and

(3) days during which the member earned no pension service due to a termination of active service or otherwise must be disregarded in determining the 36 or 60 consecutive months of highest computation pay.

(f-3) The disability pension calculated under Subsection (f) or (f-1) of this section may not exceed the greater of:

(1) 90 percent of the member's average computation pay determined under the applicable subsection; or

(2) the vested and accrued disability pension of the member as determined on August 31, 2017.

(g) The disability pension calculated in accordance with this section, including both a Group A benefit described by Subsection (a) of this section and a Group B benefit described by Subsection (f) of this section, shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar by any monthly disability compensation benefit received under Section 6.05 of this article. If the monthly disability compensation benefit provided to a member under Section 6.05 of this article equals or exceeds any benefit the member is entitled to under this section or Section 6.01(b) or (c) of this article, the member may not receive the benefit under this section.

Sec. 6.05. COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. (a) If a member leaves active service at any time due to disability and the board determines that the member with the disability became unable to perform the member's duties with the member's department due to an injury or sickness incurred in the performance of the member's duties, the member is entitled to periodic disability compensation benefits in accordance with this section.

(b) Subject to Subsection (b-1), a Group A member whose disability, as determined by the board, was caused by an injury or sickness incurred in the performance of the member's duty shall receive a monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the member's base pay. For purposes of this subsection, "base pay" is the amount in effect on the date compensation benefits under this section are to begin, without subsequent adjustment.

(b-1) Instead of receiving a periodic disability compensation benefit under Subsection (b) of this section, a Group A member who is entitled to periodic disability compensation benefits under this section may elect, before the benefits begin, to receive those benefits as a monthly benefit equal to 50 percent of the member's base pay adjusted from time to time to reflect changes in base pay that occur after the member began receiving a monthly compensation benefit under this section.

(c) A Group B member whose disability, as determined by the board, was caused by an injury or sickness incurred in the performance of the member's duty shall receive a monthly benefit equal to the disability pension under Sections 6.04(f), (f-1), (f-2), and (f-3) of this article except that if the member:

(1) does not have 20 years of pension service, the member is considered to have 20 years of pension service for the purposes of calculating the disability pension under that section; and

(2) has less than 36 or 60 consecutive months, as applicable, of employment with the department, the member's average computation pay will be computed based on all the member's computation pay, and days during which the member earned no pension service due to a termination of active service or otherwise must be disregarded in determining either the 36 or 60 consecutive months of highest computation pay.

(d) Redesignated as Sec. 6.055 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.35, eff. September 1, 2017.

(e) For purposes of Subsection (d) of this section, the phrase "earned income" means income earned by a Group B pensioner in the form of wages, salaries, commissions, fees, tips, unemployment benefits, and other amounts received by virtue of employment or self-employment but paid before any deduction for taxes or insurance. In addition, earned income also includes those amounts contributed on a before-tax basis to any retirement plan or employee health and welfare benefit plan.

Sec. 6.055. REDUCTION IN DISABILITY OR COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) In this section, "earned income" means income earned by a Group B pensioner in the form of wages, salaries, commissions, fees, tips, unemployment benefits, and other amounts received by virtue of employment or self-employment but paid before any deduction for taxes or insurance. In addition, earned income also includes those amounts contributed on a before-tax basis to any retirement plan or employee health and welfare benefit plan.

(b) The board shall require any Group B pensioner who became a member of Plan B or the combined pension plan on or after May 1, 1990, and who is receiving a Group B disability pension under Section 6.04 of this article or a periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article to provide the board annually, on or before July 1 of each year, with a true and complete copy of those portions of the person's federal and, if applicable, state tax return, including appropriate schedules, for the previous calendar year that indicate the person's occupations, if any, and earned income for the previous calendar year. If the pensioner did not file a tax return for the previous calendar year, the board may require other documentation reflecting the pensioner's occupation or earned income that the board determines appropriate.

(c) The pension system may waive the July 1 date under Subsection (b) of this section in lieu of one later in the same calendar year if the Group B pensioner provides the board with a true and complete copy of a grant of an extension of time for the filing of the person's tax return from the appropriate governmental agency or a true and complete copy of an extension request that results in any automatic extension.

(d) If, after evaluating the information received under Subsection (b) of this section, the board finds the Group B pensioner is or has been receiving earned income from one or more employments, including self-employment, during the preceding year, the board shall reduce future disability retirement payments to the Group B pensioner in accordance with the following formula: $1 for each $1 that the sum of "a" + "b" is greater than "c," where "a" is the earned income of the Group B pensioner attributable to the previous calendar year from the person's employments, "b" is the total amount of Group B disability retirement payments received by the Group B pensioner the previous calendar year, and "c" is the annualized amount of the average computation pay the Group B pensioner received as of the date the person left active service.

(e) For purposes of the computation under Subsection (d) of this section, the average computation pay shall be deemed increased at a rate of 2.75 percent, without compounding during the year, as of each January 1 that the Group B pensioner receives a Group B disability retirement payment.

Sec. 6.06. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING DEATH BENEFITS. (a) Any award of a death benefit is subject to the conditions required by this section.

(b) A written application for benefits must be filed with the executive director.

(c) The application will be considered at the meeting of the board held during the month death benefits are to become effective, or as soon as possible after the date the benefits become effective. No benefits may be paid, however, until the board has approved the application.

(d) The board may require the applicant to provide proof of eligibility, such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, adoption papers, or sworn statements. The board may withhold any death benefit until the eligibility of the applicant has been confirmed.

(e) If surviving children of a primary party are not qualified survivors entitled to death benefits, the spouse of the primary party who is a qualified survivor is entitled only to receive a share of the death benefits in the amount calculated under Section 6.07(a) or Section 6.08(b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), or (e)(1) of this article, whichever is applicable, and is not entitled to what otherwise would be the surviving children's share.

(e-1) If a primary party had no surviving spouse, any surviving child who is a qualified survivor shall receive only the amount calculated under Section 6.07(a) or Section 6.08(b)(2), (c)(2), (d)(2), or (e)(2) of this article, whichever is applicable, and is not entitled to what otherwise would be the surviving spouse's share.

(e-2) If a primary party does not have a spouse or children who are qualified survivors, any dependent parent of the primary party who is a qualified survivor shall receive only the amount calculated under Section 6.07(c) or Section 6.08(b)(3), (d)(3), or (e)(3) of this article, whichever is applicable, and is not entitled to what otherwise would be the surviving spouse's or surviving children's share.

(f) The total monthly death benefits received by the qualified survivors of a primary party under this article, including the primary party's spouse, children, or dependent parents, may not exceed the pension to which the deceased primary party was entitled per month.

(g) If there is no surviving spouse or legal guardian for the surviving children of a primary party who are qualified survivors and if the board determines that the surviving children lack the discretion to handle money, or in other appropriate circumstances, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the board may request a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a suitable person to receive and administer the surviving children's money or in those circumstances described in Subsection (n) of this section, appoint a new trustee to administer the surviving children's trust.

(h) With the exception of a trust described in Subsection (n) of this section, no death benefits awarded to surviving children may be used for any purpose other than to benefit the surviving children.

(i) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(4), eff. September 1, 2017.

(j) With the exception of those circumstances described in Subsection (n) of this section, death benefits payable to surviving children shall be delivered to the legal guardian of the estate of the surviving children if one has been appointed and the pension system has been provided proof of the appointment. If no legal guardian has been appointed, death benefits shall be delivered to one of the following persons, provided there is evidence that the person is a suitable person to receive and administer the benefits:

(1) the surviving spouse with whom the child resides; or

(2) the adult head of the household with whom the child resides, if the child does not reside with the surviving spouse.

(j-1) In accordance with Subsection (h) of this section, the recipient of a surviving child's death benefits under Subsection (j) of this section must use the death benefits to benefit the child. The board may withhold payment of benefits to anyone, if presented with evidence that the death benefits are not being used to benefit the surviving child.

(k) Dependent parents of a primary party who are entitled to receive death benefits provided by this article may only receive the benefits for the remainder of the dependent parents' lives.

(l) The pension system may require all qualified survivors receiving death benefits to file a sworn statement with the executive director concerning the qualified survivor's eligibility to continue to receive death benefits at least once every two years, or at any other time the executive director considers a sworn statement to be appropriate to evidence the continued eligibility of the qualified survivor. The board may withhold death benefits from any person who fails or refuses to file a statement when requested to do so.

(m) When the last qualified survivor of any primary party becomes ineligible to continue to receive death benefits, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the total amount of all contributions made to the fund by the primary party while a member over the sum of all benefits paid to the primary party and all of the primary party's qualified survivors shall be paid in a lump sum to the last person to receive benefits as a qualified survivor or, if none exists, to the member's designee. The total amount to be paid in benefits to the primary party and all qualified survivors shall never be less than the total amount of contributions the primary party made to the fund while a member.

(n) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section:

(1) death benefits awarded to an unmarried child who is a qualified survivor who is determined by the board to be disabled under the terms of Subsection (o-2) of this section may be paid to the trustee of a management trust, supplemental needs or special needs trust, or comparable trust established for the benefit of the child, if the trust meets the requirements set forth in a procedure adopted from time to time by the board; and

(2) as soon as practicable after the pension system has knowledge of an event listed in this subdivision, the pension system shall terminate payment of death benefits to a trust described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection effective on the earlier occurrence of the following events:

(A) the date as of which the child is determined by the board to no longer be disabled under the terms of this section;

(B) the date on which the child is lawfully married;

(D) the date on which the pension system becomes aware that the assets of the trust are deemed to be the resources of the child under applicable federal or state laws or regulations; or

(E) if the trustee of the child's trust fails to provide a court of competent jurisdiction with an annual accounting of the child's trust, the date occurring six months after the date of the close of the trust's fiscal year.

(o) When a child who, as a qualified survivor, is entitled to receive death benefits under this article reaches the age of 19, the child may no longer participate in the division of the benefits, but the same undiminished child's share as determined by this section shall be paid to any remaining children who are qualified survivors who remain eligible to continue to receive death benefits.

(o-1) If benefits are no longer payable to the trust described in Subsection (n)(1) of this section in accordance with Subsection (n)(2) of this section, the benefits are divisible and payable to any remaining children who are qualified survivors who remain eligible to receive death benefits.

(o-2) If an unmarried child, after cessation of entitlement to death benefitsbecause of attainment of age 19, becomes disabled before age 23, the child is entitled to participate in the division of death benefits under this article. Notwithstanding the preceding, all death benefits granted under this subsection are conditioned on the board finding that:

(1) the child is so physically or mentally disabled, either congenitally or through injury suffered or disease contracted, as to be unable to be self-supporting or to secure and hold gainful employment or pursue an occupation;

(2) the child is not married;

(3) the disability was not the result of an occupational injury for which the child received compensation equal to or greater than that provided under this article;

(4) the disability was not the result of an intentional self-inflicted injury or a chronic illness itself resulting from an addiction of the child through a protracted course of indulgence in alcohol, narcotics, or other substance abuse that was not coerced; and

(5) the disability did not occur as a result of the child's participation in the commission of a felony.

(p) If a child with a disability received or is receiving workers' compensation resulting from an occupational injury equal to an amount less than the death benefit to be provided under this section, the difference shall be paid out of the assets of the fund in the form otherwise payable as monthly benefits. For purposes of Subsections (o), (o-1), and (o-2) of this section, if a lump sum is awarded for an injury, the fund's actuary may compute a corresponding monthly equivalent. A finding relating to a child's disability is subject to periodic review and modification by the board.

(q) On the death or marriage of a child granted death benefits under this article, the death benefits shall cease being paid to that child; however, the same undiminished child's share as determined by this section shall be uniformly distributed among any remaining unmarried children who are:

(1) under 19 years of age; or

(2) disabled as described by Subsection (o-2) of this section and entitled to death benefits as qualified survivors.

(r) A spouse of a primary party who married the primary party after the date the primary party terminated active service is not a qualified survivor and is entitled only to those death benefits, if applicable, provided under Section 6.063 of this article.

(s) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(4), eff. September 1, 2017.

(t) A surviving spouse who first remarried on or after April 21, 1988, is eligible to receive death benefits for the remainder of the spouse's life provided the surviving spouse is a qualified survivor. This subsection may not be applied retroactively.

(u) The eligibility of a surviving spouse who first remarried before April 21, 1988, is governed by Section 6.061 of this article.

(v) The qualified survivors of a member who dies while performing qualified military service are entitled to any additional benefits, other than benefits relating to the qualified military service, that qualified survivors would have received if the member had returned from qualified military service the day before death, resumed employment, and then died.

Sec. 6.061. PROSPECTIVE REINSTATEMENT OF CERTAIN DEATH BENEFITS. (a) Subject to Subsection (c) of this section, the surviving spouse of a primary party who was a member of the old plan, Plan A, or Plan B whose death benefits, also referred to as "survivor benefits" or "widow benefits," terminated because of a remarriage of the surviving spouse that occurred before April 21, 1988, is entitled to receive death benefits, on a prospective basis only, as of the first day of the month following the month in which the executive director receives the application.

(b) The board shall make reasonable efforts to notify all known living surviving spouses who may be entitled to a reinstatement of benefits under this section.

(c) A surviving spouse's properly completed, board-approved application for reinstatement of death benefits under this section must be received by the executive director not later than the 180th day after the date the board completes, as determined by the board, the reasonable efforts required by Subsection (b) of this section.

(d) A surviving spouse's application for reinstatement of death benefits under this section constitutes the spouse's waiver of any claims against the pension system, the board, the executive director, or any other employee of the board or the pension system arising out of any claim for death benefits.

(e) This section may not be applied retroactively. A surviving spouse may not receive death benefits attributable to periods before the executive director's receipt of a properly completed and board-approved application, and any benefit provided to a surviving spouse described in this section must be calculated as if the benefits had not terminated on the surviving spouse's remarriage notwithstanding the fact the reinstatement of benefits is not retroactive.

Sec. 6.062. LUMP-SUM PAYMENT ON DEATH OF CERTAIN MEMBERS. (a) If an unmarried member dies while on active service and before beginning participation in DROP, the last person to receive benefits as the member's qualified survivor or, if the member does not have a qualified survivor living, the member's designee, shall be paid a lump-sum payment determined in accordance with this section if, at the time of the member's death, the member:

(1) had no qualified survivors; or

(2) only had qualified survivors who are children who become ineligible to receive death benefits before the benefits were paid for at least 120 consecutive months.

(b) The amount of the lump-sum payment under this section is the greater of:

(1) the payment that could have been provided under Section 6.06(m) of this article; or

(2) an amount equal to the actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the monthly benefits that would have been paid for the period from the last monthly benefit payment to the end of the 120 months, starting with the date of the first monthly benefit payment, if any.

(c) If no death benefit payments have been made with respect to the member, the amount of a monthly death benefit payment shall be considered to be the monthly death benefit that would have been paid if the member had died leaving only one dependent parent who was a qualified survivor.

(d) If a qualified survivor or designee is entitled to payment under both this section and Section 6.06(m) of this article, payments shall be made only under this section.

(e) The payment required under this section shall be made as soon as practicable after the later of the date:

(1) of the death of the member; or

(2) the last qualified survivor becomes ineligible to receive monthly death benefit payments.

Sec. 6.063. AUTHORITY TO ELECT CERTAIN ACTUARIALLY REDUCED BENEFITS. (a) The board shall adopt policies under which a member who is leaving active service or a pensioner may elect to accept actuarially reduced benefits to provide the following optional benefits:

(1) a 100 percent joint and survivor annuity with the member's or pensioner's spouse;

(2) a 50 percent joint and survivor annuity with a spouse who is not a qualified survivor because the marriage to the pensioner occurred after the pensioner terminated active service, provided the election is made not later than one year after the date of the marriage; or

(3) a death benefit for a child who is not a qualified survivor because the child was born or adopted after the member left active service, but only if the child:

(A) is a dependent of the pensioner, within the meaning of Section 152(a)(1) of the code; and

(B) has not attained 18 years of age at the time of the election.

(b) An election under this section may not be revoked by the member or pensioner after it is filed with the pension system.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, an election under this section shall result in benefits being paid as prescribed by this section instead of as prescribed by Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.05, 6.07, or 6.08 of this article, as applicable.

(d) A pensioner who desires to make an election under Subsection (a)(1) of this section after having made an election under Subsection (a)(2) of this section shall incur a second actuarial reduction in benefits to pay for the increased survivor annuity.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, a person is not entitled to the payment of benefits under this section with respect to a pensioner who makes an election after termination of active service and dies within one year after making the election, except the amount by which the pensioner's benefits were reduced are paid to the person who is entitled to receive payments under Section 6.064 of this article.

(f) Subsection (e) of this section does not apply to a person who makes an election under Subsection (a)(1) of this section to receive a 100 percent joint and survivor annuity with a spouse who is a qualified survivor at the time:

(1) the board grants a retirement pension; or

(2) a retirement pension would have been granted but for the fact that the person elected to participate in DROP after retirement.

(g) The actuarially reduced benefits being paid to the pensioner under this section will not be increased if the spouse dies before the pensioner, or if the child attains 19 years of age before the pensioner dies.

(h) The joint and survivor annuity or the pensioner's pension and child's death benefit payable under this section is the actuarial equivalent of the pension and death benefits, if any, that would have been payable, at the time of the election, if the election had not been made. On the death of the pensioner:

(1) the surviving spouse of a pensioner who made an election under Subsection (a)(1) of this section receives a pension that is equal to the reduced pension being received by the pensioner at the time of death; and

(2) a surviving spouse who is not a qualified survivor of a pensioner who made an election under Subsection (a)(2) of this section receives a pension that is 50 percent of the reduced pension being received by the pensioner at the time of death.

(i) A pensioner and surviving spouse receiving a death benefit payable under this section are eligible for adjustments under Sections 6.12 and 6.13 of this article, if the pensioner or surviving spouse, as applicable, is otherwise entitled to those adjustments, except that in each case the adjustment shall be calculated so that the total pension or death benefit paid is reduced by the same percentage the pensioner's pension is otherwise reduced under this section.

(j) A pensioner and surviving spouse receiving a death benefit payable under this section are not entitled to the minimum benefits provided under Section 6.10A, 6.10B, or 6.11 of this article.

(k) A surviving spouse receiving a death benefit payable under this section is not entitled to the special death benefit provided under Section 6.09 of this article.

(l) During a period in which there are two or more qualified survivors of a member who has made a joint and survivor annuity election under this section, the spousal benefit will be divided among the eligible survivors under Section 6.07 or 6.08 of this article, as applicable.

(m) A child's death benefit elected under Subsection (a)(3) of this section is treated the same way as a death benefit to a child who is a qualified survivor, except that it is based on the actuarially reduced pension.

Sec. 6.064. DESIGNEES. (a) A member, pensioner, or qualified survivor may at any time designate, in writing, one or more persons as a designee to receive any lump-sum payment due from the pension system on the death of the member, pensioner, or qualified survivor, as applicable.

(b) A designation under this section of a person other than the spouse of the member, pensioner, or qualified survivor, as appropriate, must be made with the written consent of the spouse, if the individual has a spouse.

(1) may be revoked or changed at any time; and

(2) is void if the person designated dies or goes out of existence before the payment is made.

(d) If a member, pensioner, or qualified survivor designates a spouse to receive a payment and the parties are later divorced, the designation is void at the time of the divorce unless ratified in writing at the time of the divorce or after that time.

(e) A designation by a member under this section is void at the time the member becomes a pensioner unless ratified in writing at the time the member becomes a pensioner or after that time.

(f) If a member, pensioner, or qualified survivor does not have a valid designee on file with the pension system at the time of death, the designee is:

(1) the spouse;

(2) the qualified survivors, if any, if there is no spouse;

(3) the estate of the person, if there is no spouse or qualified survivors; or

(4) the heirs of the person, if there is no spouse, qualified survivors, or estate.

Sec. 6.07. GROUP A DEATH BENEFITS. (a)(1) If a Group A member dies before leaving active service and before the Group A member had 20 years of pension service, the Group A member's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit equal to a Group A retirement pension computed under the terms of Section 6.01 of this article as if the Group A member had completed 20 years of pension service.

(2) If a Group A member dies before service retirement and after the Group A member has 20 years of pension service, the Group A member's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit calculated under Section 6.01 of this article as if the Group A member had left active service on the date of the Group A member's death.

(3) If a Group A pensioner dies during service retirement, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit in an amount equal to the Group A retirement pension being received by the Group A pensioner on the date of the pensioner's death.

(4) If a Group A pensioner dies after November 25, 1996, while receiving periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article or a disability pension under Section 6.04 of this article, and before the Group A pensioner has 20 years of pension service, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit calculated under Section 6.04 or 6.05 of this article, as applicable, in the same manner as the Group A pensioner's periodic disability compensation or disability pension, but as if the Group A pensioner had completed 20 years of pension service.

(5) If a Group A pensioner who has 20 or more years of pension service dies during disability retirement, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit in an amount equal to the Group A disability pension being received by the Group A pensioner on the date of the pensioner's death.

(b) Group A death benefits under Subsection (a) of this section shall:

(1) be divided one-half to the spouse and one-half to the children who are qualified survivors; and

(2) subject to the terms of Sections 6.06(n), (o), (o-1), and (o-2) of this article, be distributed in an equal and uniform manner to the children described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(c) If a Group A member or pensioner dies leaving no spouse or children who are qualified survivors, the dependent parents who are qualified survivors shall receive a Group A death benefit equal to the death benefit otherwise payable under Subsection (a) of this section. The death benefit payable to the dependent parents under this subsection shall be divided equally between the parents regardless of whether the parents are married or living at the same residence. If there is only one dependent parent, that parent is entitled to one-half of the death benefit described in this subsection.

Sec. 6.08. GROUP B DEATH BENEFITS. (a) If a Group B member dies while on active service, a Group B member who left active service and is vested under Section 5.06 of this article dies, or a Group B pensioner dies while receiving service or disability retirement or while receiving periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article, the person's qualified survivors, or the person described in Section 6.06(g) or (j) of this article as the recipient of the children's benefits, may make application for Group B death benefits. If the deceased Group B member was previously eligible to elect whether to receive either a Group A or Group B retirement pension, the option to elect whether Group A or Group B death benefits are received shall be exercised by one of the following:

(1) a qualified survivor who is the spouse of the deceased Group B member described by this subsection;

(2) the person described in Section 6.06(g) or (j) of this article as the recipient of benefits on behalf of the deceased member's children who are qualified survivors, if no spouse is a qualified survivor; or

(3) the qualified survivors who are dependent parents of the deceased member, if there is neither a spouse nor children who are qualified survivors.

(a-1) A qualified survivor who receives Group A death benefits under Subsection (a) of this section is entitled to a ratable portion of a reimbursement from the fund in the same amount and manner determined under Section 5.03(d) of this article. A qualified survivor or guardian desiring a refund of excess contributions must make application for the refund with the executive director within three years after the date the qualified survivor or guardian makes application for Group A death benefits. The option contained in this subsection is not available to qualified survivors of a Group B member who had, at the time of death, already applied for a retirement pension and selected a Group A retirement pension as provided by Section 5.03(c) or (c-1) of this article, but the qualified survivors are entitled to receive a Group A death benefit.

(b) Subject to Subsection (b-2) of this section, death benefits shall be computed as follows for the qualified survivors of Group B members who die while on active service:

(1) the death benefit of a qualified survivor who is the spouse of a member who began active service:

(A) before March 1, 2011, shall be the sum of:

(i) the number of years of pension service earned before September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times, except as provided by Subsection (b-4) of this section, 1.5 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 36 consecutive months of pension service in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay; plus

(ii) the number of years of pension service, including pension service credit imputed under Section 6.05(c) of this article, after September 1, 2017, prorated for fractional years, times, except as provided by Subsection (b-4) of this section, 1.25 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay; or

(B) on or after March 1, 2011, shall be the number of years of pension service, including pension service imputed under Section 6.05(c) of this article, prorated for fractional years, times, except as provided by Subsection (b-4) of this section, 1.25 percent of the average computation pay determined over the 60 consecutive months of pension service in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay;

(2) the death benefit of qualified survivors who are a member's children shall be computed in the same manner as a spouse's benefit is computed under Subdivision (1)(A) or (B) of this subsection, as applicable, and shall be divided equally among all of the children who are qualified survivors; and

(3) the death benefit of each qualified survivor who is a member's dependent parent shall be computed in the same manner as a spouse's Group B benefit is computed under Subdivision (1)(A) or (B) of this subsection, as applicable.

(b-1) Pension service for purposes of the calculation under Subsection (b) of this section may not be less than 20 years. Any partial year of pension service for the first 20 years of pension service is counted as a full year of pension service, if the member was considered by the member's department to have worked a normal full-time schedule at the time of the member's death.

(b-2) The death benefit calculated under Subsection (b) of this section may not exceed the greater of:

(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-4) of this section, 45 percent of the member's average computation pay determined over the 36 or 60 consecutive months, as applicable, in which the Group B member received the highest computation pay; or

(2) the vested and accrued death benefit as determined on August 31, 2017.

(b-3) For purposes of Subsections (b) through (b-2) of this section:

(1) if the Group B member had less than 36 or 60 consecutive months, as applicable, of pension service, the average computation pay will be computed based on the person's entire pension service; and

(2) days during which the member earned no pension service due to a termination of active service or otherwise must be disregarded in determining the 36 or 60 consecutive months of highest computation pay.

(b-4) If a member dies in the line of duty, as determined by the board under Subsection (b-5) of this section, the percentage rate applied to the member's average computation pay under:

(1) Subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) of this section is 3 percent instead of 1.5 percent at such time as there are qualified survivors who are either the member's children or surviving spouse, but not both;

(2) Subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii) of this section is 2.5 percent instead of 1.25 percent at such time as there are qualified survivors who are either the member's children or surviving spouse, but not both;

(3) Subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section is 2.5 percent instead of 1.25 percent at such time as there are qualified survivors who are either the member's children or surviving spouse, but not both; and

(4) Subsection (b-2)(1) is 90 percent instead of 45 percent.

(b-5) A member is considered to have died in the line of duty if the member's death is caused by the performance of the member's duties for the member's department. The board shall determine whether a member died in the line of duty. In making a determination under this subsection, the board may consider as guidance the determination of the same or similar issue made by another governmental entity.

(c) Group B death benefits shall be computed as follows for the qualified survivors of any Group B member who died after leaving active service and who had vested rights under Section 5.06 of this article but who had not received retirement benefits at the time of death:

(1) the death benefit of a qualified survivor who is the member's spouse is equal to 50 percent of any retirement pension the member would have been entitled to as of the date the member left active service;

(2) the death benefits of qualified survivors who are the member's children are calculated in the same manner as the spouse's benefit is computed under Subdivision (1) of this subsection, to be divided equally between the children; and

(3) the death benefit of each qualified survivor who is the member's dependent parent is equal to 50 percent of any retirement pension the member would have been entitled to as of the date the member left active service.

(d) Group B death benefits shall be computed as follows for the qualified survivors of any Group B pensioner who dies while receiving service retirement:

(1) the death benefit of a qualified survivor who is the pensioner's spouse is equal to 50 percent of any retirement pension the Group B pensioner was receiving at the time of death;

(2) the death benefits of qualified survivors who are the pensioner's children are calculated in the same manner as the spouse's benefit is computed under Subdivision (1) of this subsection, to be divided equally between the children; and

(3) the death benefit of each qualified survivor who is the pensioner's dependent parent is equal to 50 percent of any retirement pension the Group B pensioner was receiving at the time of death.

(e) Group B death benefits shall be computed as follows for the qualified survivors of any Group B pensioner who dies while receiving disability retirement or while receiving periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article:

(1) the death benefit of a qualified survivor who is the pensioner's spouse is equal to 50 percent of any Group B periodic disability compensation or disability pension the Group B pensioner would have been entitled to as of the date the Group B pensioner left active service because of disability, or a Group B death benefit equal to 50 percent of any periodic disability compensation or disability pension the Group B pensioner was receiving at the time of death;

(3) the death benefit of each qualified survivor who is the pensioner's dependent parent is equal to 50 percent of any periodic disability compensation or disability pension the Group B pensioner would have been entitled to as of the date the Group B pensioner left active service because of disability, or a Group B death benefit equal to 50 percent of any periodic disability compensation or disability pension the Group B pensioner was receiving at the time of death.

Sec. 6.09. QUALIFIED SURVIVING SPOUSE SPECIAL DEATH BENEFIT. (a) A person who is the spouse of a Group A primary party, who is a qualified survivor, and who is entitled to death benefits under Sections 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, 6.063, and 6.07 of this article is also entitled to a special death benefit under this section if:

(1) the Group A primary party:

(A) had at least 20 years of pension service, left active service after October 1, 1985, and was at least 55 years of age on the earlier of the date the primary party:

(i) left active service; or

(ii) began participation in DROP; or

(B) had at least 20 years of pension service, left active service on or after May 31, 2000, and on the earlier of the date the primary party left active service or began participation in DROP, had a total of at least 78 credits, with each year of pension service, prorated for fractional years, equal to one credit and with each year of age, prorated for fractional years, equal to one credit; or

(2) the spouse has attained 55 years of age and there are no children who are qualified survivors eligible for death benefits.

(b) Until the requirements of Subsection (a) of this section are satisfied, a qualified survivor who is the spouse of a Group A primary party shall receive a Group A death benefit in accordance with Section 6.07 of this article.

(P x P x A) + (P x C) + D, where

A = base pay at the time the Group A primary party began participation in DROP, begins service retirement, dies, or becomes disabled, plus longevity pay, plus one-twelfth of last-received city service incentive pay;

B = Group A primary party's benefit calculated at the time the Group A primary party began participation in DROP, begins service retirement, dies, or becomes disabled;

P = B/A (expressed as a percentage or a decimal);

C = the number of adjustments made to a Group A primary party's retirement pension, disability pension, or periodic disability compensation, multiplied by the amount of the adjustments; and

D = the number of adjustments made under this article to the Group A death benefit of a spouse who is a qualified survivor under Section 6.07 of this article, multiplied by the amount of the adjustments.

(d) A person who is the spouse of a Group B primary party, who is a qualified survivor, and who is entitled to any death benefits under Sections 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, 6.063, and 6.08 of this article is also entitled to a special benefit under this section if:

(1) the Group B primary party:

(A) had at least 20 years of pension service, left active service after October 1, 1985, and was at least 55 years of age at the earlier of the date the primary party left active service or began participation in DROP; or

(B) on or after May 31, 2000, left active service or began participation in DROP, whichever was earlier, having a total of at least 78 credits, with each year of pension service, prorated for fractional years, equal to one credit and with each year of age, determined at the time the Group B primary party left active service or began participation in DROP, prorated for fractional years, equal to one credit; or

(2) the spouse has attained 55 years of age, and there are no children of the primary party who are qualified survivors.

(d-1) Until the requirements of Subsection (d) of this section are satisfied, a spouse who is a qualified survivor may only receive a Group B death benefit in accordance with Sections 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, 6.063, and 6.08 of this article.

(e) The special Group B death benefit under Subsection (d) of this section is calculated based on the following formula:

(P x P x A) + (P x C) + D, where

A = average monthly computation pay at the time the Group B primary party begins service retirement, dies, becomes disabled, or begins participation in DROP;

B = the Group B primary party's benefit calculated at the time the Group B primary party begins participation in DROP, begins to receive service retirement, dies, or becomes disabled;

P = B/A (expressed as a percentage or a decimal);

C = the number of post-retirement adjustments made to a Group B primary party's retirement pension, disability pension, or periodic disability compensation multiplied by the amount of the adjustments; and

D = the number of adjustments made to the Group B death benefit of a qualified survivor who is the primary party's spouse under Section 6.08 of this article multiplied by the amount of the adjustments.

Sec. 6.10A. MINIMUM BENEFITS TO CERTAIN GROUP A PRIMARY PARTIES WHO WERE GROUP A, OLD PLAN, OR COMBINED PENSION PLAN MEMBERS AND THEIR QUALIFIED SURVIVORS. (a) Except as provided by Section 6.063 of this article or Subsections (b) and (h) of this section and notwithstanding any benefit computation and determination to the contrary contained in this article, the minimum Group A benefits provided by this section shall be paid to any Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article, or to the primary party's qualified survivors, except that a Group A primary party who elects to receive an actuarially reduced retirement pension before 50 years of age and the primary party's qualified survivors are not entitled to the minimum benefits specified under this section. An alternate payee is not entitled to the Group A minimum benefits specified in this section.

(b) A Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article and who left active service with 20 or more years of pension service is entitled to receive a minimum Group A retirement pension of $2,200 a month.

(c) In the absence of children who are qualified survivors, a spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article will receive a minimum monthly Group A death benefit of $1,200.

(d) A spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article will receive, if there are children who are qualified survivors, a minimum Group A death benefit of $1,100 a month.

(e) In the absence of a spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(b), (c), or (e) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article, the primary party's children who are qualified survivors, as a group, will receive a minimum Group A death benefit of $1,100 a month, to be divided equally among them.

(f) If there is neither a spouse nor a child who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 14(a) of this article, each dependent parent who is a qualified survivor will receive a minimum Group A death benefit of $1,100 a month. If only one of them is surviving, that dependent parent will receive a minimum Group A death benefit equal to $1,100 a month.

(g) Notwithstanding the minimum monthly benefit described in other subsections of this section, a Group A primary party who receives periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05(b) of this article or a Group A disability pension under Section 6.04(a) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 17(a) of this article, shall receive a minimum Group A disability pension equal to $2,200 a month.

(h) If a Group A pensioner who received a monthly benefit under Section 6.05(b-1) of this article or a disability pension under Section 6.04(a) of this article, calculated in the same manner as a Group A retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c) of this article, the old plan, or former Section 17(a) of this article before the completion of 20 years of pension service dies, the qualified survivors will receive a minimum Group A death benefit as provided under Subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this section, as applicable, whichever is greatest.

Sec. 6.10B MINIMUM BENEFITS TO CERTAIN GROUP A PRIMARY PARTIES WHO WERE GROUP A, PLAN A, OR COMBINED PLAN MEMBERS AND THEIR QUALIFIED SURVIVORS. (a) Except as provided by Section 6.063 of this article and Subsection (b) of this section and notwithstanding any benefit computation and determination to the contrary contained in this article, the minimum Group A benefits provided by this section shall be paid to any Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 14(b) of this article or to the primary party's qualified survivors, except that a Group A primary party who elects to receive an actuarially reduced Group A retirement pension before 55 years of age and the primary party's qualified survivors are not entitled to the minimum benefits specified in this section. An alternate payee is not entitled to the Group A minimum benefits specified in this section.

(b) A Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 14(b) of this article and who left active service with 20 or more years of pension service is entitled to receive a minimum retirement pension equal to the greater of $2,200 a month or $1,000 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(c) In the absence of children who are qualified survivors, a spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 14(b) of this article will receive a minimum monthly death benefit equal to the greater of $1,200 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(d) A spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elects to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 14(b) of this article will receive, if there are children who are qualified survivors, a minimum Group A death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article. The children who are qualified survivors, as a group, will receive a minimum death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article, to be divided equally among them.

(e) In the absence of a spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 14(b) of this article, the primary party's children who are qualified survivors, as a group, will receive a minimum Group A death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article, to be divided equally among them.

(f) If there is neither a spouse nor child who is a qualified survivor of a Group A primary party who elected to receive a Group A retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article, Plan A, or the former Section 14(b) of this article, each dependent parent who is a qualified survivor will receive a minimum Group A death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article. If only one of them is surviving, that dependent parent will receive a minimum Group A death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $500 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(g) Notwithstanding the minimum monthly benefit as described in other subsections of this section, a Group A primary party who leaves active service on a non-service-connected disability under Section 6.04(a) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 17(b)(2) of this article with less than 20 years of pension service shall receive a minimum monthly Group A disability pension equal to the greater of $110 multiplied by the number of years of the primary party's pension service or $50 multiplied by the number of years of the primary party's pension service, the product adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(5), eff. September 1, 2017.

(i) If a Group A pensioner who received a non-service-connected disability pension under Section 6.04(a) of this article, Plan A, or former Section 17(b)(2) of this article before the completion of 20 years of pension service dies, the qualified survivors will each receive the amount specified in Section 6.07 of this article or the minimum Group A death benefit as provided under Subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this section, as applicable, whichever is greatest.

Sec. 6.11. MINIMUM BENEFITS TO GROUP B PRIMARY PARTIES AND THEIR QUALIFIED SURVIVORS. (a) Except as provided by Section 6.063 of this article or Subsections (b), (c), and (h) of this section and notwithstanding any benefit computation and determination to the contrary contained in this article, the minimum Group B benefits provided by this section shall be paid to any Group B primary party or the primary party's qualified survivors, except further that a Group B primary party who elects to receive an actuarially reduced retirement pension, including a request for a benefit under Sections 6.02(c) and (d) of this article, and the primary party's qualified survivors or alternate payee, are not entitled to the Group B minimum benefits specified by this section.

(b) If a Group B primary party leaves active service with 20 or more years of pension service, the Group B primary party is entitled to receive a Group B minimum retirement pension equal to the greater of $2,200 a month or $925 a month, which sum may (A) increase at the rate of $5 a month for each year of pension service beyond 20 years, but the increase may not exceed $75 and (B) be adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(c) If a Group B primary party leaves active service with less than 20 years of pension service, the primary party is entitled to receive a minimum monthly Group B retirement pension equal to the greater of:

(1) $2,200 a month divided by 20 and multiplied by the Group B primary party's number of years of pension service; or

(2) $925 a month divided by 20 and multiplied by the Group B primary party's number of years of pension service, which amount is then adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(d) In the absence of children who are qualified survivors, a spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group B primary party will receive a minimum Group B death benefit equal to the greater of:

(1) $1,200 a month; or

(2) $600 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article.

(e) A spouse who is a qualified survivor of a Group B primary party, if there are children who are qualified survivors, will receive a minimum Group B death benefit of $1,100 a month.

(f) The children who are qualified survivors of a Group B primary party, as a group, will receive a minimum Group B death benefit equal to the greater of $1,100 a month or $600 a month adjusted, if applicable, in the manner described by Section 6.12 of this article, to be divided equally between them.

(g) If there is neither a spouse nor a child who is a qualified survivor, each dependent parent who is a qualified survivor of the deceased Group B primary party will receive a minimum death benefit of $1,100 a month.

(h) Notwithstanding the minimum monthly retirement pension otherwise described by this section, a Group B primary party who left active service on a non-service-connected disability with less than 20 years of pension service will receive a minimum monthly disability pension equal to the greater of $110 multiplied by the number of years of the primary party's pension service or $46.25 multiplied by the number of years of the primary party's pension service, the product adjusted in the manner, if applicable, described by Section 6.12 of this article. If a Group B primary party who was receiving a non-service-connected disability pension before the completion of 20 years pension service dies, the qualified survivors will receive the amount specified in Section 6.08 of this article, or the minimum monthly death benefits granted to qualified survivors as provided by Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, as applicable, whichever is greater.

Sec. 6.12. ADJUSTMENTS TO RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY PENSION BENEFITS. (a) This section applies to the following benefits provided under this article:

(1) a retirement pension calculated under Section 6.01(e) or 6.02 of this article;

(2) a disability pension calculated under Section 6.04 of this article, other than under Section 6.04(a) of this article;

(3) periodic disability compensation benefit underSection 6.05 of this article, other than Section 6.05(b-1) of this article; or

(4) a death benefit calculated under:

(A) Section 6.07 of this article, if calculated in the manner of a retirement pension under Section 6.01(e) of this article or in the manner of a disability compensation benefit under Section 6.05(b) of this article; or

(B) Section 6.08 of this article currently in pay status, or pending board approval on the last day of September.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, annually on the first day of October, the pension system may increase the base pension of a benefit described by Subsection (a) of this section by a percentage equal to the average annual rate of actual investment return of the pension system for the five-year period ending on the December 31 preceding the effective date of the adjustment less five percent.

(c) An adjustment under this section may not be less than zero percent or exceed four percent of the applicable base pension benefit.

(d) The pension system may only make an adjustment to benefits under this section if the ratio of the amount of the pension system's market value of assets divided by the amount of the pension system's actuarial accrued liabilities, after giving effect to the adjustment, is not less than .70.

(e) For purposes of Subsection (d) of this section, the amount of the pension system's market value of assets and the amount of the pension system's actuarial accrued liabilities shall be based on and determined as of the date of the most recently completed actuarial valuation.

(f) The following persons may not receive an adjustment under this section:

(1) a member on active service, including a DROP participant;

(2) a pensioner until the first October 1 occurring after both the pensioner's retirement and the earlier of:

(A) the date the pensioner reaches 62 years of age; or

(B) the third anniversary of the date the pensioner retired; or

(3) a qualified survivor until the first October 1 occurring after the earlier of:

(A) the date the qualified survivor reaches 62 years of age;

(B) the third anniversary of the date the primary party retired; or

(g) A retirement or disability pension or periodic disability compensation paid to any Group B pensioner may not be less than the Group B pensioner's base pension.

(h) The death benefit of the qualified survivors who are the spouse, dependent parent, or child of a Group B pensioner, as a group, may not be less than 50 percent of the pensioner's base pension.

Sec. 6.13. SUPPLEMENT TO CERTAIN RECIPIENTS 55 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, if a pensioner had at least 20 years of pension service under any plan adopted pursuant to Article 6243a or this article, or if a pensioner is receiving the periodic disability compensation benefit under Section 6.05 of this article, the pensioner, the pensioner's spouse who is a qualified survivor eligible to receive benefits under this article, or the pensioner's children who are qualified survivors, as a group, under Section 6.06 of this article are entitled to receive, when the pensioner or spouse who is a qualified survivor attains 55 years of age, provided the pensioner or spouse attains 55 years of age before September 1, 2017, a monthly supplement equal to the greater of $50 or three percent of their total monthly benefit and for months beginning on and after January 1, 1991, a monthly supplement equal to the greater of $75 or three percent of their total monthly benefit. For purposes only of calculating this supplement, the phrase "their total monthly benefit" means the amount payable to a pensioner or qualified survivors under the terms of the plans described by this section under which the pensioner or qualified survivor elected to receive benefits but does not include the supplement authorized by this section or any adjustments under Section 6.12 of this article made after September 1, 2017.

(b) A person described by Subsection (a) of this section who, on September 1, 2017, is not receiving or has not received a supplemental benefit under this section is not entitled to receive a supplemental benefit under this section.

Sec. 6.14. DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN. (a) A member who remains on active service after becoming eligible to receive a retirement pension under either Section 6.01 or 6.02 of this article may become a participant in the deferred retirement option plan in accordance with Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and defer the beginning of the person's retirement pension. Once an election to participate in the DROP has been made, the election continues in effect at least as long as the member remains in active service. On leaving active service, the member may:

(1) apply for a retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c), Section 6.01(e), or Section 6.02(b), (c), (d), or (e) of this article, whichever is applicable, together with any DROP benefit provided under this section; or

(2) continue to participate in DROP except the member is ineligible for disability benefits described by Subsection (g-1) of this section.

(b) The election to participate in the DROP shall be made in accordance with procedures set forth in any uniform and nondiscriminatory election form adopted by the board and in effect from time to time. To determine the proper amount to be credited to a member's DROP account, the election shall indicate whether the member desires to receive a retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c), Section 6.01(e), or Section 6.02(b), (c), (d), or (e) of this article, whichever is applicable. The election may be made at any time on or after the date the member becomes eligible for a retirement pension as provided by this subsection. The election becomes effective on the first day of the first month on or after the date on which the member makes the election, except that an election that would otherwise have been effective on October 1, 1993, and every October 1 after that date, is considered, for purposes of this section and Section 6.12 of this article, to be effective on September 30 of the year in which it would otherwise have been effective. On and after the effective date of the election, the member will no longer be eligible for any refund of contributions. The election by one or more members to participate in the DROP has no effect on the amount of city contributions to the fund under Section 4.02 of this article.

(c) Each month after a member has made an election to participate in the DROP and indicated a desire to receive a retirement pension under Sections 6.01(b) and (c), Section 6.01(e), or Section 6.02(b), (c), (d), or (e) of this article, whichever is applicable, and through the month before the month in which the member leaves active service, an amount equal to the retirement pension the member would have received under the applicable subsection for that month if the member had left active service and been granted a retirement pension by the board on the effective date of DROP participation shall be credited to a separate DROP account maintained within the fund for the benefit of the member. Amounts held in the DROP account of a member shall be credited at the end of each calendar month. Notwithstanding this section, effective January 1, 2018, a member on active service who has 10 years or more of participation in DROP shall no longer have the amount of the member's retirement pension credited to the member's DROP account while the member is on active service.

(d) A member may not receive a distribution from the member's DROP account while the member is on active service.

(e) Except as provided by Subsections (e-1) and (l) of this section, the balance in the DROP account of a member who terminated from active service on or before September 1, 2017, or who terminates from active service shall be distributed to the member in the form of an annuity, payable either monthly or annually at the election of the member, by annuitizing the amount credited to the DROP account over the life expectancy of the member as of the date of the annuitization using mortality tables recommended by the pension system's qualified actuary. The annuity shall be distributed beginning as promptly as administratively feasible after the later of, as applicable:

(1) the date the member retires and is granted a retirement pension; or

(2) September 1, 2017.

(e-1) The board may adopt a shorter period for annuitizing DROP account balances under Subsection (e) of this section if the pension system's qualified actuary determines that the shorter period will not cause the pension system's amortization period to exceed 25 years.

(e-2) The annuitization of a DROP account under Subsection (e) of this section must reflect the accrual of interest on the amount in the DROP account as of September 1, 2017, over the annuitization period applied to the account under this section. The interest rate applied under this subsection must be a rate as reasonably equivalent as practicable to the interest rate on a note issued by the United States Department of the Treasury or other federal treasury note with a duration that is reasonably comparable to the annuitization period applied to the account, as determined by the board. The portion of an annuity attributable to amounts credited to a member's DROP account on or after September 1, 2017, may not reflect the accrual of this interest on annuitization.

(e-3) The board may by rule allow any person receiving an annuity from the annuitization of a DROP account under this section to:

(1) assign the distribution from the person's annuitized DROP account to a third party provided the pension system receives a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ruling that such an assignment will not negatively impact the pension system's qualified plan status; and

(2) subject to Subsection (e-4) of this section, in the event of a financial hardship that was not reasonably foreseeable obtain a lump-sum distribution from the person's DROP account resulting in a corresponding reduction in the total number or in the amount of annuity payments.

(e-4) The board shall adopt rules necessary to implement Subsection (e-3)(2) of this section, including rules regarding what constitutes a financial hardship for purposes of that subdivision. In adopting the rules, the board shall provide flexibility to persons receiving an annuity from the annuitization of a DROP account.

(f) The board may adopt rules and policies relating to the administration of Subsections (e), (e-1), and (e-2) of this section if the rules and policies are:

(1) consistent with the qualification of the plan under Section 401 of the code; and

(2) in the best interest of the pension system.

(f-1) The DROP account of a member who begins participating in DROP on or after September 1, 2017, does not accrue interest.

(g) The provisions of Sections 6.06, 6.061, 6.062, 6.063, 6.07, and 6.08 of this article pertaining to death benefits of a qualified survivor do not apply to amounts held in a member's or pensioner's DROP account. Instead, a member or pensioner who participates in DROP may designate a beneficiary to receive the annuity payments under this section over the remaining annuitization period in the event of the member's or pensioner's death subject to any rights provided under Subsection (e-3) of this section and in the manner allowed by Section 401(a)(9) of the code and any policy adopted by the board. A member or pensioner who is or becomes married is considered to have designated the member's or pensioner's spouse as the member's or pensioner's beneficiary, notwithstanding any prior beneficiary designation, unless the member or pensioner has made a different designation in accordance with a policy adopted by the board. If a member or pensioner does not have a spouse or the spouse predeceases the member or pensioner, the member's or pensioner's, as applicable, DROP account will be distributed to the member's or pensioner's, as applicable, designee. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, if a member or pensioner has previously designated the member's or pensioner's spouse as the beneficiary or co-beneficiary of the DROP account and the member or pensioner and spouse are subsequently divorced, the divorce automatically results in the invalidation of the designation of the spouse as a beneficiary and, if there is no additional beneficiary designated, the member's or pensioner's DROP account shall be distributed as provided by Subsection (e) of this section. If there are beneficiaries who survive the deceased member or pensioner, the surviving beneficiaries share equally in that portion that would have otherwise been payable to the former spouse.

(g-1) A member who becomes a DROP participant is ineligible for any disability benefits described by Section 6.03, 6.04, or 6.05 of this article, but is entitled to a retirement pension in accordance with Sections 6.01(b) and (c), Section 6.01(e), or Section 6.02 of this article, whichever is applicable, on termination from active service, and is also entitled to receive annuity payments in accordance with Subsection (e) of this section.

(h) The base pay or computation pay, whichever is applicable, in effect as of the effective date of a member's participation in DROP shall be used in calculating the member's retirement pension under Section 6.01 or 6.02 of this article. A member who elects to participate in DROP does not accrue additional pension service for purposes of computing a retirement pension for any period after the effective date of the election.

(i) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(6), eff. September 1, 2017.

(j) Except as provided by Subsection (l) of this section, if a pensioner who has been a DROP participant returns to active service, the person must become a participant in DROP under the terms and conditions in effect at the time of return to active service.

(k) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(6), eff. September 1, 2017.

(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and except as provided by Subsection (o) of this section, a member who has entered DROP before June 1, 2017, may revoke the DROP election at any time on or after September 1, 2017, and before the earlier of:

(1) February 28, 2018; or

(2) the member's termination of active service.

(m) If a member revokes participation in DROP under Subsection (l) of this section:

(1) the member's DROP account balance is eliminated; and

(2) the member shall receive pension service credited for all or a portion of the period of the revoked DROP participation on payment of the required contributions for the period of the revoked DROP participation in accordance with a uniform and nondiscriminatory procedure adopted by the board that results in the payment of the amount of member contributions that would have been made if the member had never participated in DROP.

(n) A member who revokes the member's DROP election under Subsection (l) of this section is entitled to only a monthly pension computed on the basis of the member's pension service, including pension service purchased under Subsection (m) of this section:

(1) that is based on the member's average computation pay at the time of leaving active service, if the member is a Group B member; or

(2) as provided by Section 6.01(b) of this article, if the member is a Group A member.

(o) A member may not revoke DROP participation under Subsection (l) of this section if any money has been transferred out of the member's DROP account.

Sec. 6.141. DEFERRED ANNUITIZATION OF CERTAIN DROP ACCOUNTS. (a) This section applies only to a pensioner who:

(1) before attaining 50 years of age:

(A) left active service; and

(B) was granted a service retirement pension under Section 6.01 or 6.02 of this article;

(2) since the pensioner's retirement has continued to receive substantially equal periodic payments, as determined under Section 72(t) of the code; and

(3) on September 1, 2017:

(A) is a DROP participant; and

(B) has not attained 59-1/2 years of age.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.14 of this article and solely to avoid the possibility of an early distribution tax penalty under Section 72(t)(4) of the code:

(1) a pensioner subject to this section may until the pensioner attains 59-1/2 years of age:

(A) subject to Subsection (c) of this section, continue to participate in DROP;

(B) have the same amount of the pensioner's service retirement pension credited to the pensioner's DROP account as has been credited since the pensioner's service retirement pension was initially granted; and

(2) once a pensioner subject to this section attains 59-1/2 years of age:

(A) the pensioner may not have any portion of the pensioner's service retirement pension credited to the pensioner's DROP account; and

(B) as soon as administratively feasible, the balance in the pensioner's DROP account shall be annuitized and distributed to the pensioner in accordance with Section 6.14(e) of this article.

(c) The DROP account of a pensioner who continues participation in DROP under Subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section does not accrue interest on and after September 1, 2017.

Sec. 6.15. MEDICAL EXAMINATION. (a) The board may require the following pensioners receiving a disability pension or a periodic disability compensation benefit to appear and undergo a medical examination by the health director or, if the health director approves, by any licensed medical practitioner, to determine if the pensioner's disability continues or has been removed to the extent that the pensioner is able to resume duties with the department:

(1) any Group A pensioner who has served less than 20 years;

(2) any Group A pensioner who elected a Group A disability pension under Section 6.04 of this article, periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article, or a non-service-connected disability pension under Plan A or former Section 17(b)(2) of this article, and who had more than 20 years of pension service, but is less than 55 years of age; and

(3) any Group B pensioner who was granted a Group B disability pension under Section 6.04 of this article or periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article or a disability pension under the terms of Plan B and is less than 50 years of age.

(b) Any medical examination under this section is subject to the following conditions:

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the board has complete discretion to require a pensioner to appear and undergo a medical examination as well as the time that may pass between examinations. When it becomes clear to the board from reliable medical evidence that the disability is unequivocally permanent and is not expected to diminish, the board may waive subsequent examinations.

(2) A pensioner may not be required to undergo a medical examination more often than once in a six-month period, except that the board may order the pensioner to undergo an examination at any time if the board has reason to believe the pensioner's disability has been removed and that the pensioner may be able to resume duties with the pensioner's former department or if the pensioner requests to be allowed to return to duty.

(3) If a pensioner fails to undergo an examination after being notified by the board that the examination is required, the board may discontinue disability benefits until the pensioner has undergone the examination and the results of the examination have been sent to the board.

(4) If the pensioner is examined by an approved outside medical practitioner other than the health director, the reasonable and customary cost of the examination, if any, is payable from the assets of the fund.

(c) After a pensioner has undergone a medical examination, the health director shall provide the board with a report of the pensioner's present medical condition together with the doctor's opinion as to whether the pensioner continues to be disabled or whether the pensioner is no longer disabled to the extent that the pensioner could resume duties with the pensioner's former department. The report and opinion may be divulged only to persons who have a legitimate need for them.

(d) If, in the opinion of the health director, the pensioner continues to be disabled, the board must continue payment of benefits. If, in the opinion of the health director, the pensioner is no longer disabled, or is not so disabled that the pensioner could not perform some duties for the pensioner's former department, the board shall notify the department to determine if a position is available. If a position is available, the board shall notify the pensioner to return to duty. Disability benefits shall continue to be paid, however, until the pensioner returns to active service. However, if the pensioner refuses to return to duty or is refused employment by either department for reasons other than disability, the board shall order disability payments stopped. If a position is not available, the board must continue payments of the pensioner's disability pension.

(e) Pursuant to its authority under Section 6.06(o-2) of this article to review and modify any funding relating to the disability of a child who is a qualified survivor, the board may require the qualified survivor with a disability receiving death benefits to appear and undergo medical examination by the health director or, if the health director approves, by any licensed medical practitioner, to determine if the disability continues or if the disability has been removed.

Sec. 6.16. WAIVER OF BENEFITS. (a) A primary party, qualified survivor, or beneficiary of a member's DROP account may, on a form prescribed by the board and filed with the executive director, waive all or a portion of the benefits to which the person is or may be entitled. The waiver may state whether it is revocable or irrevocable, and is irrevocable unless the waiver clearly states it is revocable.

(b) The waiver described by Subsection (a) of this section applies only to benefits that become payable on or after the date the waiver is filed.

(b-1) Benefits waived by a revocable waiver are forfeited and the person making the waiver has no right, title, claim, or interest in the benefits.

(c) If two or more persons are or may be entitled to benefits under this article, the waiver described by Subsection (a) of this section must be executed by each person to become effective. The living parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians of a child must sign the waiver described by Subsection (a) of this section on behalf of the child.

Sec. 6.17. DENIAL OF BENEFITS: DEATH CAUSED BY SURVIVOR. A qualified survivor or beneficiary of a member's DROP account is not eligible for, or entitled to, benefits if the person is the principal or an accomplice in wilfully bringing about the death of a primary party or another qualified survivor or beneficiary of a member's DROP account whose death would otherwise have resulted in a benefit or benefit increase to the person. The determination of the board that a person wilfully brought about the death must be made during a meeting of the board from a preponderance of the evidence presented and is not controlled by any other finding in any other forum, whether considered under the same or another degree of proof.

Sec. 6.18. INVESTIGATION. (a) The board shall consider all applications for retirement and disability pensions, all applications for death benefits, and all elections to participate in DROP. The board shall give notice to persons applying for benefits, advising them of their right to appear before the board and offer such sworn evidence as they may desire. Any person claiming retirement, disability, or DROP benefits may appear before the board and offer testimony that is relevant to a contested application for a retirement pension, a disability pension, death benefits, or DROP benefits. The chairman of the board may issue process for witnesses, administer oaths to witnesses, and examine any witness as to any matter affecting benefits under any plan within the pension system. Process for witnesses shall be served by any method of serving process permitted by the state law in any civil judicial proceeding. A witness who fails or refuses to attend and testify may be compelled to attend and testify, as in any judicial proceeding. The board may seek assistance from any court of competent jurisdiction to further compel or sanction a witness who fails or refuses to attend and testify.

(b) Any person who is aggrieved by a determination of the board regarding a retirement pension, a disability pension, death benefits, or DROP benefits may appeal the board determination to a state district court in the city where the pension system is located by giving written notice of appeal. The notice shall contain a statement of the grounds and reasons why the party feels aggrieved. The notice shall be served personally on the executive director within 20 days after the date of the board's determination. After service of the notice, the party appealing shall file with the state district court a copy of the notice of intention to appeal, together with an affidavit of the party making service showing how, when, and on whom the notice was served.

(c) Within 30 days after the date of service of the notice of appeal on the board, the executive director shall make up and file with the state district court a transcript of all nonprivileged papers and proceedings in the case before the board. When the copy of the notice of appeal and the transcript has been filed with the court, the appeal is perfected, and the court shall docket the appeal, assign the appeal a number, fix a date for hearing the appeal, and notify both the appellant and the board of the date fixed for the hearing.

(d) At any time before the rendering of its decision on appeal, the court may require further or additional proof or information, either documentary or under oath. On rendition of a decision on appeal, the court shall give to each party to the appeal a copy of the decision of the case. The decision of the court is appealable in the same manner as are civil cases generally.

(e) As provided by Section 4.01 of this article, the board shall approve all money used for investigations. The board may request the investigative services of either the police or fire departments in connection with any matter arising under this section.

Sec. 6.19. CERTIFICATE OF MEMBER PENSION BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY. When a member has earned five years of pension service, the member shall be issued an incontestable five-year certificate indicating that the member is entitled to pension benefits subject to the effect of any withdrawals as permitted under Article 6243a or this article. The certificate shall state that the calculation of the retirement pension to which the member is entitled, or any disability benefits to which the member may become entitled, shall be determined solely under the actual terms of the combined pension plan as in effect at the time the member leaves active service. The certificate shall further state that in the case of the member's death, the member's qualified survivors, if any, may become entitled to death benefits as determined solely under the actual terms of the combined pension plan as in effect at the time of the member's death. The certificate shall bear a seal and be signed by the executive director and chairman of the board.

Sec. 6.20. ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS OR OVERPAYMENTS. (a) If the pension system pays money to any person not entitled to the payment, whether by reason of an error of the pension system as to entitlement to or the amount of a benefit or otherwise, or an act or error of some other person, including the recipient of the payment, the recipient of the payment holds the funds to which the recipient was not entitled in constructive trust for the pension system and those funds are subject to demand by the pension system at any time.

(b) The recipient of an erroneous payment from the pension system shall repay to the pension system all funds associated with the erroneous payment.

(c) Subject to Subsection (e) of this section, the board may by rule adopt a procedure to enable the pension system to offset the future benefit or other payments of a recipient described by this section. In addition, the board may take any additional action, including the bringing of a lawsuit, the board considers necessary to recover an erroneous payment the pension system is entitled to under this section.

(d) If the pension system determines that a person is entitled to additional benefits as a result of an error made by the pension system, the pension system shall promptly pay the additional benefits owed.

(e) The board's correction procedures must comply with the Internal Revenue Service's Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and Revenue Procedure 2016-51, including subsequent guidance.

PART 6A. EQUITABLE ADJUSTMENTS

Sec. 6A.01. EQUITABLE ADJUSTMENTS TO BENEFITS. (a) Subject to this section and notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the board by at least a two-thirds vote of all trustees may consider and adopt rules requiring the equitable return of funds paid to or credited to the benefit of a member or pensioner under this article before September 1, 2017, to the extent the funds exceeded reasonable amounts that should be paid or credited given the circumstances of the pension system at the time the payment or credit was made, including the return of excessive interest credited to a member's DROP account and excessive adjustments made under Section 6.12 of this article.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a) of this section, "reasonable amounts" includes the amounts that would have been paid or credited:

(1) if the interest rate applied in determining a benefit, including the interest rate applied to a DROP account, equaled the actual, audited rate of return of the plan at the time the interest was credited to the account; or

(2) if the percentage increase applied under Section 6.12 of this article equaled the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) most recently published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor and used by the United States Social Security Administration to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for social security benefit payments payable beginning in January of the next year.

Sec. 6A.02. ADJUDICATION OF CERTAIN CHALLENGES. (a) The Texas Supreme Court has exclusive and original jurisdiction over a challenge to the constitutionality under the Texas Constitution of Section 6A.01 of this article. An action under this section is authorized to the full extent permitted by Section 3, Article V, Texas Constitution. The Texas Supreme Court may issue any injunctive, declaratory, or equitable relief the court deems appropriate or necessary to effectuate the court's mandamus jurisdiction in connection with a challenge under this section.

(b) Any action brought under this section must be filed not later than the 90th day after the date the board adopts a rule under Section 6A.01 of this article.

(c) If an action brought under this section is timely filed, the board may not enforce or otherwise administer any rules adopted pursuant to Section 6A.01 of this article during the pendency of the action.

PART 8. TREATMENT UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAW

Sec. 8.01. QUALIFICATION UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW. (a) The plans within the pension system and the assets of the fund are intended to qualify as a governmental plan under Sections 401 and 414(d) of the code, be exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(a) of the code, and conform at all times to applicable requirements of law, regulations, and orders of duly constituted federal governmental authorities. Accordingly, if any provision of this article is subject to more than one construction, one of which will permit the qualification of a plan that is within the pension system, that construction that will permit the plan to qualify and conform will prevail.

(b) The plans within the pension system as well as the assets of the fund shall be maintained for the exclusive benefit of members and their beneficiaries. At no time before the termination of all the plans within the pension system and the satisfaction of all liabilities with respect to members and their beneficiaries under all plans shall any part of the principal or interest from the assets of the fund be used for or diverted to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the members and beneficiaries.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the annual benefit provided with respect to any member in any limitation year may not exceed the amount permitted by Section 415(b) of the code for the limitation year, and the sum of the member contributions and all other annual additions for any limitation year may not exceed the amount permitted under Section 415(c) of the code for the limitation year. If the aggregated annual benefit or aggregated annual additions under any qualified plans created under this article and any other defined benefit plan or plans maintained by the city would otherwise exceed the limitations of Section 415 of the code, the required reductions in benefits or contributions shall first be made to the extent possible from the other plan or plans. The limitations referenced in this subsection shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section 415(d) of the code and any adjustment to benefits applies to the benefits of active and terminated members and applies without regard to whether a terminated member is a pensioner.

(c-1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section to the contrary, the limitations, adjustments, and other requirements prescribed by this section shall at all times be computed in the manner most favorable to the affected members, to the extent permitted by guidelines issued by the Internal Revenue Service. If any provision of Section 415 of the code is repealed or is not enforced by the Internal Revenue Service, that provision may not reduce the benefits of any member after the effective date of the repeal of the provision or during the period in which the provision is not enforced.

(c-2) Any benefit reductions that are required to be made under this section shall be applied to reduce the monthly benefit that would otherwise have been payable to the member, unless the value of the member's DROP account accrued under Section 6.14 of this article exceeds the amount that may be paid under this section. If the value of the DROP account exceeds the value of the payments that may be made under this section, the member shall receive a lump-sum payment from the account of the maximum amount that may be paid under this section and the payment shall permanently reduce the benefits the member would otherwise have been entitled to receive under the combined pension plan.

(d) A member's retirement pension may not begin later than April 1 of the year after the later of the year in which the member leaves active service or the year in which the member attains age 70-1/2 and must at all times comply with the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the code.

(e) Any person who receives any distribution from any plan within the pension system that is an eligible rollover distribution as defined by Section 402(f)(2)(A) of the code is entitled to have that distribution transferred directly to another eligible retirement plan as defined by Section 402(c)(8)(B) of the code of the person's choice on providing direction regarding that transfer to the executive director in accordance with procedures established by the executive director.

(e-1) If an eligible rollover distribution described by Subsection (e) of this section is to a designated beneficiary who is not the spouse or former spouse of the member, the transfer may only be to an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity.

(f) For the 2017 calendar year, the annual compensation taken into account for any purpose under the combined pension plan may not exceed $400,000 for an eligible participant or $270,000 for an ineligible participant. For a Group A member the term "annual compensation" means the aggregate of the member's base pay. For a Group B member the term "annual compensation" means the aggregate of the member's computation pay for any given plan year. These dollar limits shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with guidelines provided by the secretary of the treasury. For purposes of this subsection, an:

(1) "eligible participant" means any person who first became a member of the pension system before January 1, 1996; and

(2) "ineligible participant" means any member who is not an eligible participant.

(g) For purposes of Subsection (h) of this section, "normal retirement age" means the earlier of:

(1) the attainment of 50 years of age on or before September 1, 2017, and completion of at least five years of pension service;

(2) the attainment of 58 years of age after September 1, 2017, and completion of at least five years of pension service; or

(3) completion of 20 years of pension service.

(h) The retirement benefit earned by a member is nonforfeitable:

(1) on attainment of normal retirement age, if not already nonforfeitable; or

(2) to the extent the benefit is funded, if not already nonforfeitable, on the termination or partial termination of the combined pension plan or the complete discontinuance of city contributions to the fund.

(i) In accordance with Section 401(a)(8) of the code, forfeitures arising under the combined pension plan may not be used to increase the benefits any member would otherwise receive under the terms of the plan. Forfeitures may be used first to reduce administrative expenses, then to reduce required city contributions.

(j) Subject to procedures adopted by the board, the pension system shall accept an eligible rollover distribution from another eligible retirement plan as defined by Section 402(f)(2)(B) of the code as payment of all or a portion of any payment a member is permitted to make to the pension system for past pension service credit. The pension system shall separately account for any after-tax contributions transferred from any plan under this subsection.

Sec. 8.02. EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS. The board may by rule establish and administer a separate qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement and associated trust for the arrangement in accordance with Section 415(m) of the code.

Sec. 8.03. EXEMPTION OF BENEFITS FROM JUDICIAL PROCESS OR ALIENATION. (a) A portion of the fund or benefit or amount awarded to any primary party, qualified survivor, beneficiary of a member's DROP account, excess benefit participant, or survivor of an excess benefit participant under this article may not be held, seized, taken, subjected to, or detained or levied on by virtue of any execution, attachment, garnishment, injunction, or other writ, order, or decree, or any process or proceedings issued from or by any court for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage, claim, demands, or judgment against any person entitled to benefits from any plan within the pension system or from the excess benefit plan. The fund and the excess benefit plan or any claim against the fund or the excess benefit plan may not be directly or indirectly assigned or transferred, and any attempt to transfer or assign the fund or the excess benefit plan or a claim against the fund or the excess benefit plan is void.

(b) A benefit under any plan created or existing pursuant to this article or Article 6243a is subject to division pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order. The executive director shall determine the qualifications of a domestic relations order according to a uniform, consistent procedure approved by the board. The total benefit payable to a primary party or to an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order may not actuarially exceed the benefits to which a primary party would be entitled in the absence of the qualified domestic relations order. In calculating the alternate payee's benefits under a qualified domestic relations order, the interest rate is the rate used by the pension system's actuary in the actuarial evaluation for that year, except that the minimum interest rate for this purpose is the minimum required by Section 414 of the code.

(1) the payment of death benefits to a trust for certain children of a primary party pursuant to Section 6.06(n) of this article;

(2) the withholding of federal taxes from pension benefits;

(3) the recovery by the board of overpayments of benefits previously made to any person;

(4) the direct deposit of benefit payments to an account in a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or other financial institution, provided the arrangement is not an alienation;

(5) under any policy adopted by the board and uniformly applied to voluntary arrangements entered into by a primary party or qualified survivor, any voluntary and revocable arrangement entered into by a pensioner or a qualified survivor that permits the withholding and direct payment of health care or life insurance premiums or similar payments from the monthly benefit payments; or

(6) an assignment of the distribution from an annuitized DROP account to a third party under Section 6.14(e-3)(1) of this article.

(d) For purposes of Subsection (c) of this section, an attachment, garnishment, levy, execution, or other legal process is not considered a voluntary arrangement.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 553, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 872, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 164, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 190, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.03, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.05, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.06, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.07, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.08, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.09, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.10, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.11, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.12, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.13, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.14, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.15, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.16, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.17, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.19, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.20, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.21, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.22, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.23, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.24, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.25, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.26, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.27, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.28, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.29, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.30, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.31, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.32, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.33, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.34, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.35, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.36, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.37, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.38, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.39, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.40, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.41, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.42, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.43, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.44, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.45, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.46, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.47, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.48, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.49, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.50, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(7), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(1), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(2), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(3), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(4), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(5), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 1.52(6), eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 3158), Sec. 2.01, eff. May 31, 2017.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 901 (H.B. 3375), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 619 (H.B. 4034), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 619 (H.B. 4034), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.

Art. 6243b. FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN PENSION FUND IN CITIES OF 500,000 TO 600,000.

Sec. 1. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. (a) In all incorporated cities and towns containing more than 600,000 inhabitants and less than 700,000 inhabitants, having a fully or partially paid fire department, three (3) citizens of said city or town to be designated by the mayor, two (2) citizens of said city or town to be designated by the city manager of said city or town, three (3) policemen to be elected by members of the policemen's pension fund, and three (3) firemen to be elected by members of the firemen's pension fund, composing eleven (11) members, seven (7) of which shall be a quorum, shall constitute a board of trustees of the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund, to provide for the disbursement of the same and to designate the beneficiaries thereof. The board shall be known as the Board of Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund, __________, Texas. Said board shall organize by choosing one member as Chairman and by appointing a secretary. Such board shall have charge of and administer said fund and shall order payments therefrom in pursuance of the provisions of this law. It shall report annually to the governing body of such city or town the condition of the said fund and the receipts and disbursements on account of the same with a complete list of beneficiaries of said fund and the amounts paid them.

(b) The members of the board of trustees serve four-year terms.

(d) The board of trustees may purchase from an insurer licensed to do business in this state one (1) or more insurance policies that provide for the reimbursement of a member, officer, or employee of the board for liability imposed as damages caused by, and for costs and expenses incurred by the individual in defense of, an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's capacity as fiduciary or co-fiduciary of assets of the pension fund. The board of trustees may not purchase an insurance policy that provides for the reimbursement of a member, officer, or employee of the board for liability imposed or costs and expenses incurred because of the member's, officer's, or employee's personal dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently. The board of trustees shall use money in the pension fund to purchase an insurance policy under this subsection.

(e)(1) If an insurance policy described by Subsection (d) of this section is unavailable, insufficient, inadequate, or otherwise not in effect, the board of trustees may indemnify a member, officer, or employee of the board for liability imposed as damages caused by, and for reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the individual in defense of, an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's fiduciary or co-fiduciary capacity. The board of trustees may not indemnify a member, officer, or employee of the board for liability imposed or costs and expenses incurred because of the member's, officer's, or employee's personal dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently.

(2) A determination of indemnification under this subsection must be made by a majority of the board of trustees. If a proposed indemnification is of a board member, the member may not vote on the matter.

(3) The board of trustees may adopt a policy establishing a method for presentation, approval, and payment of claims for indemnification under this subsection.

Sec. 1A. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Board of Trustees" or "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund.

(2) "Member" means a duly appointed and enrolled policeman or fireman of a city covered by this Act who is a contributing member of the pension fund.

(3) "Pension Fund" or "Fund" means the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund.

(4) "Salary" means base pay plus longevity pay received by a member from the city for personal services rendered as a policeman or fireman excluding all other forms of compensation.

(5) "Wages" means salary, longevity, and overtime pay received by a member from the city for personal services rendered as a policeman or fireman excluding all other compensation.

Sec. 2. PARTICIPATION IN FUND; WAGE DEDUCTIONS. Each member fireman and policeman in the employment of such city or town must participate in said fund, except in times of national emergency those persons as are employed during that time shall not be required to participate in the fund, and said city or town shall be authorized to deduct a sum of not less than one per cent (1%) nor in excess of six per cent (6%) of his wages from each month to form a part of the fund known as the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund, except that the city or town shall deduct a sum less than one per cent (1%) or more than six per cent (6%) of the member's wages each month to form a part of the fund if the board of trustees of that fund increases or decreases the percentage of wages to be contributed to the fund under the provisions of Section 10A or 14A of this Act. The amount to be deducted from the wages of those named above who must participate in the fund is to be determined by the board of trustees as provided for in Section 1 of this Act within the minimum and maximum deductions herein provided or as otherwise provided under the provisions of Section 10A or 14A of this Act.

Sec. 3. PAYMENTS TO FUND. There shall be deducted for such fund from the wages of each fireman and policeman a sum to be determined by the board of trustees under the provisions of Sections 2, 10A, and 14A of this Act. Any donations made to such fund and rewards received by any member of either of said funds, and all funds received from any source for such fund shall be deposited in like manner to the credit of such fund.

Sec. 4. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The board shall hold regular monthly meetings and other meetings upon call of its chairman. It shall issue orders signed by the president or chairman and secretary to the persons entitled thereto, of the amount of money ordered paid to such persons from such fund by said board which order shall state for what purpose such payment is to be made; it shall keep a record of its proceedings, which record shall be a public record; it shall at each monthly meeting send to the city treasurer a written list of persons entitled to payment from the fund, stating the amount of such payment, and for what granted, which list shall be certified to and signed by the president or chairman and secretary of such board, attested under oath. The treasurer shall enter a copy of said list upon the book to be kept for that purpose, which book shall be known as the "Record of the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund Board," of __________, Texas, and the said board shall direct payments of the amounts named therein to the persons entitled thereto out of said fund. No money of said fund shall be disbursed for any purpose without a vote of a majority of the board, which shall be a no and yes vote entered upon the proceedings of the board.

Sec. 5. CUSTODY OF FUND. The treasurer of said city or town shall be ex-officio treasurer of said fund. All money for said fund shall be paid over to and received by the treasurer for the use of said fund, and the duties thus imposed upon such treasurer shall be additional duties for which he shall be liable under his oath and bond as such city or town treasurer, but he shall receive no compensation therefor.

Sec. 6. MEMBERSHIP IN PENSION FUND; ELIGIBILITY. (a) Any person who has been duly appointed and enrolled as a policeman or fireman of any city covered by this Act shall automatically become a member of the pension fund of such city upon expiration of ninety (90) days from date such city comes within the provisions of this Act, provided such person at the time of such appointment was not less than eighteen (18) years of age and not more than twenty-nine (29) years of age and except as provided under Section 10A of this Act. In all instances where a person is already a member of and contributor to such pension fund, he shall retain and be entitled to all rights and privileges due him by virtue of having been such a member and contributor.

(b) Any person not a member of the pension fund when this Act becomes effective, who thereafter is duly appointed and enrolled as a fireman or policeman of such city shall automatically become a member of the pension system as a condition of his employment provided such person at the time of such appointment was not less than eighteen (18) years of age and not more than twenty-nine (29) years of age and except as provided under Section 10A of this Act.

Sec. 7. RETIREMENT PENSIONS. Whenever any member of said departments who shall have contributed a portion of his wages, as provided herein, shall have served twenty-five (25) years or more in either of said departments and shall have attained the age of fifty (50) years, he shall be entitled to be retired from said service upon application, and shall be entitled to be paid from said fund a monthly pension of one-half (1/2) of the salary received by him at the time of his retirement subject to change under the provisions of Section 10A of this Act.

Sec. 8. DISABILITY PENSIONS. Whenever any member of the fire department or police department of any such city or town, and who is a contributor to said fund as provided, shall become so permanently disabled through injury received, or disease contracted, in the line of duty, as to incapacitate him for the performance of duty, or shall for any cause, through no fault of his own, become so permanently disabled as to incapacitate him for the performance of duty, and shall make written application therefor approved by a majority of the board, he shall be retired from service and be entitled to receive from said fund one-half of the monthly salary received by him as a member of either of said departments, at the time he became so disabled, to be paid in regular monthly installments subject to change under the provisions of Section 10A of this Act.

Sec. 9. DEATH BENEFITS, WIDOWS, ETC. In the case of the death before or after retirement of any member of the fire department or police department of any city or town resulting from disease contracted or injury received while in the line of duty or from any other cause through no fault of his own and who at the time of his death or retirement was a contributor to said Fund, leaving a widow and no children, the widow shall be entitled to receive monthly from said Fund an amount not exceeding one-third of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, and, if not retired before death, one-third of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his death; and, if at the time of the death of such contributor, under the circumstances and conditions hereinabove set forth, such contributor leaves a child or children under sixteen (16) years of age and the wife of such contributor is dead or divorced from such contributor, the child or children under sixteen (16) years of age shall be entitled to receive monthly from said Fund an amount not exceeding one-third of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, and, if not retired before death, one-third of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his death, said sum so paid to be equally divided among said children under sixteen (16) years of age, if more than one; and if at the time of death of such contributor, under the conditions hereinabove set forth, such contributor leaves a widow and a child or children under sixteen (16) years of age, the widow shall be entitled to receive monthly from said Fund (for the joint benefit of herself and such child or children) an amount not exceeding one-half of the monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, and if not retired before death, one-half of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his death, said payments to be made until such child or all of said children, if more than one, as the case may be, shall reach sixteen (16) years of age, and after said child or all of said children, as the case may be, have reached the age of sixteen (16) years, then the widow shall be entitled to receive monthly from said Fund (for her benefit) an amount not exceeding one-third of the monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, and if not retired before death, one-third of such monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his death. In no case shall the amount paid to any one family exceed monthly the amount of one-half of the monthly salary earned by the deceased immediately prior to the time of his retirement, or, if not retired, prior to the time of his death. On the remarriage of any widow, such pension paid to her for her benefit shall cease and in the event that there are child or children under sixteen (16) years of age at the time of said remarriage, one-third of the monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, and if not retired before death, immediately preceding his death, shall be paid monthly to the widow for the sole benefit of the child or children under the age of sixteen (16) years; provided, however, that the Pension Board, if it finds that said payments to the widow are not being used for the benefit of said child or children, may order said monthly benefits paid to said child or children instead of to said widow who has remarried. Where there is more than one child of such contributor, the benefits herein provided for shall be equally divided among the children, and upon the marriage or death of any child receiving such pension, or upon any child receiving such pension reaching sixteen (16) years of age, such pension payment for the benefit of said child shall cease, and if there remains a child or children under sixteen (16) years of age, the share of the said child so married or dead or reaching sixteen (16) years of age, shall be paid for the benefit of the remaining child or children under sixteen (16) years of age. In the event that a contributor leaves a widow and child or children under sixteen (16) years of age who are not the children of said widow, the Pension Board may, in its discretion, either pay monthly to the widow for the benefit of herself and said child or children, an amount not exceeding one-half of the monthly salary received by such member immediately preceding his retirement, or immediately preceding his death, if not retired before death, as hereinabove provided, or said Board may order one-fourth of said monthly salary received by such member paid to the widow and one-fourth of said monthly salary paid to said child or children. No widow or child of any such member resulting from any marriage contracted subsequent to the date of retirement of said member shall be entitled to a pension under this law; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed so as to change any pension now being paid any pensioner under the provisions of this Act. The provisions of this section are subject to change under the provisions of Section 10A of this Act.

Sec. 10. DEATH BENEFITS, FATHER, ETC. If any member of the fire department or police department dies from injuries received or disease contracted while in the line of duty, or from any cause through no fault of his own, who was a contributor to said fund and entitled to participate in said fund himself, leaves no wife or child, but who shall leave surviving him a dependent father, mother, brother, or sister, wholly dependent upon said person for support, such dependent father, mother, sister and brother shall be entitled to receive in the aggregate one-half of the salary earned by said deceased immediately prior to his death, to be equally divided between those who are wholly dependent on said deceased, so long as they are wholly dependent. The board shall have authority to determine the facts as to the dependency of said parties and each of them, as to how long the same exists, and may at any time upon the request of any contributor to such fund, reopen any award made to any of said parties and discontinue such pension as to all or any of them as it may deem proper, and the findings of said board in regard to such matter and as to all pensions granted under this law shall be final upon all parties seeking a pension as a dependent of said deceased, or otherwise, until such award of the trustees shall have been set aside or revoked. The provisions of this section are subject to change under the provisions of Section 10A of this Act.

Sec. 10A. MODIFICATION OF BENEFITS, MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS; CONDITIONS. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in other parts of this Act and subject to Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Board of Trustees may, by majority vote of the whole board, make from time to time one or more of the following changes, or modifications:

(1) modify or change prospectively or retroactively in any manner whatsoever any of the benefits provided by this Act, except that any retroactive change or modification shall only increase pensions or benefits;

(2) modify or change prospectively in any manner whatsoever any of the membership qualifications;

(3) modify or change prospectively or retroactively in any manner whatsoever any of the eligibility requirements for pensions or benefits;

(4) increase or decrease prospectively the percentage of wages less than the one per cent (1%) minimum or above the six per cent (6%) maximum provided in Section 2 of this Act to be contributed to the fund; or

(5) provide prospectively for refunds, in whole or in part, and with or without interest, of contributions made to the fund by employees who leave the city service before qualifying for a pension.

(b) None of the changes made under Subsection (a) of this section may be made unless all of the following conditions are sequentially complied with:

(1) the change must be approved by a qualified actuary selected by a four-fifths vote of the Board; the actuary's approval must be based on an actuarial finding that the change is supported by the existing funding status of the fund; the actuary, if an individual, must be a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries or a Fellow of the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice or a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries; the actuary, if an actuarial consulting firm, must be established in the business of providing actuarial consulting services to pension plans and have experienced personnel able to provide the requested services; the findings upon which the properly selected and qualified actuary's approval are based are not subject to judicial review;

(2) the change must be approved by a majority of all persons then making contributions to the fund as employees of a department to which the change would directly apply, voting by secret ballot at an election held after ten (10) days' notice given by posting at a prominent place in every station or substation of a department to which the change would directly apply and in the city hall;

(3) the changes, except changes made under the provisions of Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), of this section, shall apply only to active member employees who are members of the affected departments at the time the change becomes effective and those who enter the departments thereafter; and

(4) the changes shall not deprive any person, without his written consent, of any right to receive a pension or benefits which have already become vested and matured.

(c) If the Board of Trustees proposes to change benefits under Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), of this section, the change is not effective until the change is finally approved in accordance with this subsection. The Board shall submit the change for approval by the city's or town's governing body. If disapproved by the governing body, or if the governing body fails to act within sixty (60) days of presentation to the governing body, the Board, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, plus one, may require the city's or town's governing body to hold an election, as soon as practicable, for approval of the change by the qualified voters of the city or town. Any change proposed and subsequently approved by the voters under this subsection becomes effective as of the beginning of the city's or town's next fiscal year.

Sec. 11. INVESTIGATIONS. The board shall consider all cases for the retirement and pension of the members of the fire and police departments rendered necessary or expedient under the provisions of this law, and all applications for pensions by widows and the children and of dependent relatives, and the said trustees shall give written notice to persons asking a pension to appear before said board and offer such sworn evidence as he or they may desire. Any person who is a member of either of said departments and who is a contributor to said fund may appear either in person or by attorney and contest the application for participation in said fund by any person claiming to be entitled to participate therein, and may offer testimony in support of such contest. The president or chairman of said board shall have authority to issue process for witnesses and administer oaths to said witnesses and to examine any witness as to any matter affecting retirement or a pension under the provisions of this law. Such process for witness shall be served by any member of the police or fire department and upon the failure of any witness to attend and testify, he or she may be compelled to attend and testify, as in any judicial proceeding.

Sec. 12. MEDICAL EXAMINATION. Said board may cause any person receiving any pension under the provisions of this law, who has served less than twenty (20) years, to appear and undergo a medical examination, as a result of which the board shall determine whether the relief in said case shall be continued, increased, decreased or discontinued. If any person receiving relief under the provisions of this law, after due notice, fails to appear and undergo such examination, the board may reduce or entirely discontinue such relief.

Sec. 13. Repealed by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 817, ch. 368, Sec. 5, eff. June 12, 1973.

Sec. 14. USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. Except as provided by Section 14A of this Act, no funds shall be paid out of the public treasury of any such incorporated city or town, in carrying out any of the provisions of this law, except on a majority vote of the voters of such city or town, and where such funds have been voted on as provided by law, said city or town shall contribute such amount.

Sec. 14A. CONTRIBUTION INCREASES. (a) If at any time a qualified actuary that meets the requirements of Subdivision (1), Subsection (b), Section 10A of this Act, determines that the total contribution rate, expressed as a percentage of wages, is insufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability, as defined under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 25, over a 40-year period:

(1) the city's or town's governing body may increase the city or town contribution rate; and

(2) to the extent that the city or town contribution rate increases under Subdivision (1) of this subsection, the member contribution rate must increase by an amount equal to the member contribution rate before the increase multiplied by a fraction:

(A) the numerator of which is the increase in the amount of the city or town contribution rate; and

(B) the denominator of which is the amount of the city or town contribution rate before the increase.

(b) The sum of the city or town contribution rate and the member contribution rate after an increase under this section may not exceed the total contribution rate determined by the qualified actuary to be necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability over a forty (40) year period.

Sec. 14B. CONTRIBUTION DECREASES. (a) If at any time a qualified actuary that meets the requirements of Section 10A(b)(1) of this Act determines that the total contribution rate, expressed as a percentage of wages, is sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability, as defined under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 25, over a 25-year period:

(1) the city's or town's governing body may decrease the city or town contribution rate; and

(2) to the extent that the city or town contribution rate decreases under Subdivision (1) of this subsection, the member contribution rate must decrease by an amount equal to the member contribution rate before the decrease multiplied by a fraction:

(A) the numerator of which is the decrease in the amount of the city or town contribution rate; and

(B) the denominator of which is the amount of the city or town contribution rate before the decrease.

(b) The sum of the city or town contribution rate and the member contribution rate after a decrease under this section may not be less than the total contribution rate determined by the qualified actuary to be necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability over a 25-year period.

Sec. 15. AWARDS EXEMPT. No amount awarded to any person under the provisions of this law shall be liable for the debts of any such person; shall not be assignable and shall be exempt from garnishment or other legal process.

Sec. 16. SEPARATION OF FIREMEN'S AND POLICEMEN'S PENSION FUNDS IN CERTAIN CITIES. In any city or town subject to and operating under the Pension Law, the governing Body and Board of Trustees may, if it is deemed advisable and a majority of the members of said Fire Department or Police Department vote therefor, authorize and provide for the maintenance and administration of Pension Funds for each Department, said Funds to be the Policemen's Division of the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund and the Firemen's Division of the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund, to be kept independent of and apart from each other, and said Funds of each Department to consist of contributions by members of said Department, donations thereto and funds received from any source by said Department the purpose and effect of said division being to maintain the membership of and the payments into each Department separate, and to limit the rights of the members of each Department and their beneficiaries to the Pension Fund of their Department, and after the creation and establishment of a Firemen's Division of said Pension Fund and a Policemen's Division of said Pension Fund, the rights of Firemen shall be limited to the Firemen's Division of said Pension Fund, and the rights of Policemen and their beneficiaries shall be limited to the Policemen's Division of said Pension Fund. After a separation has been voted and approved, as above provided, the Board of Trustees shall apportion the existing Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund between the two (2) Funds on the basis of contributions made by the members of the respective Departments and donations or payments to said Departments, and thereafter all payments to members or their beneficiaries of benefits, now accrued or hereafter accruing, shall be made from the Fund of their Department. Where a separation of funds is had, as hereinabove provided, the governing body of any city or town whose voters have authorized the payment of funds from the public treasury into the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund is hereby authorized to pay to the Board of Trustees, for the use of the Pension Fund of each division above provided for, sums not to exceed in total the amount voted by the people to be paid into the single fund.

Sec. 17. VALIDATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOR SEPARATION OF PENSION FUNDS. All Acts and proceedings had and done by the governing body and Board of Trustees of the Pension Fund of any such city or town, subject to the above provisions, in creating, establishing, maintaining, and administering separate Pension Funds for Firemen and Policemen are hereby legalized, approved, and validated, as well as the division by said governing body and Board of Trustees of any public funds voted by the voters of said city or town for the Firemen and Policemen Pension Fund between said two (2) Funds, and said governing body and Board of Trustees shall continue the separate maintenance and administration of said Funds in the manner hereinabove provided. This section and Section 16 of this Act provide only for the separation of pension funds into policeman and fireman divisions and grant the governing body no power or authority granted to the Board of Trustees under any provision of this Act, and the Board of Trustees shall have exclusive charge of administration and maintenance of the fund.

Sec. 18. OPERATION OF FUND NOTWITHSTANDING CENSUS CHANGE. Any city which has heretofore established a firemen and policemen fund in accordance with Article 6243B of Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes or as amended, shall continue to operate such fund under the provisions of this Act. It is further provided that the fact that any future Federal Census may result in said city being above or below the population bracket herein specified shall not affect the validity of such fund and such fund shall continue to be operated pursuant hereto.

Acts 1933, 43rd Leg., 1st C.S., p. 279, ch. 101. Amended by Acts 1935, 44th Leg., p. 811, ch. 346, Sec. 1 to 4; Acts 1937, 45th Leg., p. 616, ch. 308, Sec. 1; Acts 1937, 45th Leg., p. 1335, ch. 495, Sec. 1, 2; Acts 1959, 56th Leg., p. 26, ch. 16, Sec. 1; Acts 1961, 57th Leg., p. 983, ch. 427, Sec. 1; Acts 1963, 58th Leg., p. 367, ch. 136, Sec. 1, eff. May 10, 1963; Acts 1969, 61st Leg., p. 2456, ch. 823, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1969; Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 1418, ch. 395, Sec. 1, 2, eff. May 26, 1971; Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 815, ch. 368, Sec. 1 to 5, eff. June 12, 1973; Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1372, ch. 526, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 590, ch. 237, Sec. 122, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 663, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1985; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 46, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 708, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Aug. 26, 1991; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 165, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1420 (H.B. 3355), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1420 (H.B. 3355), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1420 (H.B. 3355), Sec. 1.03, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1420 (H.B. 3355), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1420 (H.B. 3355), Sec. 1.05, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 191, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (S.B. 1133), Sec. 1, eff. May 24, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (S.B. 1133), Sec. 2, eff. May 24, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (S.B. 1133), Sec. 3, eff. May 24, 2013.

Art. 6243c. VALIDATING ELECTIONS FOR PENSIONS IN CITIES OF OVER 10,000.

Sec. 1. ELECTION AND PROCEEDINGS VALIDATED. That where a majority of the resident taxpayers being qualified electors of any city or town in this State having a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) inhabitants, having voted at an election held in such city or town in favor of the expending of public funds by such city or town in carrying out the provisions of Chapter 10, General Laws of the 36th Legislature, Regular Session, such election and all acts and proceedings had and done in connection therewith by the governing body of such city or town are hereby legalized, approved and validated and it is hereby declared that no further election shall be necessary for the expenditure of public funds to carry out the provisions of H.B. No. 30 and H.B. 31, of the First Called Session of the 43rd Legislature, but any election held under the provisions of Chapter 10, General Acts of the 36th Legislature, Regular Session, shall be and is hereby deemed to be sufficient to carry out the provisions of House Bill 30 and House Bill 31, of the First Called Session of the 43rd Legislature.

Sec. 2. VALIDATION OF ELECTIONS UNDER OTHER ACTS. Any other elections held in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 10, General Laws of the 36th Legislature, Regular Session, and adopting the provisions of said chapter are hereby legalized, approved and validated. Any funds now on hand and belonging to the Firemen and Policemen Fund shall remain a part of said fund and all warrants and vouchers heretofore issued are hereby legalized, approved and validated.

Sec. 3. VALIDATION OF PENSIONS PAID. All pensions heretofore paid by any city under the terms of Chapter 10, General Laws of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, Regular Session, including all pensions paid subsequent to the enactment of Senate Bill 139, Chapter 94, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, Regular Session, making said Act applicable only to certain cities and up to November 1, 1933, are hereby in all things expressly validated and legalized, and all persons to whom such pensions have been paid shall hereafter be deemed to be proper pensioners under the terms of H.B. No. 30 and H.B. 31, Acts of the First Called Session of the 43rd Legislature.

Sec. 4. PENSION ROLLS VALIDATED. All pensioners added to the pension rolls as pensioners under the terms of Chapter 10, General Laws of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, Regular Session, but subsequent to the enactment of Senate Bill No. 139, Chapter 94, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, Regular Session, making said Act applicable only to certain cities, shall hereafter be deemed proper and legal pensioners on the rolls of all cities wherein a pension system has been established under the terms of H.B. No. 30 and H.B. 31, Acts of the First Called Session of the 43rd Legislature.

Sec. 5. ELECTION IN CERTAIN CITIES UNNECESSARY. All cities included in the population brackets of H.B. No. 30 and H.B. 31, Acts of the First Called Session of the 43rd Legislature, shall hereafter from the effective date of this Act be deemed to have a pension system without the necessity of any election or any action on the part of the City Council, and such City Council or Governing Board shall immediately provide adequate funds for the payment of pensions under the terms of H.B. No. 30 and H.B. 31 and the terms of this Act.

Acts 1933, 43rd Leg., 1st C.S., p. 89, ch. 30.

Art. 6243d. PENSIONS IN CITIES OF 290,000 OR OVER.

Sec. 1. In all incorporated cities and towns having a population of two hundred and ninety thousand (290,000) or more, according to the preceding Federal Census, the governing body of such city or town is hereby authorized to formulate and devise a pension plan for the benefit of all employees in the employment of such city or town. Before said pension plan as devised and formulated by the governing body of such city or town shall become effective, said entire pension plan shall be submitted in ordinance form by said governing body to the qualified electors of such city or town and be approved by said qualified electors at an election duly held. Said ordinance containing said pension plan when submitted to the qualified electors for approval, shall be so worded as to authorize the governing body of such city or town to either appropriate yearly out of the general revenue of such city or town a sufficient sum to carry out said pension plan, or to levy yearly a general ad valorem tax sufficient to provide for said pension plan, said sum to be appropriated yearly or to be raised by taxation, to be in addition to whatever sum, if any, to be contributed by the employees of such city or town to the pension fund of said pension plan.

Sec. 2. Any pension plan devised or formulated by any such city or town which provides that all employees participating therein shall contribute a portion of their weekly, monthly or yearly salary, shall not be compulsory for the employees of such city or town, but shall apply only to those employees of such city or town who signify their willingness in writing to participate therein, and to have deducted from their weekly, monthly or yearly salaries, the sum as specified in said pension plan.

Sec. 3. This Act shall not repeal Articles 6229 to 6243, both numbers inclusive, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended by Acts of 1933, Forty-third Legislature, page 206, Chapter 94, but the provisions of said Articles 6229 to 6243, as amended, shall not apply whenever a city or town as provided in this Act shall formulate, devise and adopt a pension plan according to the terms and provisions of this Act.

Acts 1935, 44th Leg., p. 728, ch. 317.

Art. 6243d-1. POLICEMEN'S RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND.

Sec. 1. CREATION OF FUND; DEFINITIONS. There is hereby created in all incorporated cities in this State having a population of two hundred and ninety thousand (290,000), or more, according to the preceding Federal Census, a fund to be known as the policemen's relief and retirement fund. Said fund shall be administered in each such city by a board to be known as the policemen's relief and retirement board.

The expression "pension fund," as used herein, shall mean the policemen's relief and retirement fund. The expression "pension board," as used in this Act, means the policemen's relief and retirement board of each such city. All members of the police department of any such city shall participate in said pension fund, and shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Act, save and except special officers, part-time officers, janitors, car washers, and cooks. With the exceptions just named, it is the intention hereof to include everyone who is designated by any such city as a member of said police department, regardless of the particular duty or duties performed by such person. The expressions "member" and "members," as used in this Act, mean members of any such police department who are entitled to participate in said pension fund as above set forth, that is, the entire personnel of any such police department, save and except special officers, part-time officers, janitors, car washers, and cooks, in each city.

Sec. 2. PENSION BOARD. Said pension board in each such city shall consist of one person to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council or governing body of such city, the city controller, or, if there be no city controller, then the person discharging the duties of the city controller in such city, and three (3) persons to be elected from the police department by the members. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, said members of each such police department shall elect said three (3) members of said pension board, one to be elected until the next succeeding January 1st thereafter, and two (2) to be elected until the second January 1st following such election, and thereafter, as the terms expire, new members to said pension board shall be similarly elected to hold office until the second January 1st following their respective elections. In case of vacancies, new members shall be elected to serve the unexpired term. All persons elected to said pension board shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. Any member shall be eligible to election to said pension board.

Said pension board shall annually elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and a secretary, from the members of said pension board. Each one so elected, shall serve until his successor is elected.

A meeting of said pension board may be called at any time by the chairman, secretary, or by any two (2) members of such pension board. Three (3) members of said pension board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Each member of said pension board shall take an oath that he will well and faithfully perform the duties of a member of such pension board.

No moneys shall be paid out of the pension fund except upon an order by said pension board, duly entered in the minutes.

Sec. 3. TREASURER OF PENSION FUND. The city treasurer of any such city, or the person discharging the duties of the city treasurer, is hereby designated as the treasurer of the said pension fund for said city, and his official bond to said city shall operate to cover his position of treasurer of said pension fund. All moneys of every kind and character collected or to be collected for said fund, shall be paid over to said treasurer, and shall be administered and paid out only in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 4. PER CAPITA CONTRIBUTIONS. Commencing with the next calendar month, immediately following the effective date of this Act, per capita contributions of all such members of each such police department as participate in such fund, as aforesaid, shall be made to said fund. Said monthly per capita contribution shall be made as follows: The salary and future salary of each member participating in such fund is hereby reduced Three Dollars ($3) per month, but said Three Dollars ($3) per month shall be paid by such city into the said pension fund. No other money paid into said pension fund, however, shall be counted as a part of salary, under any law or ordinance fixing or pertaining to salaries of members, of any such police department.

Sec. 5. ACCUMULATED FUNDS. In all such cities where a general pension fund for city employees has been accumulated but has not been put into operation at the effective date of this Act, the governing body of each such city shall segregate from said fund, the proportion which the total number of members of the police department (eligible to said pension fund) bears to the entire number of all city employees, for whose benefit said fund was accumulated, and shall set aside such sum into the policemen's relief and retirement fund.

Sec. 6. ASSIGNMENTS OF SALARY TO FUND. Any members who have or may have any back or past due salary due them, from any such city, may assign all or any portion of such back salary to said pension fund, and such assignments as have or may hereafter be executed by any such members, are hereby validated and shall be recognized by the governing body of any such city, and such sums, if any, shall be paid into the said pension fund.

Sec. 7. APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS OF CITY. Any such city may make additional appropriations from time to time out of its general fund, or otherwise, into the said pension fund, and hereafter when any such city shall make any appropriations for pensions of city employees or place any money into any such account, the proportionate amount thereof shall be placed in the policemen's relief and retirement fund. Said pension fund may also be augmented as follows: By the giving of entertainments and benefit performances; by gifts or donations from any person, firm, or corporation; all rewards hereafter paid to or due individual members for, or on account of service rendered by them as members of the police department, shall be paid into such fund; and said pension fund shall also participate in funds otherwise provided or that shall hereafter be provided by law pertaining to police pensions of cities of the class herein provided for.

Sec. 8. INVESTMENT OF SURPLUS FUNDS. Whenever, in the opinion of the said pension board, there is on hand in said pension fund, a surplus over and above a reasonably safe amount to take care of current demands upon such funds, such surplus, or so much thereof as in the judgment of the said pension board is deemed proper, may be invested in securities of the United States, the State of Texas, or of counties, school districts, or municipal corporations. No investment shall be made, however, which does not meet with the approval of the city controller, if any, of such city.

Sec. 9. BENEFITS TO BEGIN NOT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1942. No benefits of any kind shall be paid out of said fund prior to January 1, 1942.

Sec. 10. PENSION RATES. From and after January 1, 1942, any member who shall have been a member of such police department for the period of twenty-five (25) years, and who shall have reached the age of fifty (50) years, shall be entitled to a retirement pension of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month for the rest of his life upon his retirement from said police department. Upon the completion of the said twenty-five (25) years of service, such pension board shall issue to him a certificate showing that he is entitled to said retirement pension, and thereafter, when such member retires from the police department, whether such retirement be voluntary or involuntary, such monthly payments shall forthwith begin, and continue for the remainder of said member's life. Provided, however, that payments shall not commence until such member is fifty (50) years of age, and further provided that members who are eligible for a pension but who continue in the department shall make their per capita contributions until they retire from the department.

In computing the twenty-five (25) years service required for retirement pension, interruption of less than one year out of service, shall be construed as continuous service and such period out of service shall not be deducted from the twenty-five (25) years, but if out for more than one year and less than five (5) years, credit shall be given for prior service, but deduction made for the length of time out of service. If out of service more than five (5) years, no previous service prior to said time shall be counted.

Service with any such city in some other department, prior to January 1, 1939, shall be included in the twenty-five (25) years above provided for, but service after January 1, 1939, must be in the police department. The pension board may, within its discretion, provide for the payment of such retirement pension to a former member or members of the police department who have heretofore served for the twenty-five-year period and who have reached the age of fifty (50) years, and it is the intention hereof to include in the group of former members those who have heretofore been retired by any such city and who are drawing partial pay or compensation from such city.

Sec. 11. DISABILITY RESULTING FROM PERFORMANCE OF DUTY. If any member shall become totally or permanently disabled as a direct and proximate result of the performance of duties in the police department, said member shall be retired on a pension of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month.

By total and permanent disability is meant such disability as permanently incapacitates a member from performing the usual and customary duties of a police officer.

Before any retirement on disability pension is made, the pension board shall require such medical examination and such other evidence as it may see fit to establish such total and permanent disability, as above provided.

When any member has been retired for total and permanent disability, he shall be subject at all times to re-examination by the pension board and shall submit himself to such further examination as the pension board may require. If any member shall refuse to submit himself to any such examination, the pension board may within its discretion, order said payment stopped. If a member who has been retired under the provision of this Section, should thereafter recover so that in the opinion of the pension board, he is able to perform the usual and customary duties of a police officer, and such member is reinstated or tendered reinstatement in the police department, then the pension board shall order such payments stopped.

Said pension board may, at its discretion, retire on said permanent and total disability pension, those members of said police department who have heretofore become totally and permanently disabled, as that term is above defined.

Sec. 12. DEATH RESULTING FROM PERFORMANCE OF DUTY. Should any such member die, as a direct and proximate result of injuries received or sickness incurred in line of duty in said police department, the pension board shall order paid to the beneficiaries hereinafter designated, the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month for a period of ten (10) years. Such beneficiaries shall be as follows: The surviving wife, surviving children under the age of sixteen (16) years, and the dependent parent or parents, if any. If there be neither surviving wife, children under the age of sixteen (16) years, nor dependent parents, then no payments shall be made on account of the death of any such member. If there be a surviving wife, but no children under the age of sixteen (16) years, then the entire payment of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be made to such surviving wife. If there be a surviving wife and children under the age of sixteen (16) years, then the payments shall be Thirty-seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($37.50) per month to the wife and Thirty-seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($37.50) per month payable to the legal guardian of such children, to be administered in accordance with the orders of the Probate Court. As each child becomes sixteen (16) years of age, the children's part of Thirty-seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($37.50) per month shall thereafter be for the use and benefit of the children who then remain under the age of sixteen (16) years. When there are no longer any children under the age of sixteen (16) years, the entire amount of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be paid the surviving wife. When there is no surviving wife, but there are surviving children under the age of sixteen (16) years, the entire Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be paid to the legal guardian of such children under the age of sixteen (16) years, but such payment shall not be made for or on account of any child after said child reaches the age of sixteen (16) years. Should such surviving wife thereafter die, then the entire Seventy-five Dollars ($75) shall likewise be paid for the benefit of such children as remain under the age of sixteen (16) years. If there be neither a surviving wife nor surviving children under the age of sixteen (16), then such payments shall be made to the dependent parent, or parents, if any, of such deceased member. If there be two (2) dependent parents, then the Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be divided equally between them, but if there be only one dependent parent, the Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be paid to said parent.

The term "dependent parent" means a parent who is principally dependent upon said member for a livelihood.

By the term "surviving wife" is meant the woman, if any, who is the lawful wife of said member at the time of his death.

No death benefits whatever shall be paid after the expiration of ten (10) years from the death of any said member, and no beneficiary shall ever receive more than Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month.

In the event of women members of the department, their surviving husbands shall be entitled to the same rights and benefits as have the wives of the male members.

Sec. 13. PENSION TO DEPENDENTS, WHEN. When any member who has been retired upon pension, whether retirement pension or disability pension, or when any member who has a pension certificate shall thereafter die from any cause, his pension of Seventy-five Dollars ($75) per month shall be payable to his dependents, if any, as is provided in the next preceding Section hereof, but only for the unexpired portion of ten (10) years. In computing said ten (10) years, such length of time as a pension may have been paid to said member during his lifetime shall be deducted from such ten-year period, and such dependents shall receive said payment only for the unexpired term of ten (10) years.

Sec. 14. REFUNDS ON LEAVING SERVICE. If any such member shall leave such police department either voluntarily or involuntarily before he is entitled to a pension, he shall have refunded to him the deductions from his salary, which have been paid into said pension fund. Said payments may be made to him, either in a lump sum or on a monthly basis, as may be determined by the pension board.

Provided, however, that this Section shall be subject to Section 10 and upon a re-entry into the department all such refunds shall be paid back into the pension fund or prior service of such member shall not be counted toward his retirement pension.

Sec. 15. REDUCTION OF BENEFITS AUTHORIZED IN CASE FUND IS DEPLETED. In the event said pension fund becomes seriously depleted, in the opinion of the pension board, said pension board may proportionately and temporarily reduce the benefits of all pensioners and beneficiaries, but such reductions shall thereafter be paid to such pensioners or beneficiaries as and when said fund is, in the opinion of the pension board, sufficiently re-established to do so.

Sec. 16. LEGAL COUNSEL FOR BOARD. The city attorney of any such city shall render such legal service, and without additional compensation, as such pension board may request him to do. The pension board may, if it deems necessary, employ additional legal assistance and pay reasonable compensation therefor, out of said police pension fund. Said pension board, may at its discretion, from time to time, employ the services of an actuary, and pay him reasonable compensation out of said police pension fund.

Sec. 17. PENSIONS NOT SUBJECT TO EXECUTION, ETC. No portion of any such pension fund, either before or after its order of disbursement by said pension board, and no amounts due or to become due any beneficiary or pensioner, under this Act, shall ever be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon by virtue of any execution, attachment, garnishment, injunction, or other writ, and no order or decree, or any process or proceeding whatsoever, shall issue out of or by any Court of this State for the payment or satisfaction in whole or in part out of said pension fund, of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against any such members, pensioners, dependents, or any person whomsoever, nor shall such police pension fund or any part thereof, or any claim thereto be directly or indirectly assigned or transferred and any attempt to transfer or assign the same or any part thereof, or any claim thereto, shall be void. Said fund shall be sacredly held, kept, and disbursed for the purposes provided by this Act, and for no other purposes whatsoever.

Sec. 18. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision, section, part, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or paragraph of this Act be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect any other portion or provision hereof and all other provisions shall remain valid and unaffected by any invalid portion, if any.

Sec. 19. ACT TO BE CUMULATIVE TO OTHER LAWS. The provisions hereof shall be cumulative of and in addition to all other laws relating to pensions, which laws are hereby preserved and continued in force and effect, provided, however, that in the event of any conflict, the provisions of this law shall control, and police departmental pensions in the cities covered by this Act shall be administered in accordance with this law.

Acts 1939, 46th Leg., p. 105.

Art. 6243e. TEXAS LOCAL FIRE FIGHTERS RETIREMENT ACT.

Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act.

Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Contribution" means an amount of money paid by a municipality or other political subdivision to a retirement system or required to be paid periodically to a retirement system by or on behalf of a member of the retirement system for the purpose of financing benefits payable by the system.

(2) "Employee" means a person who regularly performs services for a fire department, who is a member of the retirement system that includes the fire department, and who regularly receives compensation for those services of at least $200 a month. The term includes a person described by Subsection (d) of Section 9 of this Act who regularly receives compensation by the municipality or other political subdivision of at least $200 a month.

(3) "Fund" means a trust fund established in conjunction with a fire fighters' retirement system for the purpose of holding assets to be used to finance benefits payable by the system.

(4) "Participating member" means an employee who is required to make periodic contributions to a retirement system or a volunteer who meets the requirements of Subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act.

(5) "Regularly organized fire department" means a unit that is responsible primarily for fighting fires and responding to other emergencies each day and that has specialized equipment for use in performing those tasks.

(6) "Retiree" means a person who receives a benefit, other than a return of contributions, from a retirement system for services the person performed as a member.

(7) "Retirement system" means a fire fighters' retirement system established as provided by Section 4 of this Act.

(8) "Volunteer" means a person who regularly performs services for a fire department, who is a member of the retirement system that includes the fire department, and who either receives no compensation for those services or regularly receives compensation for those services of less than $200 a month. The term includes a person described by Subsection (d) of Section 9 of this Act who either receives no compensation for service to a municipality or other political subdivision or regularly receives compensation for that service of less than $200 a month.

(9) "Compensation" includes amounts of workers' compensation benefits received by an employee and by which the employee's salary is reduced.

(10) "Determination date" means:

(A) the day before the effective date of an addition or change adopted by the board of trustees of a retirement system under Section 7 of this Act; or

(B) the date of divorce for a member or retiree whose benefits under this Act are subject to a qualified domestic relations order.

(11) "Vested accrued benefit" means the amount of the monthly benefit that a person is entitled to receive based on the person's service credit and compensation history as of the determination date under the benefit formula and other terms established by a retirement system, including a vested percentage where applicable, as those terms exist on the determination date. The vested accrued benefit of a member is calculated without regard to any optional form of payment the member may select at retirement. The term does not include cost-of-living increases that may be applied to a benefit after the determination date.

Sec. 3. APPLICATION OF ACT. (a) This Act applies to each municipality in the state that has a regularly organized fire department not consisting exclusively of volunteers, except:

(1) a municipality all of whose fire department personnel participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System;

(2) a municipality whose fire department is governed by another state law providing for retirement benefits for fire department personnel; and

(3) a municipality that has in effect a program providing retirement benefits for fire department personnel that was established by charter or ordinance before September 1, 1989.

(b) This Act also applies to each municipality in the state that has a fire department that:

(1) consists exclusively of volunteers;

(2) was organized before September 1, 1989, and remains a regularly organized department; and

(3) does not participate in the statewide program provided by Chapter 269, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977 (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).

(c) If a municipality's fire department consists partly of employees participating in the Texas Municipal Retirement System and partly of employees or volunteers not participating in that retirement system, this Act applies to the persons who are not participating in the Texas Municipal Retirement System. In that circumstance, a provision of this Act that applies to members of a retirement system or to members of a fire department applies only to those members who are participating in a retirement system under this Act.

(d) If a municipality's fire department consists partly of volunteers participating in the statewide program provided by Chapter 269, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977 (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and partly of employees not participating in that program, this Act applies to the fire department personnel who are employees. In that circumstance, a provision of this Act that applies to members of a retirement system or to members of a fire department applies only to those members who are employees.

(e) In addition to the other applicability of this Act, this Act applies to a political subdivision that has a regularly organized fire department not consisting exclusively of volunteers, except a political subdivision whose fire department is governed by another state law providing for retirement benefits for full-time paid fire department personnel. If the political subdivision's fire department consists partly of volunteers eligible to participate in the program provided by Subtitle H, Title 8, Government Code, and partly of employees, this Act applies to fire department personnel who are employees.

Sec. 4. RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TRUST FUND. A fire fighters' retirement system and trust fund are established in each municipality or other political subdivision to which this Act applies. The board of trustees of each retirement system established by this Act shall hold or cause to be held in trust the assets appropriated or dedicated to the system or fund, separate from other money or accounts administered by the board of trustees or the municipality or other political subdivision, for the exclusive benefit of the members and retirees of the system and their beneficiaries.

Sec. 5. EXEMPTION FROM JUDICIAL PROCESS. All amounts in a trust fund of a retirement system subject to this Act and all rights accrued or accruing under this Act to any person are exempt from garnishment, attachment, execution, state and municipal taxation, sale, levy, and any other process and are unassignable.

Sec. 6. SOCIAL SECURITY. Provisions of a retirement system may not be integrated with social security as otherwise permitted under Sections 401(a)(4), (a)(5), and (l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 401).

Sec. 7. MODIFICATION OF BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY. (a) The board of trustees of a retirement system may change the benefits or eligibility requirements for benefits payable from the retirement system, may provide for reinstatement by a member of service credit previously forfeited, and may adopt or change other requirements for the payment of benefits, except as otherwise prohibited by this Act.

(b) Before a board of trustees chooses to adopt or change a benefit or requirement for payment of benefits under this section, the proposed addition or change must be approved by:

(1) an eligible actuary selected by the board; and

(2) a majority of the participating members of the retirement system voting on the addition or change by secret ballot at an election held for that purpose at which at least 50 percent of all participating members of the retirement system vote.

(c) To be eligible to approve an addition or change under this section, an actuary must be either a fellow of the Society of Actuaries or a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, if a board chooses to adopt an addition or change after it has been approved as provided by this section, the addition or change applies to all persons who are participating members of the retirement system on the effective date of the addition or change and all persons who became participating members during the time the addition or change remains in effect. The addition or change also may apply to:

(1) persons receiving monthly benefits; or

(2) former members of the fire department who meet an applicable length-of-service requirement for service retirement.

(e) An addition or change adopted under this section may not, without the written consent of the member, retiree, or eligible survivor under Section 15 of this Act, deprive a member of the retirement system, a retiree, or an eligible survivor of a right to receive a vested accrued benefit.

(f) The effective date of a change or addition adopted under this section is a date specified by the board of trustees that is not earlier than the date of adoption by the board. A change or addition may not be applied retroactive to its effective date unless required to maintain a plan's tax qualification status.

Sec. 8. RECOVERY OF AMOUNTS WRONGFULLY OBTAINED. The board of trustees of a retirement system subject to this Act may initiate or cause to be initiated a suit against any appropriate person to recover amounts paid or obtained from the trust fund through fraud, misrepresentation, theft, or other misapplication or by mistake. The board of trustees shall deposit amounts recovered under this section in the trust fund for the retirement system.

Sec. 9. MEMBERSHIP. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a person who is an employee of a fire department included within the coverage of a retirement system is a member of the retirement system if the person is younger than 36 years old on the date the person is certified under civil service as eligible for a beginning position with the department.

(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (g) of this section, a person who performs services as a volunteer of a fire department included within the coverage of a retirement system is a member of the retirement system.

(1) require a waiting period before retirement system membership begins;

(2) include within the required membership of the retirement system categories of personnel, other than personnel performing services for the fire department, who perform emergency medical or fire department-related services; or

(3) exclude from membership categories of fire department personnel not regularly directly engaged in the fighting of fires.

(d) If a board of trustees, under Subdivision (2) of Subsection (c) of this section, includes categories of personnel within the membership of a retirement system, for purposes of this Act, the personnel are considered employees or volunteers, as applicable, of the fire department and their service is considered as if it were performed for the fire department included within the coverage of the retirement system.

(e) As a condition of membership in a retirement system, a board of trustees may by order require persons to pass a physical examination given by a physician of the board's choice but may not require the persons to pay the cost of the examination.

(f) A board of trustees of a retirement system for a fire department may by order authorize membership in the retirement system for employees of the department who are 36 years old or older at the time they become employees but who first became fire fighters at an age younger than 36. Membership under an authorization is optional with each employee, except that an employee must, before beginning membership, pass any physical examination requirement established under Subsection (e) of this section.

(g) A service retiree of a retirement system may not rejoin or receive credit in the system for any postretirement service performed for the fire department included within the coverage of the system.

Sec. 10. SERVICE CREDIT. (a) Service credit is earned in a retirement system for each month for which an employee makes the contribution required under this Act.

(b) Service credit is earned in a retirement system for each calendar year in which a volunteer answers at least 25 percent of all fire alarms determined by the board of trustees and attends at least 40 percent of all drills held by the fire department.

(c) A retirement system shall also grant service credit to a member who leaves the service of a fire department and later returns, if the break in service is attributable to service for any period as a member of the armed forces of the United States during a war or national emergency.

(d) Absence from service by an employee does not forfeit service credit accrued before the absence begins, unless membership is terminated. Absence from service by a volunteer does not forfeit service credit accrued before the absence begins.

(e) A board of trustees established under this Act may, in accordance with Section 7 of this Act, expand the circumstances under which service credit is earned.

Sec. 11. PREVIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, a person who elects to become a member of a retirement system under an authorization adopted under Subsection (f) of Section 9 of this Act may establish credit in the retirement system for previous service performed for another fire department included within the coverage of a retirement system under this Act. To establish credit for the previous service, the person must deposit with the retirement system an amount determined by the board of trustees that is equal to the sum of:

(1) the amount that the person would have contributed to the system if the person's previous fire department service had been performed for the department by which the person is employed, computed on the member contribution rate in effect in the retirement system at the time the service was performed and on the person's compensation for the previous service; and

(2) interest on the amount described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection at the rate of eight percent, compounded annually, from the date the service was performed to the date of deposit.

(b) If a person makes the deposit described by Subsection (a) of this section, the municipality or other political subdivision served by the fire department that employs the person shall deposit with the retirement system an amount determined by the board that is equal to the sum of:

(1) the amount that the municipality or other political subdivision would have contributed to the system if the person's previous fire department service had been performed for the department by which the person is employed, computed on the contribution rate of the municipality or other political subdivision in effect in the retirement system at the time the service was performed and on the person's compensation for the previous service; and

(2) interest on the amount described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection at the rate of eight percent, compounded annually, from the date the service was performed to the date of deposit.

(c) A person may not establish credit under this section for service that is credited in another public retirement system, including another retirement system subject to this Act.

Sec. 12. SERVICE RETIREMENT. (a) A member of a retirement system is eligible for retirement for service if the member is at least 55 years old and has performed at least 20 years of service that is credited in the retirement system.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, monthly benefits payable for service retirement are $100 to a retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and $25 to a retiree whose service was exclusively as a volunteer.

(1) decrease the age or service requirements for service retirement from a particular retirement system; or

(2) determine formulas for computing benefits, classes of permissible beneficiaries, and other requirements for payment of service retirement benefits, as long as the minimum benefits payable to a retiree are not less than the amounts provided by Subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 13. (a) A member of a retirement system who meets an applicable length-of-service requirement for service retirement benefits but does not meet the applicable age requirement for service retirement benefits may terminate employment with or otherwise discontinue service for the fire department and remain eligible to receive service retirement benefits from the retirement system on attaining the applicable age, as long as the member does not withdraw contributions in the retirement system.

(b) A member who terminates employment or otherwise discontinues service after meeting an applicable length-of-service requirement for service retirement may not be required to pay to the retirement system contributions that become due after the date of termination or discontinuance.

Sec. 14. DISABILITY RETIREMENT. (a) A member of a retirement system is eligible for retirement for disability if the member becomes physically or mentally disabled, except as the result of a condition the member had on the date the member became an employee or volunteer, in or in consequence of the performance of the member's duties as an employee or volunteer of the fire department included within the coverage of the retirement system.

(b) An application for disability retirement must be filed with the board of trustees of the retirement system of which the applicant is a member. The application must contain a sworn statement of the member's medical condition, signed by a physician attending the member, and a sworn statement of the circumstances under which the disability arose, signed by the member or another person who has reason to know those circumstances. The application also may contain other pertinent information to enable the board to determine whether the member is eligible for disability retirement.

(c) A board of trustees may require an applicant for disability retirement to be medically examined by one or more physicians of the board's choice but may not require the applicant to pay the cost of a medical examination required under this subsection.

(d) If a board of trustees determines that an applicant for disability retirement meets the eligibility requirements for disability retirement from the retirement system, the board shall retire the member.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, monthly benefits payable for disability retirement are $100 to a retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and $25 to a retiree whose service was exclusively as a volunteer.

(f) A board of trustees established under this Act may, in accordance with Section 7 of this Act:

(1) expand the circumstances under which disability retirement benefits become payable;

(2) require periodic medical examinations of, periodic vocational rehabilitation examinations of, or periodic financial information from disability retirees to determine whether the retiree remains eligible to receive disability retirement benefits; or

(3) determine formulas for computing benefits, classes of permissible beneficiaries, and other requirements for payment of disability retirement benefits, as long as the minimum benefits payable to a retiree who remains eligible for disability retirement resulting from the performance of duty are not less than the amounts provided by Subsection (e) of this section.

(g) The vested accrued benefit of a retiree under this section who is retired as of the determination date is subject to the terms established by the retirement system as those terms exist on the determination date and is payable to the retiree only if the retiree meets the eligibility requirements established by the board of trustees under this section.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a disability retirement benefit is not a vested accrued benefit until a member becomes disabled under the terms of the retirement system.

Sec. 15. DEATH BENEFITS. (a) A death benefit is payable as provided by this section on the death:

(1) of a member of a retirement system that occurs in or in consequence of the performance of the member's duties as an employee or volunteer of the fire department included within the coverage of the retirement system;

(2) of a member of a retirement system for any reason if the member met the applicable length-of-service requirement for service retirement at the time of death; or

(3) of a retiree of a retirement system.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, monthly benefits payable on the death of a member or retiree are:

(1) $100 to an eligible surviving spouse of a member or retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and $16.67 to an eligible surviving spouse of a member or retiree whose service was exclusively as a volunteer;

(2) if there is an eligible surviving spouse and a minor child, $20 to the guardian of each minor child of a member or retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and $6 to the guardian of each minor child of a member or retiree whose service was exclusively as a volunteer;

(3) if there is no eligible surviving spouse at the time of death of the member or retiree or if the surviving spouse dies or becomes ineligible to receive benefits during the minority of a surviving child, $40 to the guardian of each minor child of a member or retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and $12 to the guardian of each minor child whose service was exclusively as a volunteer; and

(4) if there is no eligible surviving spouse or minor child at the time of death of the member or retiree, a total of $100 to one or more surviving dependent parents of a member or retiree whose service was not exclusively as a volunteer and a total of $16.67 to one or more dependent parents of a member or retiree whose service was exclusively as a volunteer.

(c) To be eligible to receive benefits as a surviving spouse under this section, a person must remain unmarried after the death of the member or retiree. To be eligible to receive benefits as a surviving spouse of a deceased retiree, a person also must have married the deceased before the deceased's retirement. To be eligible to receive benefits as a surviving spouse of a deceased member who had terminated employment with or otherwise discontinued service for the fire department, a person also must have married the deceased before the termination or discontinuance.

(d) If a member or retiree for whom death benefits are payable under this section is survived by a child who is totally disabled as a result of physical or mental illness, injury, or retardation, the guardian of the child is entitled to receive for the benefit of the child and the duration of the child's disability any benefit that would be payable to the guardian of a surviving minor child.

(e) A board of trustees established under this Act may, in accordance with Section 7 of this Act:

(1) expand the circumstances under which death benefits become payable; or

(2) determine formulas for computing benefits, classes of permissible beneficiaries, exclusions from payment of benefits for certain causes of death, and other conditions for payment of death benefits.

(f) The vested accrued benefit that an eligible survivor receives under this section as the result of the death of a member or retiree on or before the determination date is subject to the terms established by the retirement system as those terms exist on the determination date.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a death benefit is not a vested accrued benefit until the member or retiree for whom death benefits are payable dies.

Sec. 16. REDUCTION OF BENEFITS DURING DEFICIENCY. If money available for benefits currently payable by a retirement system is insufficient to pay the full amount of those benefits, a board of trustees may proportionately reduce all benefit payments for the time necessary to prevent payments from exceeding money available to pay the benefits.

Sec. 17. PERSON CAUSING DEATH OF MEMBER OR ANNUITANT. (a) A benefit payable on the death of a member or annuitant may not be paid to a person convicted of causing that death but instead is payable to a person who would be entitled to the benefit had the convicted person predeceased the decedent. If no person would be entitled to the benefit, the benefit is payable to the decedent's estate.

(b) A retirement system is not required to pay a benefit under Subsection (a) of this section unless it receives actual notice of the conviction of the person who would have been entitled to the benefits. However, a retirement system may delay payment of a benefit payable on the death of a member or annuitant pending the results of a criminal investigation and of legal proceedings relating to the cause of death.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a person has been convicted of causing the death of a member or annuitant if the person:

(1) has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty by a court of an offense at the trial of which it is established that the person's intentional, knowing, or reckless act or omission resulted in the death of a person who was a member or annuitant, regardless of whether sentence is imposed or probated; and

(2) has no appeal of the conviction pending and the time provided for appeal has expired.

Sec. 18. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOARDS OF TRUSTEES GENERALLY. (a) A board of trustees established under this Act may receive, handle, control, manage, and disburse the fund for the retirement system, hear and determine all applications for retirement and claims for disability, either partial or total, and designate beneficiaries and participants as provided by this Act. The chairman and vice chairman of a board may swear witnesses for the purpose of taking testimony before the board on any matter related to the fund. A board may issue a subpoena addressed to a sheriff or constable to require the attendance of a witness or the production of books, records, or other documents that may be necessary and proper for the purposes of a proceeding before the board.

(b) A member of a board of trustees established under this Act takes office on the first meeting of the board that occurs after the member is elected or designated a member or assumes the position that makes the person a member ex officio. At the time a person takes office as a member of a board of trustees established under this Act, the person shall take an oath of office that the person will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the retirement system and fund and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any provision of this Act.

(c) A board of trustees established under this Act shall meet monthly at such times and places as the board by resolution designates and at other times at the call of the chairman. A majority of the trustees of a board is a quorum.

(d) A board established under this Act shall keep accurate minutes and records of its proceedings and a record of all claims, receipts, and disbursements relating to the fund. An order of a board must be made by vote recorded in the minutes of its proceedings.

(e) A board established under this Act may make a disbursement from the fund only on a regular voucher signed by one or more persons designated by the board. Subject to the approval of a majority of the participating members voting by secret ballot at an election at which at least 50 percent of the participating members of the retirement system vote, a board established under this Act shall determine whether the signatures of one, two, or three persons are required for vouchers.

(f) A board of trustees established under this Act may designate a bank or, as applicable, the chief financial officer of the municipality or other political subdivision or the secretary-treasurer of the board to be custodian of the assets of the retirement system. If the chief financial officer or the secretary-treasurer of the board is designated custodian, the person's official bond and oath of office are conditioned additionally on the faithful performance of the person's duties as custodian of the assets of the retirement system.

(g) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316, Sec. 4.01(3), eff. June 14, 2013.

(h) A vacancy in the office of a trustee of a board established under this section shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner that the office was previously filled.

Sec. 18A. Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316, Sec. 4.01(4), eff. June 14, 2013.

Sec. 18B. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION FOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES. (a) The State Pension Review Board shall provide technical assistance, training, and information to members of the boards of trustees established under this Act. The training required by this section must be designed to meet the specific needs of members of boards of trustees administering benefit plans for local fire fighters, including small-to-medium-sized benefit plans.

(b) To the extent resources are available, the board shall designate one person who specializes in providing the technical assistance, training, and information required under Subsection (a).

Sec. 19. BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR PAID OR PART-PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT. (a) In each municipality and other political subdivision to which this Act applies and that has a fire department that does not consist exclusively of volunteers, the fire fighters' retirement system is governed by a board of trustees consisting of:

(1) in a municipality, the mayor or the mayor's designated representative; in an emergency services district, the president of the board of emergency services commissioners; or in another political subdivision, the chief operating officer or the chief operating officer's designated representative, as applicable;

(2) the chief financial officer of the municipality or other political subdivision or, if there is no officer denominated as chief financial officer, the person who performs the duties of chief financial officer or a person designated by the chief financial officer or by the person performing the duties of chief financial officer;

(3) three members of the retirement system elected by participating members as provided by Subsection (b) of this section; and

(4) two persons who reside in this state, who are not officers or employees of the municipality or other political subdivision, and who are elected by a majority vote of the members of the board of trustees determined as provided by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection.

(b) During each period that begins on December 1 of one year and ends on January 31 of the following year, the participating members of a fire fighters' retirement system in a municipality or other political subdivision subject to this section shall elect by secret ballot and certify to the governing body of the municipality or other political subdivision a member to the board of trustees to serve a term of three years. To be elected a member of a board of trustees under this subsection, a person must be a participating member of the retirement system and receive a majority of the votes cast in the election, and at least 50 percent of all participating members of the retirement system must vote in the election. Provided, however, that if only a single person is nominated for the board of trustees position being filled, that person may be elected by acclamation by those participating members present for the election meeting, without the necessity of a secret ballot.

(c) Annually, at a meeting in March, the members of a board of trustees determined as provided by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of Subsection (a) of this section shall elect a member to the board, as provided by Subdivision (4) of Subsection (a) of this section, to serve a term of approximately two years that expires on the day before the date of the first board meeting that occurs after the meeting at which a successor is elected.

(d) A board of trustees established under this section annually shall elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1212, Sec. 4, eff. June 14, 2013.

Sec. 20. BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. (a) In each municipality to which this Act applies and that has a fire department consisting exclusively of volunteers, the fire fighters' retirement system is governed by a board of trustees consisting of:

(1) the mayor of the municipality or the mayor's designated representative;

(2) the municipal treasurer or, if there is no officer denominated as treasurer, the person who performs the duties of municipal treasurer; and

(3) three members of the retirement system elected by participating members as provided by Subsection (b) of this section.

(b) During each period that begins on December 1 of one year and ends on January 31 of the following year, the participating members of a fire fighters' retirement system in a municipality subject to this section shall elect by secret ballot and certify to the governing body of the municipality a member to the board of trustees to serve a term of approximately three years that expires on the day before the date of the first board meeting that occurs after the election of a successor. To be elected a member of a board of trustees under this subsection, a person must be a member of the retirement system and receive a majority of the votes cast in the election, and at least 50 percent of all participating members of the retirement system must vote in the election.

(c) The municipal treasurer is the secretary-treasurer of a board of trustees established under this section. A board of trustees established under this section annually shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman to preside in the absence or disability of the chairman.

Sec. 21. Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316, Sec. 4.01(5), eff. June 14, 2013.

Sec. 21A. Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316, Sec. 4.01(6), eff. June 14, 2013.

Sec. 22. APPEALS FROM LOCAL BOARD DECISIONS. (a) A person aggrieved by a decision of a board of trustees relating to eligibility for or amount of benefits payable by a retirement system may appeal the decision to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

(b) An appeal under this section is begun by delivering a notice of appeal with the chairman, secretary, or secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees that made the decision. The notice must be delivered not later than the 20th day after the date of the decision and contain a brief description of the reasons or grounds for appeal. The aggrieved person must file a copy of the notice with the State Pension Review Board.

(b-1) As soon as practicable after receiving a notice of appeal under Subsection (b) of this section, the State Pension Review Board shall refer the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings by submitting notice of the appeal to that office.

(c) An appeal under this section is held in Austin and is a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government Code, conducted as a de novo hearing by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

(d) The sole function of the State Pension Review Board with respect to an appeal under this section is to refer the appeal to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, and that office has exclusive authority to decide the appeal.

Sec. 22A. ATTORNEY. A board of trustees may employ an attorney to represent the board in one or all legal matters, including a hearing on appeal to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. At the request of a board of trustees, the city attorney of the municipality of which the board is a part shall, without additional compensation, represent the board in one or all legal matters.

Sec. 23. ACTUARY. (a) A board of trustees established under this Act may employ an actuary to provide actuarial services.

(b) The cost of actuarial services may be paid from assets of the fund.

Sec. 24. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT. (a) A board of trustees established under this Act may employ a certified public accountant or a firm of certified public accountants to perform an audit of the fund in accordance with Section 12.102, Title 110B, Revised Statutes.

(b) The cost of an audit may be paid by the municipality or other political subdivision or from the assets of the fund.

Sec. 25. OTHER EXPENSES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, a board of trustees established under this Act may pay from assets of the fund all costs reasonably and lawfully incurred by the retirement system and the costs of actual expenses incurred by board members in the performance of their duties on the board. A member of the board may not receive compensation for service on the board.

(b) The annual amount of payments from a fund under this section, excluding legal and medical fees, may not exceed:

(1) 1 percent of the market value of the assets of the fund for the first $1 million in market value; and

(2) 1/4 of 1 percent of the market value of the assets of the fund that exceeds $1 million.

Sec. 26. GIFTS ACCEPTED FROM ANY SOURCE. The board of trustees of a retirement system established under this Act is authorized to accept and receive for the use and benefit of the fund, in addition to member contributions and contributions of the municipality or other political subdivision, gifts of money from any source.

Sec. 27. INVESTMENT OF ASSETS. (a) A board of trustees established under this Act shall keep a sufficient amount of cash on hand to make payments as they become due under the retirement system. If a board determines that the fund of its retirement system contains an amount in excess of the amount needed to make payments as they become due, the board may invest any portion of the excess.

(b) In making investments for a retirement system, its board of trustees shall exercise the judgment and care, under the circumstances prevailing at the time of the investment, that persons of ordinary prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in speculation but when making a permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income from the disposition and the probable safety of their capital.

(c) A board of trustees established under this Act may not invest in the stock or bonds of one corporation more than five percent of the book value of the assets of a fund. A retirement system may not own more than five percent of the voting stock of one corporation.

(d) A board of trustees established under this Act shall adopt formal investment policies that emphasize safety and diversity as well as liquidity for benefit payments. In developing those policies, the board of trustees shall give special consideration to the preferred investment practices of the Government Financial Officers Association.

Sec. 28. INVESTMENT MANAGER AND COUNSELING SERVICE. (a) The board of trustees of a retirement system established under this Act may appoint investment managers for the system by contracting for professional investment management services with one or more organizations, which may include a bank if it has a trust department, that are in the business of managing investments.

(b) To be eligible for appointment under Subsection (a) of this section, an investment manager must be:

(1) registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80b-1 et seq.);

(2) a bank as defined by that Act; or

(3) an insurance company qualified to perform investment services under the laws of more than one state.

(c) In a contract made under this section, the board of trustees shall specify policies, requirements, and restrictions, including criteria for determining the quality of investments and for the use of standard rating services, that the board of trustees adopts for investments of the system.

(d) In choosing and contracting for professional investment management services and in continuing the use of an investment manager, the board of trustees must act prudently and in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the retirement system.

(e) A trustee is not liable for the acts or omissions of an investment manager appointed under this section, nor is a trustee obligated to invest or otherwise manage any asset of the system subject to management by the investment manager.

(f) A board of trustees established under this Act may employ professional investment counselors to assist and advise the board in the investment of the assets of the fund or to evaluate the performance of an investment manager appointed under this section. The investment counseling service must be provided by an organization whose business functions include performing continuous investment advisory service to public retirement systems.

(g) The cost of investment managing or counseling services may be paid by the municipality or other political subdivision or from the assets of the fund.

(h) A retirement system established under this Act is exempt from Subchapter C, Chapter 802, Government Code, except Sections 802.2011, 802.2015, 802.202, 802.205, and 802.207.

Sec. 29. CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Each person who is a member of a retirement system as a current fire department employee shall make contributions to the system. Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, a contribution required under this subsection is computed on the employee's periodic compensation at a rate determined by majority vote of the employees of the department who are members, at an election by secret ballot at which at least 50 percent of those employees vote. Except as provided by Section 30 of this Act, the payroll officer of the municipality or other political subdivision shall deduct the contributions required under this subsection each payroll period and submit them to the retirement system.

(b) A municipality or other political subdivision that has employees who are participating members of a retirement system shall make contributions to the system each payroll period. Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, contributions required under this subsection are computed on the total compensation paid to the employees who are participating members of the system. A municipality or other political subdivision is required to make contributions under this subsection at the same rate paid by employees or 12 percent, whichever is the smaller rate. The governing body of a municipality or other political subdivision by ordinance may adopt a rate of employer contributions that is greater than the rate required by this subsection.

(c) Contributions by a municipality or other political subdivision determined under Subsection (b) or (d) of this section are payable each payroll period to the retirement system.

(d) Contributions required under Subsections (a) and (b) of this section are computed on the average compensation of all employees of the department for the preceding year, if this method of computation is adopted by majority vote of the employees of the department who are members, at an election by secret ballot at which at least 50 percent of the participating members vote, and is also adopted by ordinance of the governing body of the municipality or other political subdivision. The average compensation of department employees shall be computed for each 12-month period as determined by the board of trustees.

(e) Each person who is a member of a retirement system as a current fire department volunteer shall contribute to the system an annual amount determined by majority vote by secret ballot of the volunteers of the department who are participating members of the retirement system. A municipality may at any time make the member contributions required under this subsection on behalf of its volunteers and any other contributions the municipality chooses to make to the retirement system.

(f) Payment of member contributions required under this Act are conditions of employment and participation in the retirement system to which the contributions are due.

(g) Except as otherwise provided under Section 7 of this Act, a member of a retirement system may withdraw all of the member's accumulated contributions to the system if the member terminates service for the fire department included within the coverage of the system for a reason other than service or disability retirement. The estate of a deceased member may withdraw all of the deceased member's accumulated contributions if a survivor or alternative monthly benefit is not payable as a result of the death. A withdrawal of contributions cancels a person's membership and credit in the retirement system.

Sec. 30. PICK UP OF EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) A municipality or other political subdivision may pick up the employee contributions required by Subsection (a) of Section 29 of this Act for all compensation that is earned by participating members of the retirement system on or after the effective date of the pick up. Employee contributions picked up as provided by this section are in lieu of deductions of employee contributions from paychecks or warrants and shall be paid by the municipality or other political subdivision to the retirement system from the same source of funds that is used in paying compensation to the members. A pick up of employee contributions shall be accompanied by a reduction in the compensation of members, an offset against a future increase in member compensation, or a combination of compensation reduction and offset against a compensation increase. Unless otherwise determined by the governing body of the municipality or other political subdivision and approved by majority vote of the participating members at an election by secret ballot, a pick up of contributions results in a corresponding reduction in compensation.

(b) Contributions picked up as provided by this section shall be treated as employer contributions in determining tax treatment of the amounts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Employee contributions picked up as provided by this section shall be deposited to the credit of the individual account of each affected member and shall be treated for all other purposes of this Act as if the contributions had been deducted from the compensation of members. Picked up contributions are not includable in a computation of contribution rates of the municipality or other political subdivision.

(c) A pick up of employee contributions takes effect in a municipality or other political subdivision on January 1 of the year following the year in which:

(1) the governing body of the municipality or other political subdivision by ordinance has adopted the pick up; and

(2) the pick up has been approved by majority vote of the participating members of the retirement system at an election by secret ballot at which at least 50 percent of the participating members vote.

(d) A pick up of employee contributions is terminated in a municipality or other political subdivision on January 1 of the year following the year in which:

(1) the termination has been approved by a two-thirds vote of the participating members of the retirement system at an election by secret ballot at which at least 50 percent of the participating members vote; and

(2) the governing body of the municipality or other political subdivision has repealed the ordinance that adopted the pick up of employee contributions.

Sec. 31. TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION IN ACT. (a) A retirement system for a fire department not consisting exclusively of volunteers may not be terminated or merged into another retirement system without the approval of the board of trustees of the retirement system and the approval of the participating members of the system in the manner described by Subdivision (2) of Subsection (b) of Section 7 of this Act provided 51 percent of the volunteers first petition the board for such change.

(b) The board of trustees of a retirement system for a fire department consisting partly of employees and partly of volunteers may transfer assets actuarially attributable to the volunteers from the retirement system under this Act to the statewide program provided by the Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), if the board obtains approval as provided by Section 7 of this Act provided 51 percent of the volunteers first petition the board for such change.

For contingent expiration of this section, see Subsection (g).

Sec. 31A. AUTHORITY OF CERTAIN RETIREMENT SYSTEMS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN PERSONS FROM COVERAGE. (a) In this section, "closure effective date" means the first day of the second month after the month in which the Texas Municipal Retirement System receives retirement system plan documents under Subsection (f)(2) of this section.

(b) This section applies only to a municipality:

(1) with a population of less than 200,000;

(2) that is located in a county with a population of not less than 2.5 million and not more than 4 million;

(3) that has a regularly organized fire department for which a retirement system and fund have been established under Section 4 of this Act; and

(4) that before January 1, 2017, has one or more departments participating in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

(c) Subject to the requirements of this section, the governing body of a municipality subject to this section may adopt one or more ordinances to exclude from participation in the retirement system employees of the fire department first hired on or after the closure effective date.

(d) If the governing body of a municipality adopts an ordinance under Subsection (c) of this section, the governing body shall concurrently adopt an ordinance to allow the employees described by the ordinance to participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

(e) Not later than the 60th day after the date an ordinance is adopted under Subsection (c) of this section, the municipality shall submit the ordinance to an election of the participating members of the retirement system established in the municipality. To be approved at the election, a majority of the participating members must vote in favor of the ordinance.

(f) If the voting members approve an ordinance under Subsection (e) of this section, as soon as practicable after the date of the election:

(1) the board of trustees of the retirement system shall amend the retirement system plan documents as necessary to be consistent with the approved ordinance; and

(2) the municipality shall give written notice of the results of the election to the Texas Municipal Retirement System and include copies of the relevant ordinances and any amended retirement system plan documents.

(g) If a municipality adopts ordinances under Subsections (c) and (d) of this section, all subsequent actions authorized or required by this section must be completed before October 1, 2018. If all subsequent actions are not completed before October 1, 2018:

(1) as soon as practicable after that date, the Texas Municipal Retirement System shall publish notice to that effect in the Texas Register; and

(2) Section 851.0011, Government Code, this section, and the ordinances adopted under Subsections (c) and (d) of this section expire on October 1, 2018.

Sec. 32. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT MEMBERS, RETIREES, ANNUITANTS, OR BENEFICIARIES. (a) Information contained in records that are in the custody of a retirement system established under this Act concerning an individual member, retiree, annuitant, or beneficiary is confidential under Section 3(a)(1), Chapter 424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973 (Article 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and may not be disclosed in a form identifiable with a specific individual unless:

(1) the information is disclosed to:

(A) the individual;

(B) the individual's attorney, guardian, executor, administrator, conservator, or other person who the board of trustees of the retirement system determines is acting in the interest of the individual or the individual's estate;

(C) a spouse or former spouse of the individual if the board of trustees determines that the information is relevant to the spouse's or former spouse's interest in member accounts, benefits, or other amounts payable by the retirement system; or

(D) a person authorized by the individual in writing to receive the information; or

(2) the information is disclosed under an authorization of the board of trustees that specifies the reason for the disclosure.

(b) This section does not prevent the disclosure of the status or identity of an individual as a member, former member, retiree, deceased member or retiree, or beneficiary of the retirement system.

(c) A determination and disclosure under Subsection (a) of this section may be made without notice to the individual member, retiree, annuitant, or beneficiary.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 98, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 439, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 104, Sec. 1 to 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 129, Sec. 1, 2, 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 17, Sec. 5.17, eff. Nov. 12, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 173, Sec. 1 to 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 265, Sec. 4, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 710, Sec. 1 to 13, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 464, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1291, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 958, Sec. 1 to 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 13, Sec. 1 to 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 327, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 2(10), (11) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 683, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003; Sec. 7(e) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 683, Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2003; Sec. 14(g), (h) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 683, Sec. 3, eff. June 20, 2003; Sec. 15(f), (g) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 683, Sec. 4, eff. June 20, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 328 (H.B. 2799), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 3731), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 3731), Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 3731), Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 3731), Sec. 4, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 614 (H.B. 874), Sec. 4(37), eff. June 19, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 2), Sec. 2.16, eff. July 10, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1152 (S.B. 200), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1212 (S.B. 1413), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1212 (S.B. 1413), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1212 (S.B. 1413), Sec. 3, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1212 (S.B. 1413), Sec. 4, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312 (S.B. 59), Sec. 99(35), eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 2.01, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 2.02, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 2.03, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 2.04, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 2.05, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 4.01(3), eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 4.01(4), eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 4.01(5), eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 4.01(6), eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1316 (S.B. 220), Sec. 4.01(7), eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 886 (H.B. 3056), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1033 (H.B. 3898), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 288, eff. September 1, 2023.

Art. 6243e.1. FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND IN CITIES OF 450,000 TO 500,000.

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 1.01. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies only to a municipality having a population of more than 950,000 and less than 1,050,000.

Sec. 1.02. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Accumulated contributions" means all sums of money, including interest, in the individual account of a member or former firefighter, as shown on the books and records of the fund.

(2) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit that, at the time that it begins being paid, has the same present value as the benefit it replaces, based on the recommendations of the actuary.

(3) "Board of trustees" means the board of firefighters relief and retirement fund trustees of the fund existing pursuant to this Act.

(4) "Board's actuary" means the actuary employed under Section 12.03 of this Act.

(5) "Compensation" means a firefighter's monthly salary, excluding overtime pay, any temporary pay in higher classifications, educational incentive pay, assignment pay, Christmas Day bonus pay, and pay for automobile and clothing allowances.

(6) "Dependent child" or "dependent children" means a deceased member's unmarried children under the age of 22, other than a child who has been determined by the board of trustees not to have been dependent on the deceased member.

(7) "Fire department" means a regularly organized fire department of a city to which this Act applies.

(8) "Firefighter" means a commissioned civil service and Texas state-certified member of a fire department.

(9) "Fund" means the firefighters relief and retirement fund existing pursuant to this Act.

(10) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(11) "Member" means any firefighter or retiree included in a fund under this Act.

(12) "Retiree" means a person who has retired under Article 5 or 6 of this Act and is receiving or is entitled to receive an annuity from the fund.

(13) "Spouse" means an individual to whom a member is legally married under Subtitle A, Title 1, Family Code, or a comparable law of another jurisdiction, provided that, in the case of an informal marriage in this state, the marriage must be evidenced by a declaration of informal marriage recorded in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 2, Family Code.

Sec. 1.03. CONTINUED EXISTENCE. A firefighters relief and retirement fund is continued in existence in each municipality to which this Act applies. The name of the fund shall be the name of the municipality, followed by the words "firefighters relief and retirement fund."

Sec. 1.04. EXEMPTION FROM EXECUTION. All retirement annuity payments, other benefit payments, and a member's accumulated contributions are unassignable and are exempt from execution, garnishment, attachment, and state and local taxation.

Sec. 1.05. AGREEMENT MAY NOT SUPERSEDE THIS ACT. Notwithstanding Section 143.307, Local Government Code, an agreement between a public employer and an association under Subchapter I, Chapter 143, Local Government Code, may not supersede or preempt any provision of this Act and may not increase, diminish, or qualify any right, benefit, privilege, or obligation under this Act.

ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 2.01. RESPONSIBILITY. Each fund established under this Act is a trust. The board of trustees is responsible for the administration of the fund.

Sec. 2.02. COMPOSITION OF BOARD. The board of trustees is composed of:

(1) the mayor of the municipality;

(2) the city treasurer or, if there is no treasurer, the person who by law, charter provision, or ordinance performs the duty of city treasurer; and

(3) three members of the fund to be selected by vote of the firefighters and retirees in the manner provided by this Act.

Sec. 2.03. ELECTED MEMBERS OF BOARD. (a) The elected members of the board of trustees shall be elected and hold office in accordance with this section.

(b) Between November 1 of each year and the first Monday in January of the following year, the board of trustees shall hold an election to elect one member of the board of trustees. If only one firefighter or retiree is nominated for a position under Subsection (c) of this section, instead of holding an election, the board of trustees may appoint the sole nominated candidate at the first board meeting in January. The board shall adopt procedures for the appointment of a sole nominated candidate under this subsection. A board member appointed under this subsection is considered elected for purposes of this Act.

(c) Each election is by secret written ballot on a date the board of trustees determines. Only persons who have been nominated may be listed on the written ballot. Nominations may be made in person, by mail, or by telephone to the office of the fund and must be received between September 1 and September 15.

(d) The board of trustees shall certify the results of each election. A newly elected board member takes office at the first board meeting in January.

(e) The elected members of the board of trustees hold office for staggered terms of three years, with the term of one trustee expiring each year. Elected members of the board of trustees shall serve during the term for which they are elected and until their successors are elected and have qualified, unless a vacancy results because of death, resignation, or removal.

(f) A vacancy in the position of an elected member of the board of trustees shall be filled for the remainder of that person's term at an election to be held on a date selected by the board of trustees that must be within 60 days after the date of the event that caused the vacancy.

(g) The firefighter or retiree receiving the highest number of votes cast in an election under this section is elected, except that if no person receives a majority of the votes cast, a runoff election shall be held between the two persons receiving the highest number of votes. A runoff election is held on a date determined by the board of trustees, and the person receiving the higher number of votes in the runoff election is elected.

(h) The administrative expenses of an election under this section may be paid from the assets of the fund. Assets of the fund may not be used to pay campaign expenses incurred by or for a member. Administrative office supplies and equipment belonging to the fund may not be used to assist any candidate or person seeking to assist a candidate for a position on the board of trustees.

Sec. 2.04. COMPENSATION. A member of the board of trustees may not receive compensation for service on the board.

Sec. 2.05. OFFICERS. The mayor is the presiding officer and the city treasurer is the secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees. The board shall elect annually from its membership an alternate presiding officer who shall preside in the absence or disability of the mayor.

Sec. 2.06. QUORUM AND VOTING. Each member of the board of trustees is entitled to one vote. A majority vote of members of the board of trustees attending a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary for a decision of the board. A resolution or order of the board of trustees must be made by a vote recorded in the minutes of its proceedings.

Sec. 2.07. MEETINGS; MINUTES. The board of trustees shall hold regular monthly meetings at a time and place that it designates and may hold special meetings on the call of the presiding officer or alternate presiding officer. The board of trustees shall keep accurate minutes of its meetings and records of its proceedings.

Sec. 2.08. ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS. The board of trustees shall:

(1) keep separate from all other municipal funds all money and other assets it receives for the benefit of the fund;

(2) keep a record of all claims, receipts, and disbursements and make disbursements only on vouchers signed by such persons as the board of trustees designates by resolution; and

(3) publish annually a report containing a balance sheet showing the financial and actuarial condition of the fund, a statement showing receipts and disbursements during the year covered by the report, and such additional matters as may be determined appropriate by the board of trustees.

Sec. 2.09. DETERMINATION BY BOARD. The board of trustees is authorized to hear and determine all matters regarding:

(1) eligibility of any person to participate in a fund under this Act;

(2) eligibility of any person to receive a service, disability, or survivor's benefit and the amount of that benefit; and

(3) whether a child or a parent of a deceased member was dependent on the member for financial support.

Sec. 2.10. TESTIMONY. The board of trustees may compel witnesses to attend and testify before it regarding all matters related to the fund in the same manner as is provided for taking of testimony before notaries public, and its presiding officer and alternate presiding officer have the authority to administer oaths to witnesses.

Sec. 2.11. RULEMAKING. The board of trustees shall adopt rules and perform reasonable activities it considers necessary or desirable for the efficient administration of the fund and to maintain the qualified status of the fund under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Sec. 2.12. GIFT, GRANT, OR BEQUEST. The board of trustees may accept for the use and benefit of the fund a gift, grant, or bequest of money or securities from any source.

Sec. 2.13. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT MEMBERS, RETIREES, ANNUITANTS, OR BENEFICIARIES. (a) Information contained in records in the custody of the fund concerning an individual member, retiree, annuitant, or beneficiary is confidential under Section 552.101, Government Code, and may not be disclosed in a form identifiable with a specific individual unless:

(1) the information is disclosed to:

(A) the individual or the individual's attorney, guardian, executor, administrator, conservator, or other person who the administrator of the fund determines is acting in the interest of the individual or the individual's estate;

(B) a spouse or former spouse of the individual after the administrator of the fund determines that the information is relevant to the spouse's or former spouse's interest in member accounts, benefits, or other amounts payable by the fund;

(C) a governmental official or employee after the administrator of the fund determines that disclosure of the information requested is reasonably necessary to the performance of the duties of the official or employee; or

(D) a person authorized by the individual in writing to receive the information; or

(2) the information is disclosed pursuant to a subpoena and the administrator of the fund determines that the individual will have a reasonable opportunity to contest the subpoena.

(b) This section does not prevent the disclosure of the status or identity of an individual as a member, former member, retiree, deceased member or retiree, or beneficiary of the fund.

(c) A determination and disclosure under Subsection (a) may be made without notice to the individual member, retiree, annuitant, or beneficiary.

ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP

Sec. 3.01. GENERAL REQUIREMENT. A person who begins service as a firefighter in a municipality to which this Act applies and who is not ineligible for membership in the fund becomes a member of the fund as a condition of that person's appointment.

Sec. 3.02. APPOINTMENT TO CHIEF. A firefighter who is a member of the fund continues to be a member if the firefighter is appointed to the rank of chief or the rank immediately below chief.

Sec. 3.03. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. A person ceases to be a member of the fund on the earlier of the date of:

(1) death; or

(2) refund or escheat of the person's contributions while absent from service.

ARTICLE 4. SERVICE CREDIT

Sec. 4.01. GENERAL PROVISION. One month of service credit is earned in the fund for each month in which a member of the fund makes a contribution required under this Act.

Sec. 4.02. MILITARY SERVICE. A member of the fund retains all accumulated service credit and is allowed service credit for each month during which the member leaves employment with the fire department and performs active duty service in the armed forces or the armed forces reserves of the United States or their auxiliaries, except that:

(1) the military service credit may not be for more than five years and the person must return to service with the fire department not later than the 180th day after the date of discharge or release from military service or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of not more than one year;

(2) the member must leave the member's contributions in the fund during the period of absence; and

(3) the member must file a written application with the fund for the military service credit, accompanied by satisfactory proof of the member's military service.

Sec. 4.03. FORMER SERVICE. A member of the fund who is absent from service with the fire department for reasons other than military service retains all accumulated service credit for the member's former service with the fire department, but receives no credit for the period of absence, if:

(1) the length of the absence is less than five years; and

(2) the member leaves the member's contributions in the fund during the absence.

Sec. 4.04. OTHER ABSENCE. If a member of the fund who has less than 10 years of service credit in the fund is absent from service with the fire department for at least five years for any reason other than as provided by Section 4.02 of this Act, the fund shall refund the member's accumulated contributions and cancel the person's credited service.

Sec. 4.05. PERIODS OF DISABILITY. A firefighter may not be granted service credit for time during which the person receives a disability benefit from the fund.

ARTICLE 5. SERVICE RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Sec. 5.01. NORMAL SERVICE RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY. A member is eligible to retire and receive a normal service retirement annuity if the member:

(1) has attained the age of 50 years and has at least 10 years of service credit in the fund; or

(2) has at least 25 years of service credit, regardless of age.

Sec. 5.02. CONTINUED SERVICE. A member who continues to serve actively in the fire department after the date the member becomes eligible to retire shall continue to make contributions to the fund and accrue service credit until the date of actual retirement.

Sec. 5.03. DETERMINATION OF AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY. A member's average monthly salary is computed as the average of the member's compensation for the 36 months of highest compensation during the member's credited service. If a person has less than 36 months of credited service, the average monthly salary is computed, as if the member had been employed by the fire department for 36 months, by attributing to a period that is immediately before the member's employment and that is equal to the difference between the number of months the member has been employed by the fire department and 36 months of compensation the member would have received at the rank the member held when the person became a member.

Sec. 5.04. NORMAL SERVICE RETIREMENT BENEFIT. (a) The service retirement annuity of a person who retires under Section 5.01 of this Act on or after January 1, 1995, is a monthly payment that is equal to three percent of the member's average monthly compensation multiplied by the member's number of years of service credit and any fraction of a year of service credit.

(b) The three percent factor used in this section may be changed to some other percent if the change:

(1) is first approved by the board's actuary;

(2) is approved by the board of trustees;

(3) applies to one or any combination of the following groups:

(A) firefighters who are employed on an active, full-time basis in the fire department at the time of the change;

(B) firefighters who begin service with the fire department after the change becomes effective; and

(4) does not reduce a member's benefit for service credit accumulated before the date of the change.

(b-1) In determining whether to approve an increase in the factor under Subsection (b) of this section, the board's actuary shall take into consideration whether the fund has reserves sufficient to enable the payment of a cost-of-living adjustment under Section 9.04(a) of this Act to all current members and survivors at a level that is equal to the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor for the 10 annual periods preceding the proposed effective date of the change.

(c) The service retirement annuity of a person who retired before January 1, 1995, is a monthly payment based on the benefit formula in effect at the time of the person's retirement, together with any increases for retirees approved by the board of trustees after the person's retirement.

Sec. 5.05. EARLY RETIREMENT. (a) A member is eligible to retire and receive a normal service retirement annuity if the member, while serving as a firefighter in the fire department:

(1) has attained the age of 45 years and has at least 10 years of service credit in the fund; or

(2) has at least 20 years of service credit, regardless of age.

(b) The retirement annuity of a person who retires under this section after September 1, 1997, is the same as for normal service retirement, but may not be increased under Section 9.04 of this Act until the person would have met the requirements of Section 5.01 of this Act if the person had remained in active service as a firefighter.

Sec. 5.06. ELIGIBILITY AFTER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. (a) A member may terminate employment with the fire department and later retire and receive a service retirement benefit if, at the time of the member's retirement:

(1) the member has accumulated at least 10 years of service credit in the fund and made required contributions to the fund for at least 10 years;

(2) the member does not withdraw the member's contributions from the fund at the time of or after the termination of employment; and

(3) the member has either attained 50 years of age or would have accumulated at least 25 years of service credit if the member had not terminated employment with the fire department.

(b) The retirement benefit payable to a member on retirement under this section is the service retirement benefit described by Section 5.04 of this Act, computed on the basis of the formula in effect at the time of the member's retirement under this Act.

Sec. 5.07. WITHDRAWAL OF CONTRIBUTIONS. A person who has terminated employment with the fire department and left the person's contributions with the fund under Section 5.06 of this Act may at any time apply for and receive the person's accumulated contributions under Section 9.06 of this Act, with the effect provided by that section. If a person eligible for a refund of contributions elects to have all or a portion of the accumulated contributions paid directly to an eligible retirement plan and specifies the eligible retirement plan to which the contributions are to be paid on a form approved for that purpose by the fund, the fund shall make the payment in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer but is under no obligation to determine whether the other plan in fact is an eligible retirement plan for that purpose.

ARTICLE 6. DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Sec. 6.01. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT. A firefighter is eligible to retire and receive a disability retirement annuity if:

(1) application for retirement is made by the member or the member's legal representative or if the board of trustees determines that, although no application has been filed, retirement is for the good of the fire department;

(2) the medical board certifies that the member is unable to perform the duties of the member's occupation as a firefighter and sends the member's application to the board of trustees; and

(3) the board of trustees approves the disability retirement.

Sec. 6.02. NO REQUIREMENT OF ON-THE-JOB INJURY. To qualify for disability retirement, a person's disability does not have to be incurred in connection with the person's performance of duties as a firefighter and may be incurred while employed by some person or entity other than the fire department.

Sec. 6.03. AMOUNT OF DISABILITY BENEFIT. Subject to adjustment under Section 6.05 of this Act, the disability retirement benefit payable to a member is the normal service retirement benefit described by Section 5.04 of this Act, but not less than the member would have received after 20 years of service credit.

Sec. 6.04. TERMINATION DURING FIRST 2-1/2 YEARS. If, during the first 2-1/2 years of disability retirement, a retiree recovers to the extent that the person is able to perform the duties of the person's job as a firefighter, the board of trustees may terminate the retirement benefit and restore the person to active service at not less than the same rank the person held at the time of disability retirement.

Sec. 6.05. CONTINUATION AFTER FIRST 2-1/2 YEARS. After a retiree has received disability retirement benefits from the fund for at least 2-1/2 years, the board of trustees from time to time may review the situation of the person to determine the status of the disability. The board of trustees may ask the medical board for its opinion of the status of the disability. If the board of trustees determines that the person has recovered to the extent that the person is able to be employed, the board of trustees may:

(1) continue to pay the full disability retirement benefit;

(2) pay a reduced disability retirement benefit in an amount commensurate with the person's disability as determined by the board; or

(3) discontinue payment of a disability benefit.

Sec. 6.06. APPLICATION; PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT; MEDICAL BOARD ACTION. (a) An application for disability retirement must be accompanied by a written statement, on a form approved by the board of trustees, signed by a physician of the member's choice. The member shall pay any costs of or fees for obtaining the physician's statement and shall file the application and statement with the fund. As soon as possible after the application is filed, the medical board shall evaluate the medical and other pertinent information concerning the member's application.

(b) The medical board may require any firefighter to obtain additional medical opinions before issuing a certificate that the member is unable, as a result of physical or mental disability, to perform the duties of the member's occupation as a firefighter. The fund shall pay any costs or fees of examination by a person other than the member's own physician.

(c) A certificate from the medical board may include a finding by that board that the disability is likely to be temporary or is likely to be total and permanent.

(d) The board of trustees at any time may require a person receiving a disability retirement benefit under this Act to appear and undergo a medical examination by a physician selected by the board of trustees or the medical board for that purpose. The result of the examination and report by that physician shall be considered by the board of trustees in determining whether the disability retirement benefit will be continued, increased, if less than the maximum provided by this Act, decreased, or discontinued.

Sec. 6.07. EVIDENCE OF INCOME OF DISABILITY RETIREE. The board of trustees may require a person receiving disability retirement benefits under this Act to provide evidence of annual income. The board of trustees may consider the evidence in any determination of ability to be employed. The board of trustees may reduce or discontinue disability retirement benefit payments to a person who fails or refuses to produce information which the board of trustees has required under this section.

Sec. 6.08. REINSTATEMENT; SERVICE RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY. (a) The board of trustees may reinstate any disability retirement benefit that previously has been terminated or reduced if the disabled firefighter's condition has worsened as a result of the same cause for which the person was previously granted disability retirement.

(b) If a person's disability retirement benefit is reduced or discontinued and the person is or subsequently becomes eligible for service retirement under other provisions of this Act, the person is entitled to the service retirement benefit on meeting all requirements for that benefit, reduced by the amount of any disability retirement benefit that the person continues to receive from the fund.

Sec. 6.09. NO BENEFITS WHILE RECEIVING SALARY. A person may not receive disability retirement benefits for any period during which the person receives full salary or compensation from the fire department, including payments received while on sick leave.

ARTICLE 7. SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS

Sec. 7.01. SURVIVING SPOUSE OF FIREFIGHTER. If a firefighter dies before retirement, the firefighter's surviving spouse is entitled to receive an immediate monthly benefit from the fund of 75 percent of the service retirement benefit that the firefighter would have received if the firefighter had retired on the date of death, but not less than 75 percent of the monthly payment the decedent would have received based on 20 years of service credit.

Sec. 7.02. SURVIVING SPOUSE OF RETIREE. (a) On the death of a retiree, the retiree's surviving spouse is entitled to receive an immediate monthly benefit from the fund of 75 percent of the retirement benefit that was being paid to the retiree if the spouse:

(1) was married to the retiree at the time of the retiree's retirement; or

(2) married the retiree after the retiree's retirement and was married to the retiree for at least 24 consecutive months.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1) of this section, with respect to an informal marriage established in this state, a surviving spouse is considered married to a retiree as of the date a declaration of informal marriage was recorded in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 2, Family Code.

Sec. 7.03. SURVIVING SPOUSE OF FORMER FIREFIGHTER. (a) An immediate monthly benefit is payable to the surviving spouse of a former firefighter who:

(1) before termination of employment with the fire department had accumulated at least 10 years of service credit in the fund and had made required contributions to the fund for a period of at least 10 years; and

(2) did not withdraw the member's contributions from the fund at the time of or after the termination of employment.

(b) If the former firefighter died before attaining 50 years of age, the benefit is payable only if the spouse was married to the former firefighter on the date of the former firefighter's termination of employment with the fire department.

(c) If the former firefighter died after attaining 50 years of age, the benefit is payable only if the spouse was married to the former firefighter when the member attained 50 years of age.

(d) The amount of the benefit payable under this section is 75 percent of the retirement benefit the former firefighter either was receiving or was entitled to receive at age 50.

Sec. 7.04. DURATION OF SPOUSE'S BENEFIT. The benefit payable to a surviving spouse is payable throughout the surviving spouse's remaining lifetime. A surviving spouse whose benefit was terminated under this section as it existed before September 1, 1997, is entitled to receive a benefit beginning on the date the surviving spouse files an application for resumption of benefits with the board of trustees, but is not entitled to receive a benefit for the period in which the benefit was terminated under the former law.

Sec. 7.05. SURVIVING CHILDREN'S BENEFIT. (a) On the death of a member, if there is no surviving spouse, a benefit is payable to the decedent's surviving dependent children, if any. The total monthly benefit payable under this subsection is 75 percent of the monthly payment that the decedent would have received under the service retirement benefit described by Section 5.04 of this Act, but not less than 75 percent of the monthly payment the decedent would have received based on 20 years of service credit. If there is more than one dependent child of the decedent, each dependent child is entitled to receive an equal share of the total monthly payment under this subsection.

(b) On the death of a member under this Act, if there is a surviving spouse, a benefit is payable to each of the decedent's surviving dependent children, if any. The monthly amount of the benefit payable to each child is 15 percent of the monthly payment that the decedent would have received under the service retirement benefit described by Section 5.04 of this Act, but not less than 15 percent of the monthly payment the decedent would have received based on 20 years of service credit. If the decedent left more than five surviving dependent children, the monthly benefit payable to each dependent child shall be reduced so that the total monthly benefit payable under this subsection does not exceed the total monthly benefit that would have been payable if the decedent had left no surviving spouse.

(c) Payments by the fund to a dependent child under this section shall cease on the earliest of the date of the child's death, marriage, or attainment of age 22.

Sec. 7.06. PAYMENTS TO DEPENDENT PARENTS. If a deceased member leaves no surviving spouse, no surviving designated beneficiary, and no surviving children entitled to receive a benefit under this Act but is survived by one or more dependent parents, the dependent parent, or one of the surviving parents designated by the board of trustees, is entitled to receive a monthly benefit payment equal to the monthly amount that would have been payable to a surviving spouse of the deceased. All payments under this section cease on the death of the surviving dependent parent.

Sec. 7.07. INCREASE IN SURVIVORS' BENEFITS. On the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of trustees either or both of the following actions may be taken:

(1) benefits to dependent children may be increased to an amount not to exceed the amount recommended by the board's actuary; or

(2) benefits to surviving spouses may be increased to an amount not to exceed the maximum approved by the actuary.

Sec. 7.08. PERSON CAUSING DEATH OF MEMBER OR BENEFICIARY. (a) A benefit payable on the death of a member or beneficiary may not be paid to a person convicted of causing that death, but instead a benefit is payable as provided by Subsection (c) of this section to a person who would be entitled to the benefit had the convicted person predeceased the decedent. If no person would be entitled to the benefit, the benefit is payable to the decedent's estate.

(b) The fund is not required to pay a benefit under Subsection (a) of this section unless it receives actual notice of the conviction of the person who would have been entitled to the benefits. However, the fund may delay payment of a benefit payable on the death of a member pending the results of a criminal investigation and of legal proceedings relating to the cause of death.

(c) The benefit payable under Subsection (a) of this section is a refund of the member's accumulated contributions and interest, reduced by any annuity payments that may have been made as a result of the member's retirement.

(d) For the purposes of this section, a person has been convicted of causing the death of a member or beneficiary if the person:

(1) has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty by a court of an offense at the trial of which it is established that the person's intentional, knowing, or reckless act or omission resulted in the death of the person who was the member or beneficiary, regardless of whether sentence is imposed or probated; and

(2) has no appeal of the conviction pending and the time provided for appeal has expired.

Sec. 7.09. SURVIVING BENEFICIARY OF CERTAIN UNMARRIED MEMBERS. (a) On the death of a retiree or of a member who is eligible for retirement but has not retired, a benefit is payable under this section if:

(1) the retiree or member designated a beneficiary to receive the benefit payable under this section on a form filed with the fund; and

(2) this Act does not otherwise provide a benefit payable to a surviving spouse or child of the member or retiree.

(b) The benefit payable under this section is an immediate monthly benefit from the fund of 75 percent of the amount of the:

(1) retirement benefit that was being paid to the retiree; or

(2) normal service retirement benefit that the member would have received if the member had retired on the date of death.

(c) If the designated beneficiary of a retiree or member is 10 or more years younger than the retiree or member at the time of the retiree's or member's death, the amount of the benefit payable under Subsection (b) of this section shall be reduced to the actuarial equivalent of the benefit that would have been payable if the beneficiary and the retiree or member were the same age.

(d) The board of trustees may adopt rules to establish procedures for and requirements governing a member's designation of a beneficiary under this section.

ARTICLE 8. DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN

Sec. 8.01. MEMBER REMAINING IN ACTIVE SERVICE. In lieu of either leaving active service and beginning to receive a service retirement annuity under Section 5.01 of this Act or remaining in active service and continuing to accrue additional service credit under Section 5.02 of this Act, a member who is eligible to receive a normal service retirement benefit under Section 5.01 of this Act may remain in active service, become a participant in the deferred retirement option plan ("DROP") in accordance with Sections 8.02 and 8.03 of this Act, and defer the beginning of the person's retirement annuity. Once an election to participate in the DROP has been made, the election continues in effect as long as the member remains in active service as a firefighter. When the member leaves active service, the member may apply for a service retirement annuity under Section 5.01 of this Act.

Sec. 8.02. ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE IN DROP. The election to participate in the DROP shall be made in accordance with procedures adopted by the board of trustees. The election may be made at any time on or after the date the member becomes eligible for normal service retirement under Section 5.01 of this Act or early retirement under Section 5.05 of this Act and becomes effective on the first day of the first month after the date of the election. At the same time that a member makes an election to participate in the DROP, the member must agree in writing to terminate service with the fire department on a date not later than the seventh anniversary of the effective date of the election under this section. An agreement to terminate service is binding on the member and the fire department, except that the member may terminate active service at any time before the date selected. An election to participate in the DROP has no effect on either the municipality's or the member's contributions under Section 10.01 of this Act.

Sec. 8.03. CREDITS TO MEMBER'S DROP ACCOUNT. Each month after a member makes an election to participate in the DROP and until the member's retirement, the board of trustees shall cause an amount equal to the retirement annuity that the member would have received under Section 5.04 of this Act for that month if the member had left active service and been granted a retirement annuity on the effective date of the election under Section 8.02 of this Act to be credited to a separate DROP account maintained within the fund for the benefit of the member. The member's contributions under Section 10.01(d) of this Act made after the effective date of the election to participate in the DROP shall also be credited to the member's DROP account. Amounts held in a member's DROP account shall be credited at the end of each calendar month with interest at a rate equal to one-twelfth of five percent until the member's retirement.

Sec. 8.04. AMOUNT OF CREDITS TO MEMBER'S DROP ACCOUNT. The amount credited monthly to the member's DROP account:

(1) shall be increased as a result of any increase in the formula used in computing service retirement benefits under Section 5.04 of this Act that occurs after the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP but before the effective date of the member's retirement;

(2) shall be increased by any annual cost-of-living adjustments under Section 9.04 of this Act that occur between the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP and the effective date of the member's retirement but only as to amounts credited to the member's DROP account after a cost-of-living adjustment; and

(3) is subject to the limitations prescribed by Section 9.03 of this Act.

Sec. 8.05. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBER'S DROP ACCOUNT. (a) On leaving active service as a firefighter and beginning to receive a retirement annuity, a member who participates in the DROP shall begin to receive the amount credited to the person's DROP account under either of the following methods of distribution selected by the member:

(1) a single-payment distribution made at a time selected by the member but not later than April 1 of the year after the member attains 70-1/2 years of age; or

(2) in not more than four payments, which may be equal or unequal as the member may determine, all of which must occur not later than April 1 of the year after the member attains 70-1/2 years of age.

(b) The DROP account balance of a member shall be credited at the end of each calendar month with interest at a rate equal to one-twelfth of five percent.

(c) A member may not receive a distribution from the member's DROP account before termination of active service as a firefighter. A member shall notify the fund in writing, on a form that the board of trustees may prescribe, at least 30 days before each distribution made under this section.

(d) The board of trustees may adopt rules that modify the availability of distributions under Subsection (a) of this section, provided that the modifications do not:

(1) impair the distribution rights under that subsection; or

(2) cause distributions to occur later than required under Section 401(a)(9), Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Sec. 8.06. ESTABLISHMENT OF DROP ACCOUNT AT RETIREMENT. (a) In lieu of electing to participate in the DROP before actual retirement, a member who is eligible for normal service retirement or early retirement and who terminates or has terminated active service as a firefighter may establish a DROP account under this section.

(b) A member who is eligible to receive a service retirement benefit under Section 5.06 of this Act may establish a DROP account under this section on retiring under Section 5.06 of this Act.

(1) the board of trustees shall cause to be credited to a DROP account maintained within the fund for the benefit of that person an amount equal to the credits that the member's DROP account would have received, including interest, if the member had established the DROP account after becoming eligible for service retirement, but not more than seven years before the effective date of the person's retirement;

(2) the date used in computations under Subdivision (1) of this section as if the member had established the DROP account on that date is the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP;

(3) the member will receive payments from the member's DROP account as the member may select under Section 8.05 of this Act; and

(4) the member's DROP account shall be credited with interest as provided by Section 8.05 of this Act.

(d) If a member who did not establish a DROP account under this section but was eligible to do so dies before retirement, the surviving spouse, if any, of that member may elect to participate in the DROP if the surviving spouse has not received any benefit payments under Section 7.01 of this Act. If a surviving spouse makes an election under this subsection:

(1) the board of trustees shall cause to be paid to the surviving spouse in a lump sum, as soon as administratively possible after the fund receives notice of the election, an amount equal to the credits that the member's DROP account would have received, including interest, if the member had established the DROP account after becoming eligible for service retirement, but not more than seven years before the date of the member's death; and

(2) the amount of the benefit payable to the surviving spouse under Section 7.03 of this Act is 75 percent of the benefit the member would have been eligible to receive if the member had established the DROP account on becoming eligible for service retirement, but not more than seven years before the date of the member's death.

(e) If a member who did not establish a DROP account under this section but was eligible to do so dies before retirement without leaving a surviving spouse, the surviving dependent children, if any, may elect to participate in the DROP if the dependent children have not received any benefit payments under Section 7.05 of this Act. An election under this subsection must be made by all of the surviving dependent children of the member, except that the guardian of any child who is younger than 18 years of age at the time of the election makes a binding election for the child. If the surviving dependent children make an election under this subsection:

(1) the board of trustees shall cause to be paid jointly to the dependent children in a lump sum, as soon as administratively possible after the fund receives notice of the election, an amount equal to the credits the member's DROP account would have received, including interest, if the member had established the DROP account after becoming eligible for service retirement, but not less than the credits the DROP account would have received, including interest, based on 20 years of service credit; and

(2) the amount of the benefit payable to the dependent children under Section 7.05(a) is 75 percent of the benefit the member would have been entitled to receive if the member had established the DROP account on becoming eligible for service retirement, but based on not less than 20 years of service credit.

Sec. 8.07. PAYMENTS FROM DROP ACCOUNT AT MEMBER'S DEATH. (a) The provisions of Article 7 relating to death benefits of qualified survivors do not apply to amounts credited to a member's DROP account. Instead, a member who participates in the DROP may designate a beneficiary to receive any balance in the member's DROP account at the member's death. The beneficiary designation must be made on a form prescribed by the board of trustees and filed with the fund before the member's death. If the member is married at the time of the designation, designation of a beneficiary other than the member's spouse is valid only if the spouse consents to the designation in writing on the same form that is used to designate the beneficiary. Distributions from a member's DROP account after the death of the member shall be made as provided by this section.

(b) If a member who participates in the DROP dies before distribution of the member's entire DROP account, distributions to the designated beneficiary will begin not more than one year after the date of the member's death and shall be made either as a single-payment distribution of the member's DROP account balance or in not more than four equal annual installments over a period of not more than 37 months.

(c) If the member has not designated a beneficiary to receive distributions from the member's DROP account or if the person so designated does not survive the member by at least 72 hours, the member's DROP account shall be distributed in a single-sum payment as soon as administratively possible after the member's death to any surviving spouse who survives the member by at least 72 hours, if any, or to the member's estate if there is no surviving spouse.

Sec. 8.08. SUBSEQUENT DISABILITY OF DROP PARTICIPANT. A member who participates in the DROP becomes ineligible for any disability benefits described by Article 6 of this Act. Instead, if the board of trustees determines that the member would have been eligible for disability retirement, the board of trustees shall grant a normal service retirement annuity as described by Section 5.04 of this Act and shall pay the member both the service retirement annuity and a distribution of the DROP account as described by Section 8.05 of this Act.

Sec. 8.09. RETIREMENT BENEFIT PAYABLE TO DROP PARTICIPANT. The retirement benefit payable under Article 5 or 6 of this Act to a person who participates in the DROP:

(1) may not be increased as a result of any increase in the formula used in computing service retirement benefits under Section 5.04 of this Act that occurs after the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP;

(2) may not be increased as a result of any increase in the member's compensation that occurs after the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP;

(3) shall be increased by any annual cost-of-living adjustments under Section 9.04 of this Act that occur between the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP and the effective date of the member's retirement;

(4) may not be increased for additional service credit after the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP; and

(5) is subject to the limitations prescribed by Section 9.03 of this Act.

Sec. 8.10. TERMINATION OR MODIFICATION OF DROP BY FUND. If the board's actuary, not sooner than January 1, 2000, certifies to the board that DROP participation is resulting in a significant actuarial loss to the fund, the board of trustees may:

(1) reduce the interest paid on DROP accounts or take other action that would reduce the future credits to DROP accounts, but only for all DROP accounts that are established after the effective date of the action by the board of trustees; or

(2) terminate the deferred retirement option plan for all members who have not at that time established a DROP account.

ARTICLE 9. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS REGARDING BENEFITS

Sec. 9.01. TIME FOR PAYMENT TO RETIRED MEMBERS. Benefits to a person who retires under this Act are payable on the first day of each month beginning with the month following the month in which the person retires.

Sec. 9.02. TIME FOR PAYMENT TO SURVIVORS; PAYMENT TO ESTATE. Benefits to a surviving spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent under this Act are payable on the first day of each month beginning with the month following the month in which the death of the member or former firefighter occurs. After all payments cease, any amount by which the member's or former firefighter's total accumulated contributions at the date of that person's death exceed the amount of all retirement and death benefits paid by the fund as a result of the person's participation in the fund is payable to the estate of the member or former firefighter.

Sec. 9.03. LIMITATION ON PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. (a) If the amount of any benefit payment under this Act would exceed the limitations provided by Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations adopted under that section, the board of trustees shall reduce the amount of the benefit as needed to comply with that section.

(b) A person's vested accrued benefit in effect on September 1, 1995, may not be reduced under this section.

Sec. 9.04. COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT; OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. (a) Subject to this section and except as provided by Section 5.05 of this Act, a person receiving a retirement or survivor's benefit under this Act is entitled each calendar year to a cost-of-living adjustment of that person's benefit calculated in accordance with this section.

(a-1) The annual cost-of-living adjustment under this section:

(1) is based on the collective adjustment amount calculated in accordance with Subsection (a-2) of this section and allocated among persons eligible for an adjustment under this section in a manner and in an amount determined by the board of trustees;

(2) may take effect at any time during a given calendar year, as determined by the board of trustees; and

(3) may not reduce a person's benefit to an amount less than the person received when the benefit first was paid to that person.

(a-2) The collective adjustment amount described by Subsection (a-1) of this section:

(1) is an amount equal to the actuarial value, as determined by the board's actuary based on the interest and mortality assumptions adopted by the board of trustees for the most recent actuarial valuation of the fund, of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor for the applicable determination period ending in a calendar month that precedes by not more than four months the month in which the cost-of-living adjustment is to take effect, multiplied by the total amount of benefits payable in the month immediately preceding the date an adjustment is to take effect to persons who are eligible to receive an adjustment under this section; and

(2) if applicable:

(A) is reduced by an amount that the board's actuary determines is necessary to maintain the financial stability of the fund; or

(B) is increased in accordance with Subsection (b) of this section.

(a-3) For purposes of Subsection (a-2) of this section, the applicable determination period is the shorter of:

(1) 12 months; or

(2) the period since the last adjustment under this section.

(a-4) In determining whether to reduce the collective adjustment amount under Subsection (a-2) of this section, the board's actuary may not take into consideration the cost of future adjustments under this section.

(b) The board of trustees may increase the collective adjustment amount under Subsection (a-2) of this section if:

(1) the board's actuary has advised the board of trustees that the increase would not impair the financial stability of the fund; and

(2) the increase has been approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of trustees.

(b-1) In determining whether an adjustment would impair the financial stability of the fund under Subsection (b) of this section, the board's actuary shall take into consideration the cost of future adjustments under this section.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707, Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 9.05. NO INTEGRATION WITH SOCIAL SECURITY. A benefit payable under this Act may not be integrated with benefits payable under the federal Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 301 et seq.), and benefits payable under the Social Security Act may not be taken into account when determining the amount of benefits to which a person is entitled under this Act.

Sec. 9.06. WITHDRAWAL OF CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) A living person who has terminated all employment with the fire department and who has not retired may withdraw, on application, all of the accumulated contributions credited to that person's individual account with the fund in excess of the amount of benefits that the person previously has received from the fund. On withdrawal, the person's account will be closed and all service credit the person has accumulated will be canceled.

(b) If a member dies before retirement and no person is entitled to a survivor's benefit under this Act, the person's estate may, after application, withdraw all of the accumulated contributions credited to that person's individual account with the fund in excess of the amount of benefits that the person previously has received from the fund.

Sec. 9.07. ESCHEAT OF CONTRIBUTIONS. If an application for withdrawal of contributions under Section 9.06 of this Act from or on behalf of a person who has ceased to be an employee of the fire department or the person's estate has not been received by the fund before the seventh anniversary of the termination of the person's employment with the fire department for a reason other than retirement, the person's accumulated contributions shall escheat to the fund. If the person or the person's estate later applies for the contributions, the fund shall refund the contributions regardless of the earlier escheatment.

Sec. 9.08. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS; PRORATED REDUCTION IN BENEFITS. If for any reason the funds available for any purpose covered by this Act become insufficient to pay in full any benefit payable under this Act, all benefits being paid by the fund shall be reduced pro rata for the time the deficiency exists.

Sec. 9.09. REDUCTION IN BENEFIT PAYMENTS ON REQUEST. If a person receiving a benefit from the fund requests in writing that the amount of the benefit be reduced to a specified monthly amount, the fund will pay the lesser amount specified in the request. If the person subsequently requests in writing that the benefit be increased to any specified amount that does not exceed the amount originally payable, the fund will pay the increased amount specified. If a person receiving a benefit from the fund requests in writing that payment of the benefit be discontinued, the fund shall discontinue payment of the benefit. If the person subsequently requests that payment of the benefit be resumed, the fund shall resume payment of the benefit. Any amounts not paid by the fund pursuant to a request under this section are forfeited to the fund and are not recoverable by any person.

Sec. 9.10. OPTIONAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY. (a) An optional retirement annuity is an annuity that is certified by the board's actuary to be the actuarial equivalent of the annuity provided under Section 5.04 of this Act and the survivor's benefits provided under Article 7 of this Act. An optional retirement annuity is payable throughout the life of the retiree.

(b) Instead of the annuity payable under Section 5.04 of this Act, a member who retires may elect to receive an optional retirement annuity approved by the board of trustees under this section.

(c) The survivor's benefits provided under Article 7 of this Act are not payable on the death of a retiree who elects an optional retirement annuity under this section.

(d) The board of trustees by rule may provide that:

(1) an optional retirement annuity is payable after a member's death throughout the life of a person designated by the member; or

(2) if a retiree dies before a fixed number of monthly annuity payments are made, the remaining number of payments are payable to the retiree's designated beneficiary or, if a designated beneficiary does not exist, to the retiree's estate.

(e) To elect an optional retirement annuity, a member must make the election and designate a beneficiary on a form prescribed by the board of trustees. The member must file the form with the board on or before the effective date of the member's retirement.

(f) Except as provided by Subsections (g), (h), and (i) of this section, if a member elects an optional retirement annuity that, on the member's death, pays to the member's spouse an amount that is less than 75 percent of the annuity that is payable during the joint lives of the member and the member's spouse, the spouse must consent to the election. The spouse's consent must be in writing and witnessed by an officer or employee of the fund or acknowledged by a notary public.

(g) If a member's spouse has been adjudicated incompetent, the consent required under Subsection (f) of this section may be given by the spouse's guardian.

(h) If a physician determines that a member's spouse is not mentally capable of managing the spouse's affairs, the consent required under Subsection (f) of this section may be given by the member if the member would be qualified to serve as a guardian of the spouse and the board of trustees determines that a guardianship of the estate is not necessary.

(i) Spousal consent under Subsection (f) of this section is not required if the board of trustees determines that:

(1) a spouse does not exist;

(2) the spouse cannot be located;

(3) the first anniversary of the marriage will not occur before the date the annuity first becomes payable; or

(4) a former spouse is entitled to receive a portion of the member's optional retirement benefit under a qualified domestic relations order.

ARTICLE 10. COLLECTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS; INTEREST

Sec. 10.01. MUNICIPAL AND MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Each municipality in which a fire department to which this Act applies is located shall appropriate and contribute to the fund an amount equal to a percentage of the compensation of all members during that month as follows:

(1) 19.05 percent, beginning on the first pay date following September 30, 2010, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2011;

(2) 20.05 percent, beginning on the first pay date following September 30, 2011, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2012;

(3) 21.05 percent, for 24 pay dates of the municipality beginning on the first pay date following September 30, 2012; and

(4) 22.05 percent, for all pay dates of the municipality that follow the 24 pay dates referenced in Subdivision (3) of this subsection.

(b) Each firefighter shall pay into the fund each month a percentage of the firefighter's compensation for that month as follows:

(1) 15.70 percent, for the pay dates of the municipality following September 30, 2010, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2011;

(2) 16.20 percent, beginning on the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2011, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2012;

(3) 16.70 percent, beginning on the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2012, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2013;

(4) 17.20 percent, beginning on the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2013, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2014;

(5) 17.70 percent, beginning on the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2014, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2015;

(6) 18.20 percent, beginning on the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2015, through the pay date immediately preceding September 30, 2016; and

(7) 18.70 percent, for the first pay date of the municipality following September 30, 2016, and all subsequent pay dates of the municipality.

(c) The governing body of each municipality may authorize the municipality to contribute a portion of the contribution required of each firefighter under this section. In that event:

(1) the municipality shall appropriate and contribute to the fund each month at the higher percentage of compensation necessary to make all contributions required and authorized to be made by the municipality under this section; and

(2) each firefighter's individual account with the fund shall be credited each month as if the firefighter had made the entire contribution required of that firefighter under Section 10.01(b).

(d) The governing body of each municipality may authorize the municipality to make an additional contribution to the fund in whatever amount the governing body may determine. The members of the fund, by a majority vote in favor of an increase in contributions above 13.70 percent, may increase each firefighter's contribution above 13.70 percent to any percentage recommended by a majority vote of the board of trustees.

Sec. 10.02. PICKUP OF FIREFIGHTER CONTRIBUTIONS. A municipality to which this Act applies shall pick up the firefighter contributions to the fund that are required or authorized pursuant to Section 10.01 of this Act, whichever is higher. Firefighter contributions will be picked up by a reduction in the monetary compensation of the firefighters. Contributions picked up shall be treated as employer contributions in accordance with Section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purpose of determining tax treatment of the amounts under that code. These contributions will be deposited to the credit of the individual accounts of the firefighters in the fund and shall be treated as the monthly contributions of the firefighters for all purposes of this Act. These contributions are not includable in the gross income of a firefighter until the time that they are distributed or made available to the firefighter or survivors of the firefighter. The board of trustees may at any time, by majority vote, discontinue the pickup of firefighter contributions by the municipality.

Sec. 10.03. CONTRIBUTIONS AND INCOME AS ASSETS OF FUND. All contributions paid to the fund under Sections 10.01 and 10.02 of this Act become a part of the assets of the fund. All interest and dividends on investments of the assets of the fund shall be deposited into the fund and are part of it.

Sec. 10.04. INTEREST ON INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS. The fund shall credit interest on December 31 of each year to the account of each firefighter, and of each former firefighter, who has not retired in an amount equal to five percent of the accumulated contributions, including previously credited interest, on deposit on January 1 of that year. The fund may not pay interest on a firefighter's or former firefighter's contributions for part of a year or for any period that is more than five calendar years after the date of termination of employment.

ARTICLE 11. INVESTMENT OF ASSETS

Sec. 11.01. INVESTMENTS. The board of trustees in its sole discretion may invest, reinvest, or change the assets of the fund. The board of trustees shall invest the funds in whatever instruments or investments the board considers prudent. In making investments for the fund, the board of trustees shall discharge its duties with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a similar capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a similar character and with similar aims.

Sec. 11.02. Repealed by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 30, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 11.03. INVESTMENT POLICY. (a) The board of trustees shall adopt and maintain a written investment policy regarding the investment of fund assets.

(b) The board of trustees may not adopt an amendment to the investment policy adopted under this section unless the proposed amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board at not fewer than three regular meetings of the board.

Sec. 11.04. FIDUCIARIES. (a) A person or financial institution is a fiduciary of the fund to the extent that the person or the financial institution:

(1) exercises any discretionary authority or discretionary control over management of the fund or exercises any authority or control over management or disposition of the assets of the fund;

(2) renders or has authority or responsibility to render investment advice for a fee or other compensation, direct or indirect, concerning any money or other property of the fund; or

(3) has any discretionary authority or discretionary responsibility over the administration of the fund.

(b) A fiduciary of the fund may not cause the fund to engage in a transaction if the fiduciary knows or should know that the transaction constitutes a direct or indirect:

(1) sale, exchange, or lease of any property from the fund to a party for less than adequate consideration or from a party to the fund for more than adequate consideration;

(2) loan of money or other extension of credit from the fund to a party without the receipt of adequate security and a reasonable rate of interest or from a party to the fund with provision of excessive security or an unreasonably high rate of interest;

(3) furnishing of goods, services, or facilities from the fund to a party for less than adequate consideration or from a party to the fund for more than adequate consideration; or

(4) transfer to or use by or for the benefit of a party of any assets of the fund for less than adequate consideration.

(1) deal with the assets of the fund in the fiduciary's own interest or for the fiduciary's own account;

(2) in the fiduciary's individual or any other capacity act in any transaction involving the fund on behalf of a party whose interests are adverse to the interests of the fund or the interests of its participants or beneficiaries; or

(3) receive any consideration for the fiduciary's own personal account from any party dealing with the fund in connection with a transaction involving the assets of the fund.

(d) The board of trustees may purchase insurance indemnifying the members of the board of trustees against personal loss or accountability from liability resulting from a member's act or omission as a member of the board of trustees.

ARTICLE 12. OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND PROFESSIONALS

Sec. 12.01. ADMINISTRATOR AND EMPLOYEES. The board of trustees shall appoint an administrator who shall administer the fund under the supervision and direction of the board of trustees. The board of trustees shall employ such other employees as are required for the efficient administration of the fund.

Sec. 12.02. LEGAL COUNSEL. The board of trustees shall retain legal counsel for matters affecting the operation of the fund.

Sec. 12.03. ACTUARY. (a) The board of trustees shall employ an actuary who may be the consultant and technical advisor to the board of trustees regarding the operation of the fund and may perform such duties as may be required by the board.

(b) The actuary shall make a valuation at least once every two years of the assets and liabilities of the fund on the basis of assumptions and methods that are reasonable in the aggregate, considering the experience of the fund and reasonable expectations and that, in combination, offer the actuary's best estimate of anticipated experience under the fund.

(c) On the basis of the valuation, the actuary shall make recommendations to the board of trustees to ensure the actuarial soundness of the fund. In making recommendations, the actuary shall define each actuarial term and enumerate and explain each actuarial assumption used in making the valuation. This information must be included either in the actuarial study or in a separate report made available as a public record.

(d) The board of trustees shall file with the State Pension Review Board a copy of each actuarial study and each separate report made as required by law.

(e) An actuary employed under this section must be a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, or an enrolled actuary under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.).

(f) The municipality may pay all or part of the cost of the actuarial services. Any cost not paid directly by the municipality is payable from assets of the fund.

Sec. 12.04. INVESTMENT COUNSELORS AND MANAGERS; CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS. (a) The board of trustees may employ professional investment counselors to advise and assist the board in the investment of the assets of the fund. The investment counseling service must be provided by a nationally known organization whose business functions include rendering continuous investment advisory service to public pension and retirement funds. The municipality may pay the entire cost of this counseling service. If not paid by the municipality, the cost may be paid from the assets of the fund.

(b) The board of trustees shall appoint investment managers for the fund by contracting for professional investment services with one or more organizations, which may include a bank if it has a trust department, that are in the business of managing investments.

(1) registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 801b-1 et seq.);

(2) a bank as defined by that Act; or

(3) an insurance company qualified to perform investment services under the laws of more than one state.

(d) In a contract made under Subsection (b) of this section, the board shall specify any policies, requirements, or restrictions, including criteria for determining the quality of investments and for the use of standard rating services, that the board adopts for investments of the fund.

(e) The municipality may pay all or part of the cost of professional investment management services under a contract under Subsection (b) of this section. Any cost not paid directly by the municipality is payable from assets of the fund.

(f) The board of trustees may at any time and shall at frequent intervals monitor the investments made by any investment manager for the fund. The board may contract for professional evaluation services to fulfill this requirement.

(g) The municipality may pay all or part of the cost of professional evaluation services under Subsection (f) of this section. Any cost not paid directly by the municipality is payable from assets of the fund.

(h) The board may enter into an investment custody account agreement designating a state or national bank or a trust company as custodian for all assets allocated to or generated under the investment management contract.

(i) Under the custody account agreement, the board of trustees shall require the designated custodian to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities for assets under the contract for which the agreement is established.

(j) The municipality may pay all or part of the cost of services under a custody account agreement under Subsection (h) of this section. Any cost not paid directly by the municipality is payable from assets of the fund.

(k) An investment manager other than a bank having a contract with the fund under Subsection (b) of this section may not be a custodian of any assets of the fund.

(l) When demands of the fund require, the board shall withdraw from a custodian of fund assets money for use in paying benefits to members and other beneficiaries of the fund and for reasonable expenses of administering the fund, as approved by the board.

Sec. 12.05. MEDICAL BOARD. The board of trustees may designate a medical board composed of three persons. To be eligible to serve as a member of the medical board, a physician must be licensed to practice medicine in this state and be of good standing in the medical profession. The board of trustees also may designate persons who are not physicians to serve on the medical board. The medical board shall:

(1) review all medical examinations and reports required by this Act;

(2) investigate essential statements and certificates made by or on behalf of a member of the fund in connection with an application for disability retirement; and

(3) report in writing to the board of trustees its conclusions and recommendations on all matters referred to it.

Sec. 12.06. RETIREMENT COUNSELING. The board of trustees may pay for the cost of counseling for members of the fund regarding retirement matters.

Sec. 12.07. AUDITS; EMPLOYMENT OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. The board of trustees shall employ a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants to perform an audit of the fund at least annually. The municipality may pay the entire cost of an audit. If not paid by the municipality, the cost may be paid from the assets of the fund.

Sec. 12.08. CIVIL ACTIONS FOR MONEY WRONGFULLY PAID OUT OR OBTAINED. The board of trustees may recover by civil action from any offending party or from the party's sureties, if any, any money paid out or obtained from the fund through fraud, misrepresentation, defalcation, theft, embezzlement, or misapplication and may institute, conduct, and maintain the action in the name of the board of trustees for the use and benefit of the fund.

Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 412, ch. 183, Sec. 1 to 22, eff. May 13, 1975. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 525, ch. 248, Sec. 1 to 5, eff. Aug. 27, 1979; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 298, ch. 120, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 591, ch. 237, Sec. 123, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 372, Sec. 1 to 10, eff. Aug. 26, 1985; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1 to 9, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 375, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 863, Sec. 1 to 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 453, Sec. 1 to 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 47, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 69, Sec. 1 to 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 282, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 30, Sec. 1 to 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 177, Sec. 1 to 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 601, Sec. 1 to 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 166, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 2829), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 192, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1354 (S.B. 1286), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 162 (H.B. 1756), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 162 (H.B. 1756), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 162 (H.B. 1756), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 162 (H.B. 1756), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 162 (H.B. 1756), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 289, eff. September 1, 2023.

Art. 6243e.2(1). FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND IN MUNICIPALITIES OF AT LEAST 1,600,000 POPULATION.

Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article:

(1) "Active service" means a status of current employment as a firefighter by the fire department of a municipality described by Section 2(a) of this article.

(1-a) "Actuarial data" includes:

(A) the census data, assumption tables, disclosure of methods, and financial information that are routinely used by the fund actuary for the fund's valuation studies or an actuarial experience study under Section 13D of this article; and

(B) other data that is reasonably necessary to implement Sections 13A through 13F of this article.

(1-b) "Actuarial experience study" has the meaning assigned by Section 802.1014, Government Code.

(1-c) "Amortization period" means the time period necessary to fully pay a liability layer.

(1-d) "Amortization rate" means the sum of the scheduled amortization payments for a given fiscal year for the current liability layers divided by the projected pensionable payroll for that fiscal year.

(1-e) "Assumed rate of return" means the assumed market rate of return on fund assets, which is seven percent per annum unless adjusted as provided by this article.

(1-f) "Average monthly salary" means, if the member has participated in the fund for:

(A) three or more years, the total salary received by a member as a firefighter over the member's:

(i) highest 78 biweekly pay periods for a member hired before the year 2017 effective date, including a member who was hired before the year 2017 effective date and who involuntarily separated from service but was retroactively reinstated in accordance with an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling; or

(ii) last 78 biweekly pay periods ending before the earlier of the date the member terminates employment with the fire department, divided by 36, or the member began participation in the DROP, divided by 36; or

(B) fewer than three years, the total salary paid to the member for the periods the member participated in the fund divided by the number of months the member has participated in the fund.

If a member is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, "average monthly salary" is determined on the basis of the number of pay periods under the payroll practices of the municipality sponsoring the fund that most closely correspond to 78 biweekly pay periods.

(1-g) "Beneficiary adult child" means a child of a member by birth or adoption who:

(A) is not an eligible child; and

(B) is designated a beneficiary of a member's DROP account by valid designation under Section 5(j-1).

(2) "Board" or "board of trustees" means the board of trustees of a firefighters' relief and retirement fund established under this article.

(3) "Code" means the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(3-a) "Confidentiality agreement" means a letter agreement sent from the municipal actuary or an independent actuary in which the municipal actuary or the independent actuary, as applicable, agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of this article.

(3-b) "Corridor" means the range of municipal contribution rates that are:

(A) equal to or greater than the minimum contribution rate; and

(B) equal to or less than the maximum contribution rate.

(3-c) "Corridor margin" means five percentage points.

(3-d) "Corridor midpoint" means the projected municipal contribution rate specified for each fiscal year for 31 years in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 13C of this article, and as may be adjusted under Section 13E or 13F of this article, and in each case rounded to the nearest hundredths decimal place.

(4) "Deferred retiree" means a member who is eligible for a benefit under Section 8(a) of this article.

(5) "Disabled child" means any individual who is the child of a member by birth or adoption and who is totally disabled as a result of a physical or mental illness or injury, including retardation, at the time the member dies or who becomes so disabled before reaching 18 years of age. The term includes a child the board determines is unable to pursue any gainful employment.

(6) "DROP" means the deferred retirement option plan under Section 5 of this article.

(7) "DROP account" means the notional account established to reflect the credits, contributions, and earnings of a member who has made a DROP election in accordance with Section 5 of this article.

(8) "Eligible child" means a child of a member by birth or adoption who is unmarried and under 18 years of age, a disabled child, or under 23 years of age, unmarried, and a full-time student enrolled in an accredited college or university, but only if the member executes an election permitting the child to be treated as an eligible child in accordance with procedures established by the board or if the member does not have an eligible spouse.

(9) "Eligible parent" means a parent of a member, by birth or by adoption while the member was a minor, who proves to the satisfaction of the board that the parent was a dependent of the member immediately before the member's death.

(10) "Eligible spouse" means:

(A) in the case of a member who dies after June 30, 1998, a spouse to whom the member was married at the time of the member's death; or

(B) in the case of a member who dies before July 1, 1998, a spouse to whom the member was married at the time the member's benefit under this article is scheduled to begin and at the time of the member's death.

(10-a) "Employer normal cost rate" means the normal cost rate minus the member contribution rate.

(10-b) "Estimated municipal contribution rate" means the municipal contribution rate estimated in a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 13B or 13C of this article, as applicable, as required by Section 13B(a)(5) of this article.

(11) "Firefighter" means a full-time, fully paid, active, classified member of a regularly organized fire department of an incorporated municipality with a fund established under this article, including a member who has made a DROP election, but is otherwise described in this definition.

(11-a) "Fiscal year," except as provided by Section 1B of this article, means a fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30.

(12) "Fund" means a firefighters' relief and retirement fund established under this article.

(12-a) "Funded ratio" means the ratio of the fund's actuarial value of assets divided by the fund's actuarial accrued liability.

(12-b) "Legacy liability" means the unfunded actuarial accrued liability:

(A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, reduced to reflect:

(i) changes to benefits or contributions under this article that took effect on the year 2017 effective date; and

(ii) payments by the municipality and earnings at the assumed rate of return allocated to the legacy liability from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, excluding July 1, 2017; and

(B) for each subsequent fiscal year:

(i) reduced by the contributions for that year allocated to the amortization of the legacy liability; and

(ii) adjusted by the assumed rate of return.

(12-c) "Level percent of payroll method" means the amortization method that defines the amount of the liability layer recognized each fiscal year as a level percent of pensionable payroll until the amount of the liability layer remaining is reduced to zero.

(12-d) "Liability gain layer" means a liability layer that decreases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.

(12-e) "Liability layer" means the legacy liability established in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 13C of this article and the unanticipated change as established in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B of this article.

(12-f) "Liability loss layer" means a liability layer that increases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability. For purposes of this article, the legacy liability is a liability loss layer.

(12-g) "Maximum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint plus the corridor margin.

(13) "Member" means a firefighter or former firefighter who has satisfied the eligibility requirements under Section 13 of this article and who has not yet received a distribution of the entire benefit to which the person is entitled under this article.

(13-a) "Minimum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint minus the corridor margin.

(13-b) "Municipality" means a municipality in this state having a population of more than 2 million.

(13-c) "Municipal contribution rate" means a percent of pensionable payroll that is the sum of the employer normal cost rate and the amortization rate for liability layers, except as determined otherwise under the express provisions of Sections 13E and 13F of this article.

(13-d) "Normal cost rate" means the salary weighted average of the individual normal cost rates determined for the current active population plus an allowance for projected administrative expenses. The allowance for projected administrative expenses equals the administrative expenses divided by the pensionable payroll for the previous fiscal year, provided the administrative allowance may not exceed 1.25 percent of the pensionable payroll for the current fiscal year unless agreed to by the municipality.

(13-e) "Normal retirement age" means:

(A) for a member, including a member who was hired before the year 2017 effective date and who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated in accordance with an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling, hired before the year 2017 effective date, the age at which the member attains 20 years of service; or

(B) except as provided by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision, for a member hired or rehired on or after the year 2017 effective date, the age at which the sum of the member's age, in years, and the member's years of participation in the fund equals at least 70.

(14) "Off-duty disability" means a physical or mental disability that:

(A) is likely to be permanent; and

(B) results from a cause other than a bodily injury received in, or illness caused by, the performance of a member's duties as a firefighter.

(15) "On-duty disability" means a physical or mental disability that:

(A) is likely to be permanent; and

(B) results from a bodily injury received in, or illness caused by, the performance of the member's duties as a firefighter.

(15-a) "Payoff year" means the year a liability layer is fully amortized under the amortization period. A payoff year may not be extended or accelerated for a period that is less than one month.

(15-b) "Pensionable payroll" means the aggregate salary of all the firefighters on active service, including all firefighters participating in an alternative retirement plan established under Section 1C of this article, in an applicable fiscal year.

(15-c) "Price inflation assumption" means:

(A) the most recent headline consumer price index 10-year forecast published in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Survey of Professional Forecasters; or

(B) if the forecast described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision is not available, another standard as determined by mutual agreement between the municipality and the board.

(15-d) "Projected pensionable payroll" means the estimated pensionable payroll for the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B of this article at the time of calculation by:

(A) projecting the prior fiscal year's pensionable payroll forward two years using the current payroll growth rate assumptions; and

(B) adjusting, if necessary, for changes in population or other known factors, provided those factors would have a material impact on the calculation, as determined by the board.

(15-e) "PROP" means the post-retirement option plan under Section 5A of this article.

(15-f) "PROP account" means the notional account established to reflect the credits and contributions of a member or surviving spouse who made a PROP election in accordance with Section 5A of this article before the year 2017 effective date.

(16) "Salary" means wages as defined by Section 3401(a) of the code, plus any amount not includable in gross income under Section 104(a)(1), Section 125, Section 132(f), Section 402(g)(2), Section 457, or Section 414(h)(2) of the code, except that with respect to amounts earned on or after the year 2017 effective date, salary excludes overtime pay received by a firefighter or the amount by which the salary earned by a firefighter on the basis of the firefighter's appointed position exceeds the salary of the firefighter's highest tested rank.

(16-a) "Third quarter line rate" means the corridor midpoint plus 2.5 percentage points.

(16-b) "Ultimate entry age normal" means an actuarial cost method under which a calculation is made to determine the average uniform and constant percentage rate of contributions that, if applied to the compensation of each member during the entire period of the member's anticipated covered service, would be required to meet the cost of all benefits payable on the member's behalf based on the benefits provisions for newly hired employees. For purposes of this definition, the actuarial accrued liability for each member is the difference between the member's present value of future benefits based on the tier of benefits that apply to the member and the member's present value of future normal costs determined using the normal cost rate.

(16-c) "Unfunded actuarial accrued liability" means the difference between the actuarial accrued liability and the actuarial value of assets. For purposes of this definition:

(A) "actuarial accrued liability" means the portion of the actuarial present value of projected benefits attributed to past periods of member service based on the cost method used in the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B or 13C of this article, as applicable; and

(B) "actuarial value of assets" means the value of fund investments as calculated using the asset smoothing method used in the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B or 13C of this article, as applicable.

(16-d) "Unanticipated change" means, with respect to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B of this article, the difference between:

(A) the remaining balance of all then-existing liability layers as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study; and

(B) the actual unfunded actuarial accrued liability as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study.

(16-e) "Unused leave pay" means the accrued value of unused leave time payable to an employee after separation from service in accordance with applicable law and agreements.

(16-f) "Year 2017 effective date" means the date on which S.B. No. 2190, Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, took effect.

(17) "Years of participation" means the number of years that a member has participated in the fund by making the contributions required by this article, as determined under rules established by the board.

Sec. 1A. INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE. This article, including Sections 2(p) and (p-1) of this article, does not and may not be interpreted to:

(1) relieve the municipality, the board, or the fund of their respective obligations under Sections 13A through 13F of this article;

(2) reduce or modify the rights of the municipality, the board, or the fund, including any officer or employee of the municipality, board, or fund, to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this section;

(3) relieve the municipality, including any official or employee of the municipality, from:

(A) paying or directing to pay required contributions to the fund under Section 13 or 13A of this article or carrying out the provisions of Sections 13A through 13F of this article; or

(B) reducing or modifying the rights of the board and any officer or employee of the board or fund to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this section;

(4) relieve the board or fund, including any officer or employee of the board or fund, from any obligation to implement a benefit change or carry out the provisions of Sections 13A through 13F of this article; or

(5) reduce or modify the rights of the municipality and any officer or employee of the municipality to enforce an obligation described by Subdivision (4) of this section.

Sec. 1B. FISCAL YEAR. If either the fund or the municipality changes its respective fiscal year, the fund and the municipality may enter into a written agreement to change the fiscal year for purposes of this article. If the fund and municipality enter into an agreement described by this section, the parties shall, in the agreement, adjust the provisions of Sections 13A through 13F of this article to reflect that change.

Sec. 1C. ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section, "salary-based benefit plan" means a retirement plan provided by the fund under this article that provides member benefits calculated in accordance with a formula that is based on multiple factors, one of which is the member's salary at the time of the member's retirement.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 13G of this article, the board and the municipality may enter into a written agreement to offer an alternative retirement plan or plans, including a cash balance retirement plan or plans, if both parties consider it appropriate.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 13G of this article, if, beginning with the final risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B of this article on or after July 1, 2021, either the funded ratio of the fund is less than 65 percent as determined in the final risk sharing valuation study without making any adjustments under Section 13E or 13F of this article, or the funded ratio of the fund is less than 65 percent as determined in a revised and restated risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B(a)(7) of this article, the board and the municipality shall, as soon as practicable but not later than the 60th day after the date the determination is made:

(1) enter into a written agreement to establish a cash balance retirement plan that complies with Section 1D of this article; and

(2) require each firefighter first hired by the municipality on or after the 90th day after the date the cash balance retirement plan is established to participate in the cash balance retirement plan established under this subsection instead of participating in the salary-based benefit plan, provided the firefighter would have otherwise been eligible to participate in the salary-based benefit plan.

Sec. 1D. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CASH BALANCE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Cash balance plan participant" means a firefighter who participates in a cash balance retirement plan.

(2) "Cash balance retirement plan" means a cash balance retirement plan established by written agreement under Section 1C(b) or 1C(c) of this article.

(3) "Interest" means the interest credited to a cash balance plan participant's notional account, which may not:

(A) exceed a percentage rate equal to the cash balance retirement plan's most recent five fiscal years' smoothed rate of return; or

(B) be less than zero percent.

(4) "Salary-based benefit plan" has the meaning assigned by Section 1C of this article.

(b) The written agreement establishing a cash balance retirement plan must:

(1) provide for the administration of the cash balance retirement plan;

(2) provide for a closed amortization period not to exceed 20 years from the date an actuarial gain or loss is realized;

(3) provide for the crediting of municipal and cash balance plan participant contributions to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(4) provide for the crediting of interest to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(5) include a vesting schedule;

(6) include benefit options, including options for cash balance plan participants who separate from service prior to retirement;

(7) provide for death and disability benefits;

(8) allow a cash balance plan participant who is eligible to retire under the plan to elect to:

(A) receive a monthly annuity payable for the life of the cash balance plan participant in an amount actuarially determined on the date of the cash balance plan participant's retirement based on the cash balance plan participant's accumulated notional account balance annuitized in accordance with the actuarial assumptions and actuarial methods established in the most recent actuarial experience study conducted under Section 13D of this article, except that the assumed rate of return applied may not exceed the fund's assumed rate of return in the most recent risk sharing valuation study; or

(B) receive a single, partial lump-sum payment from the cash balance plan participant's accumulated notional account balance and a monthly annuity payable for life in an amount determined in accordance with Paragraph (A) of this subdivision based on the cash balance plan participant's notional account balance after receiving the partial lump-sum payment; and

(9) include any other provision determined necessary by:

(A) the board and the municipality; or

(B) the fund for purposes of maintaining the tax-qualified status of the fund under Section 401 of the code.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 13 of this article, a firefighter who participates in a cash balance retirement plan:

(1) subject to Subsection (d) of this section, is not eligible to be a member of and may not participate in the fund's salary-based benefit plan; and

(2) may not accrue years of participation or establish service credit in the salary-based benefit plan during the period the firefighter is participating in the cash balance retirement plan.

(d) A cash balance plan participant is considered a member for purposes of Sections 13A through 13H of this article.

(e) At the time the cash balance retirement plan is implemented, the employer normal cost rate of the cash balance retirement plan may not exceed the employer normal cost rate for the salary-based benefit plan.

Sec. 1E. CONFLICT OF LAW. To the extent of a conflict between this article and any other law, this article prevails.

Sec. 2. FUND AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES. (a) A firefighters' relief and retirement fund is established in each incorporated municipality that has a population of at least 1,600,000 and a fully paid fire department.

(b) The board of trustees of the fund shall be known as the "(name of municipality) Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund Board of Trustees" and the fund shall be known as the "(name of municipality) Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund." The board consists of 10 trustees, including:

(1) the mayor or an appointed representative of the mayor;

(2) the director of finance or the director of finance's designee of the municipality or, if there is not a director of finance, the highest ranking employee of the municipality, excluding elected officials, with predominately financial responsibilities, as determined by the mayor, or that employee's designee;

(3) five firefighters who are members of the fund;

(4) one person who is a retired firefighter and a member of the fund with at least 20 years of participation; and

(5) two persons, each of whom is a registered voter of the municipality, has been a resident of the municipality for at least one year preceding the date of initial appointment, and is not a municipal officer or employee.

(c) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (b)(3) of this section, a person must be elected by ballot of the firefighters who are members of the fund. That election shall be held during the last quarter of the year preceding the January in which the term of a trustee occupying one of those positions expires. The trustee serves a term of three years. Three of the trustees described under Subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be elected from the suppression division of the fire department. One of the trustees from the suppression division must have the rank of firefighter or engineer/operator, and the position on the board to which that trustee is elected is designated as Position I. One of the trustees from the suppression division must have the rank of captain or senior captain, and the position on the board to which that trustee is elected is designated as Position II. One of the trustees from the suppression division must have the rank of district chief, deputy chief, or assistant chief, and the position on the board to which that trustee is elected is designated as Position III. One of the trustees described under Subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be elected from the fire prevention division, and the position on the board to which that trustee is elected is designated as Position IV. One of the trustees described under Subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be elected from the fire alarm operators division or the fire department repair division, and the position on the board to which that trustee is elected is designated as Position V.

(d) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (b)(4) of this section, a person must be elected by ballot of those retired members with at least 20 years of participation in the fund. The election shall be held during the last quarter of every third year starting in 1997. The trustee serves a three-year term, starting in January after the trustee is elected.

(e) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (b)(5) of this section, a person must be appointed by the elected members of the board. Each of those trustees serves a staggered term of two years. The appointment or reappointment of one of those trustees shall take place in December of each year.

(f) If a vacancy occurs in an elected position on the board, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided in this section for the election of the trustee to that position. The election may occur either at the next following regular election of trustees by members of the fire department or in a special election called by the board. If a vacancy occurs in a position appointed by the elected trustees of the board, that position shall be filled by a vote of the elected trustees of the board. A trustee who is elected or selected to fill a vacancy holds office for the unexpired term of the trustee who vacated that position.

(g) Each trustee of the board shall, at the first board meeting following the trustee's most recent election or appointment, take an oath of office that the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the fund and that the trustee will not knowingly violate or willingly permit this article to be violated.

(h) The board shall annually elect from among the trustees a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary.

(h-1) The board may form a standing or ad hoc committee composed of any number of trustees of the board to further administration of the fund. A committee composed of all the trustees of the board:

(1) may be established only by order of the board, fund rule, or policy; and

(2) has the same power as the board to take final action, including the power to issue orders on matters within the scope of the committee's authority as defined by applicable law, rule, or policy.

(h-2) If the board establishes a pension benefits committee under Subsection (h-1) of this section, that committee, even if it is composed of fewer than all the trustees of the board, may deliberate and act in place of the board regarding each application for benefits submitted to the fund by a member or the member's survivor. Final action of a pension benefits committee on an application for benefits is binding, subject only to any right of appeal to the board under law, rule, or policy at the time the application is filed. Except to the extent the final action of a pension benefits committee may be appealed to the board, the final action of the pension benefits committee on an application for benefits constitutes the final action of the board, including for purposes of filing an appeal to a district court under Section 12 of this article.

(i) A trustee of the board may not receive compensation for service on the board.

(j) Six trustees of the board constitute a quorum to transact business of the board or of any committee composed of all the trustees of the board. An order of the board or a committee must be made by vote recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the board or committee. Each decision of the board in a matter under the board's jurisdiction is final and binding as to each affected member and beneficiary, subject only to the rights of appeal specified by this article.

(k) The board shall receive, manage, and disburse the fund for the municipality and shall hear and determine applications for retirement and claims for disability and designate the beneficiaries or persons entitled to participate as provided by this article.

(l) The board shall hold regular monthly meetings at a time and place as the board by resolution designates and may hold special meetings on call of the chair as the chair determines is necessary, keep accurate minutes of board meetings and records of board proceedings, keep separate from all other municipal funds all money for the use and benefit of the fund, and keep a record of claims, receipts, and disbursements. A disbursement from the fund may be made in accordance with procedures established by the board. The municipality shall allow municipal employees who are board trustees to promptly attend all board and committee meetings. Each board trustee who is an employee of the municipality shall provide the municipality with reasonable notice of the trustee's required attendance at regularly scheduled board and committee meetings. The municipality shall allow board trustees the time required to travel to and attend educational workshops and legislative hearings and meetings regarding proposed amendments to this article if attendance is consistent with a board trustee's duty to the board. The municipality may not use the trustee's attendance or travel related to attendance described by this subsection to reduce or withhold the wages that the trustee would otherwise earn. The board may reimburse from the fund the municipality for costs incurred by the municipality for allowing a trustee's attendance under this subsection.

(m) The municipality shall provide full and timely information to the board on matters relating to the hiring of new firefighters, compensation of members, members' deaths or terminations of service, and such other information concerning firefighters as is reasonably required by the board, from time to time, for the board to administer the fund and provide benefits properly.

(n) The board shall, not later than January 31 of each year, provide to the person described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section a detailed and itemized report of all receipts and disbursements with respect to the fund, together with a statement of fund administration, during the preceding fiscal year of the fund, and shall provide other reports and statements or existing financial information concerning the fund as from time to time may be required or requested by the person described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section.

(o) The secretary of the board shall, not later than the seventh day after the date of each board meeting, forward true copies of the minutes of the meeting to each fire station and to each division of the fire department.

(p) The board shall manage the fund according to the terms and purposes of this article and all applicable sections of the code and has the powers necessary to accomplish that purpose, including the power to:

(1) adopt for the administration of the fund written rules, policies, and procedures not inconsistent with this article;

(2) interpret and construe this article and any summary plan descriptions or benefits procedures, except that each construction must meet any qualification requirements established under Section 401 of the code;

(3) correct any defect, supply any omission, and reconcile any inconsistency that appears in this article in a manner and to the extent that the board considers expedient to administer this article for the greatest benefit of all members;

(4) select, employ, and compensate employees the board considers necessary or advisable in the proper and efficient administration of the fund;

(5) determine all questions, whether legal or factual, relating to eligibility for participation, service, or benefits or relating to the administration of the fund to promote the uniform administration of the fund for the benefit of all members;

(6) establish and maintain records necessary or appropriate to the proper administration of the fund; and

(7) compel witnesses to attend and testify before the board concerning matters related to the operation of this article in the same manner provided for taking of testimony before notaries public.

(p-1) A rule, policy, or procedure adopted by the board under Subsection (p)(1) of this section is final and binding with respect to any matter within the board's jurisdiction and authority.

(q) The chair may administer oaths to witnesses.

(r) The board shall maintain at the offices of the fund each rule, policy, or procedure adopted under this section and shall deliver to the person described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section a copy of each adopted rule, policy, or procedure.

(s) Title 9, Property Code, does not apply to the fund.

(t) The officers and employees of the municipality are fully protected and free of liability for any action taken or omission made or any action or omission suffered by them in good faith, objectively determined, in the performance of their duties related to the fund. The protection from liability provided by this subsection is cumulative of and in addition to any other constitutional, statutory, or common law official or governmental immunity, defense, and civil or procedural protection provided to the municipality as a governmental entity and to a municipal official or employee as an official or employee of a governmental entity. Except for a waiver expressly provided by this article, this article does not grant an implied waiver of any immunity.

Sec. 2A. QUALIFICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL ACTUARY. (a) An actuary hired by the municipality for purposes of this article must be an actuary from a professional service firm who:

(1) is not already engaged by the fund or any other pension system authorized under Article 6243g-4, Revised Statutes, or Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide actuarial services to the fund or pension system, as applicable;

(2) has a minimum of 10 years of professional actuarial experience; and

(3) is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries or a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and who, in carrying out duties for the municipality, has met the applicable requirements to issue statements of actuarial opinion.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, the municipal actuary does not need to meet any greater qualifications than those required by the board for the fund actuary.

Sec. 2B. REPORT ON INVESTMENTS BY INDEPENDENT INVESTMENT CONSULTANT. At least once every three years, the board shall hire an independent investment consultant to conduct a review of fund investments and submit a report to the board and the municipality concerning the review or demonstrate in the fund's annual financial report that the review was conducted. The independent investment consultant shall review and report on at least the following:

(1) the fund's compliance with its investment policy statement, ethics policies, including policies concerning the acceptance of gifts, and policies concerning insider trading;

(2) the fund's asset allocation, including a review and discussion of the various risks, objectives, and expected future cash flows;

(3) the fund's portfolio structure, including the fund's need for liquidity, cash income, real return, and inflation protection and the active, passive, or index approaches for different portions of the portfolio;

(4) investment manager performance reviews and an evaluation of the processes used to retain and evaluate managers;

(5) benchmarks used for each asset class and individual manager;

(6) an evaluation of fees and trading costs;

(7) an evaluation of any leverage, foreign exchange, or other hedging transaction; and

(8) an evaluation of investment-related disclosures in the fund's annual reports.

Sec. 3. OTHER POWERS OF THE BOARD. (a) If the board determines that there is a surplus of funds in an amount exceeding the current demands on the fund, the board may invest the surplus in the manner provided by Chapter 802, Government Code.

(b) The board may employ persons to perform any investment, administrative, legal, medical, accounting, clerical, or other service the board considers appropriate, including:

(1) a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants to perform an audit of the fund at times and intervals the board considers necessary;

(2) a professional investment manager or firm of managers as provided by Section 802.204, Government Code;

(3) an actuary or actuarial firm at times and for purposes the board considers necessary or appropriate;

(4) an attorney or firm of attorneys to advise, assist, or represent the board in any legal matter relating to the fund, including litigation involving matters under this article; or

(5) a physician to examine a firefighter before the firefighter becomes a member of the fund or to examine a member or beneficiary applying for or receiving a disability pension or survivor benefit.

(c) A fee incurred in connection with a service or person employed under Subsection (b) of this section may be paid from the fund, except that the costs of audits under Subsection (b)(1) of this section may be paid from the fund only if the municipality does not pay that cost.

(d) The board may have an actuarial valuation performed each year, and for determining the municipality's contribution rate as provided by Section 13A of this article, the board may adopt a new actuarial valuation each year.

(e) In addition to any other remedy the board has, including any right of set-off from future benefits, the board may recover by civil action from any offending party or from the party's surety money paid out or obtained from the fund through fraud, misrepresentation, defalcation, theft, embezzlement, or misapplication and may institute, conduct, and maintain the action in the name of the board for the use and benefit of the fund.

(f) On written request from the chair, the municipal attorney shall represent the board or the fund in any legal matter, including litigation. The municipal attorney is not entitled to compensation from the fund for providing that representation.

(g) The board may, from fund assets, purchase from an insurer licensed to do business in this state insurance to:

(1) provide for legal defense of the fund;

(2) cover liabilities and losses of the fund;

(3) cover any other insurable risk to the fund; and

(4) provide for the legal defense of or indemnify and hold harmless the trustees of the board and employees of the fund from the effects and consequences of their acts, errors, omissions, or other conduct within the scope of their duties as trustees or employees, whether the acts, errors, omissions, or other conduct is proven or merely alleged.

(g-1) The board may use fund assets to provide insurance coverage comparable to that provided by insurers under Subsection (g) of this section by entering into a collective pool providing governmental entities of this state with self-insurance coverage, including coverage authorized by Chapter 791 or 2259, Government Code, or Chapter 119, Local Government Code. This article does not limit the ability of the board to provide any type of group insurance or self-insurance coverage in a pool of governmental entities for fund employees and their beneficiaries as a benefit of employment.

(g-2) If insurance or pooled governmental self-insurance coverage is unavailable, insufficient, inadequate, or not in effect, the board may indemnify a board trustee or employee for liability imposed as damages and for reasonable costs and expenses incurred by that individual in defense of an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's official capacity or within the scope of what the board trustee or employee believed in good faith, at the time, to be the board trustee's or employee's official capacity. The board may not indemnify a board trustee or employee for the amount of a loss that results from the board trustee's or employee's wilful and malicious misconduct or gross negligence.

(g-3) The board may establish a self-insurance fund to pay claims for the indemnification of board trustees or employees under Subsection (g-2) of this section. The board shall provide that the self-insurance fund must be limited to an amount not to exceed the greater of three percent of the fund assets or $5 million. The self-insurance fund shall be invested in the same manner as other assets of the fund, and all earnings and losses from investing the self-insurance fund shall be credited to the self-insurance fund unless that credit exceeds the limit on the self-insurance fund set by the board or this subsection. Amounts held in the self-insurance fund may not be included in the actuarial valuation for purposes of determining the municipal contribution rate or the assets available to satisfy the actuarial liabilities of the fund to pay service, disability, or death benefits provided by this article. A decision to indemnify or make a reimbursement out of the self-insurance fund must be made by a majority vote of board trustees eligible to vote on the matter. If the proposed indemnification or reimbursement is of a trustee, that trustee may not vote on the matter.

(h) The board may purchase with board funds a life insurance policy from an insurer licensed to do business in this state to cover the amount of lump-sum death benefits that may become payable to a member's eligible survivor or estate. The amount payable under a policy under this subsection on the death of one member may not exceed the amount of the lump-sum death benefits payable under this article. The board shall be the policyholder of any life insurance purchased under this subsection and shall use any proceeds received from the insurer to satisfy any lump-sum death benefits owed under this article.

(i) The board may pay with fund assets the reasonable expenses incurred in providing annual or semiannual meetings of retired members, spouses of retired members, and eligible survivors that facilitate communication regarding benefits paid under this article if the expenses do not materially affect the total assets of the fund. Reasonable expenses may include the purchase of items or services necessary to promote and facilitate these meetings.

(j) The board may pay for with fund assets, and distribute to survivors of deceased firefighters, commemorative flags and similar memorabilia, having a value of $75 or less, to honor service rendered by the firefighters.

(k) The board may accept gifts and donations to the fund. The gifts and donations shall be added to the fund for the use of the fund.

(l) The trustees, executive director, and employees of the fund are fully protected and free of liability for any action taken or omission made or any action or omission suffered by them in good faith, objectively determined, in the performance of their duties for the fund. The protection from liability provided by this subsection is cumulative of and in addition to any other constitutional, statutory, or common law official or governmental immunity, defense, and civil or procedural protection provided to the fund as a governmental entity and to a fund trustee or employee as an official or employee of a governmental entity. Except for a waiver expressly provided by this article, this article does not grant an implied waiver of any immunity.

(m) The board, or a committee of the board sitting in review of medical or psychiatric records, may consider the medical or psychiatric records of multiple individual applicants for disability benefits within a single closed session under Section 551.078, Government Code, but any action on an application shall be taken on an individual basis.

(n) On the reported death of a member, the fund or an authorized representative of the fund may obtain the death certificate or the pending death certificate directly from the issuing examiner or governmental agency without the prior notification or confirmation that otherwise may be required under law to expedite the issuance of death benefits from the fund to survivors in need of those benefits.

Sec. 3A. CERTAIN ALTERATIONS BY LOCAL AGREEMENT. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, the board is authorized, on behalf of the members or beneficiaries of the fund, to alter benefit types or amounts, the means of determining contribution rates, or the contribution rates provided under this article if the alteration is included in a written agreement between the board and the municipality. An agreement entered into under this section:

(1) must:

(A) if the agreement concerns benefit increases, other than benefit increases that are the result of Section 13E of this article, adhere to the processes and standards set forth in Section 10 of this article; and

(B) operate prospectively only; and

(2) may not, except as provided by Sections 13A through 13F of this article, have the effect or result of increasing the unfunded liability of the fund.

(b) In a written agreement entered into between the municipality and the board under this section, the parties may not:

(1) alter Sections 13A through 13F of this article, except and only to the extent necessary to comply with federal law;

(2) increase the assumed rate of return to more than seven percent per year;

(3) extend the amortization period of a liability layer to more than 30 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability layer is first recognized; or

(4) allow a municipal contribution rate in any year that is less than or greater than the municipal contribution rate required under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as applicable.

(c) If the board is directed or authorized in Sections 13A through 13F of this article to effect an increase or decrease to benefits or contributions, this article delegates the authority to alter provisions concerning benefits and contributions otherwise stated in this article in accordance with the direction or authorization only to the extent the alteration is set forth in an order or other written instrument and is consistent with this section, the code, and other applicable federal law and regulations. The order or other written instrument must be included in each applicable risk sharing valuation study under Section 13B or 13C of this article, as applicable, adopted by the board, and published in a manner that makes the order or other written instrument accessible to the members.

Sec. 4. SERVICE PENSION BENEFITS. (a) A member who terminates active service for any reason other than death is entitled to receive a service pension provided by this section if the member was:

(1) hired as a firefighter before the year 2017 effective date, including a member who was hired before the year 2017 effective date and who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated in accordance with an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling, at the age at which the member attains 20 years of service; and

(2) except as provided by Subdivision (1) of this subsection and subject to Subsection (b-2) of this section, hired or rehired as a firefighter on or after the year 2017 effective date, when the sum of the member's age in years and the member's years of participation in the fund equals at least 70.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (d) of this section, the monthly service pension for a member described by:

(1) Subsection (a)(1) of this section is equal to the sum of:

(A) the member's accrued monthly service pension based on the member's years of participation before the year 2017 effective date, determined under the law in effect on the date immediately preceding the year 2017 effective date;

(B) 2.75 percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the member's years of participation on or after the year 2017 effective date, for each year or partial year of participation of the member's first 20 years of participation; and

(C) two percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the member's years of participation on or after the year 2017 effective date, for each year or partial year of participation on or after the year 2017 effective date that occurred after the 20 years of participation described by Paragraph (B) of this subdivision; and

(2) Subsection (a)(2) of this section is equal to the sum of:

(A) 2.25 percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the member's years or partial years of participation for the member's first 20 years of participation; and

(B) two percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the member's years or partial years of participation for all years of participation that occurred after the 20 years of participation described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(b-1) For purposes of Subsection (b) of this section, partial years shall be computed to the nearest one-twelfth of a year.

(b-2) A member's monthly service pension under Subsection (a)(2) of this section may not exceed 80 percent of the member's average monthly salary.

(c) A member who terminated active service before November 1, 1997, and who had completed at least 20 years of participation on the effective date of termination of service is entitled on retirement to receive a monthly service pension in the amount provided under the law in effect on the effective date of that retirement, unless a subsequent benefit increase is expressly made applicable to that member.

(d) The total monthly benefit payable to a retired or disabled member, other than a deferred retiree or active member who has elected the DROP under Section 5(b) of this article, or payable to an eligible survivor of a deceased member as provided by Section 7(a) or 7(b) of this article, shall be increased by the following amounts: by $100, beginning with the monthly payment made for July 1999; by $25, beginning with the monthly payment made for July, 2000; and by $25, beginning with the monthly payment made for July 2001. These additional benefits may not be increased under Section 11(c), (c-1), or (c-2) of this article.

Sec. 5. DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN. (a) A member who is eligible to receive a service pension under Section 4(a)(1) of this article and who remains in active service may elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan provided by this section. A member who is eligible to receive a service pension under Section 4(a)(2) of this article may not elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan provided by this section. On subsequently terminating active service, a member who elected the DROP may apply for a monthly service pension under Section 4 of this article, except that the effective date of the member's election to participate in the DROP will be considered the member's retirement date for determining the amount of the member's monthly service pension. The member may also apply for any DROP benefit provided under this section on terminating active service. An election to participate in the DROP, once approved by the board, is irrevocable.

(a-1) The monthly benefit of a DROP participant who has at least 20 years of participation on the year 2017 effective date is increased at retirement by two percent of the amount of the member's original benefit for every full year of participation in the DROP by the member for up to 10 years of participation in the DROP. For a member's final year of participation, but not beyond the member's 10th year in the DROP, if a full year of participation is not completed, the member shall receive a prorated increase of 0.166 percent of the member's original benefit for each month of participation in that year. An increase provided by this subsection does not apply to benefits payable under Subsection (l) of this section. An increase under this subsection is applied to the member's benefit at retirement and is not added to the member's DROP account. The total increase under this subsection may not exceed 20 percent for 10 years of participation in the DROP by the member.

(b) A member may elect to participate in the DROP by complying with the election process established by the board. The member's election may be made at any time beginning on the date the member has completed 20 years of participation in the fund and is otherwise eligible for a service pension under Section 4(a)(1) of this article. Beginning on the first day of the month following the month in which the member makes an election to participate in the DROP, subject to board approval, and ending on the year 2017 effective date, amounts equal to the deductions made from the member's salary under Section 13(c) of this article shall be credited to the member's DROP account. Beginning after the year 2017 effective date, amounts equal to the deductions made from the member's salary under Section 13(c) of this article may not be credited to the member's DROP account.

(b-1) On or after the year 2017 effective date, an active member may not participate in the DROP for more than 13 years. If a DROP participant remains in active service after the 13th anniversary of the effective date of the member's DROP election:

(1) subsequent deductions from the member's salary under Section 13(c) of this article, except for unused leave pay, may not be credited to the member's DROP account; and

(2) the account shall continue to be credited with earnings in accordance with Subsection (d) of this section.

(b-2) For a member who is a DROP participant, the fund shall credit to the member's DROP account, in accordance with Section 13(c-1) of this article, the amount of unused leave pay otherwise payable to the member and received as a contribution to the fund from the municipality.

(c) After a member's DROP election becomes effective, an amount equal to the monthly service pension the member would have received under Section 4 of this article, if applicable, had the member terminated active service on the effective date of the member's DROP election shall be credited to a DROP account maintained for the member. That monthly credit to the member's DROP account shall continue until the earlier of the date the member terminates active service or the 13th anniversary of the date of the first credit to the member's DROP account.

(d) A member's DROP account shall be credited with earnings at an annual rate equal to 65 percent of the compounded average annual return earned by the fund over the five years preceding, but not including, the year during which the credit is given. Notwithstanding the preceding, however, the credit to the member's DROP account shall be at an annual rate of not less than 2.5 percent, irrespective of actual earnings.

(d-1) Earnings credited to a member's DROP account under Subsection (d) of this section shall be computed and credited at a time and in a manner determined by the board, except that earnings shall be credited not less frequently than once in each 13-month period and shall take into account partial years of participation in the DROP.

(d-2) A member may not roll over accumulated unused sick or vacation time paid to the member as a lump-sum payment after termination of active service into the member's DROP account.

(e) A member who terminates active service after participating in the DROP is entitled to receive, in addition to the member's service pension under Section 4 of this article, a benefit equal to the balance of the member's DROP account.

(e-1) In lieu of receiving a lump-sum payment on termination from active service, a retired member who has been a DROP participant or, if termination from active service was due to the DROP participant's death, the surviving spouse of the DROP participant may elect to leave the retired member's DROP account with the fund and receive earnings credited to the DROP account in the manner described by Subsection (d) of this section.

(f) In lieu of a single lump-sum payment, a member may elect to receive partial payments from the member's DROP account for each calendar year, in an amount elected by the member. The board may establish procedures concerning partial payments, including limitations on timing and frequency of those payments. A member who elects partial payments may, at any time, elect to receive the member's entire remaining DROP account balance in a single lump-sum payment.

(g) If a member elects partial payments, for periods after a member terminates active service and before the member's DROP account is completely distributed, the member's DROP account shall be credited with earnings of the fund as computed under Subsection (d) of this section.

(h) An election by a member concerning single lump-sum or partial payments as provided by Subsection (e) or (f) of this section must satisfy the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the code. All distributions and changes in form of distribution must be made in a manner and at a time that comply with that provision of the code.

(i) The day immediately before the date the DROP participant's election becomes effective is the last day used for purposes of computing and providing service pension benefits under Section 4 of this article or for purposes of computing and providing death benefits under Section 7 of this article. A salary earned or additional years of participation completed after the member's DROP election becomes effective may not be considered in the computation of retirement or death benefits, except for the limited purpose of percentage increases provided under Subsection (a) of this section.

(j) If a DROP participant dies before complete distribution of the member's DROP account has been made, the member's DROP account balance shall be distributed to the member's eligible beneficiaries, determined as follows:

(1) if the member is survived by a spouse who was the member's spouse on the date the member's DROP election became effective and one or more eligible children, one-half of the member's DROP account balance shall be paid to that eligible spouse, and the remaining one-half shall be divided equally among the member's eligible children;

(2) if the member is survived by a spouse described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, but not by an eligible child, the member's entire DROP account balance shall be paid to the surviving spouse;

(3) if the member is survived by one or more eligible children, but not by a spouse described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, the member's DROP account balance shall be divided equally among the eligible children;

(4) if the member is not survived by a spouse described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection or an eligible child, the member's DROP account balance shall be divided equally among the member's eligible parents;

(5) if the member is not survived by a spouse described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, an eligible child, or an eligible parent, the member's DROP account balance shall be distributed in accordance with the member's beneficiary designation filed with the board or, if the member has failed to file a valid beneficiary designation, to the member's estate;

(6) if a member's spouse described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection was not married to the member on the date the member's DROP election became effective, the spouse shall receive a reduced benefit equal to the benefit otherwise payable to the surviving spouse under this subsection, multiplied by the percentage of the period between the member's DROP election and the date the member left active service during which the spouse and the member were married, and the amount by which the spouse's benefit is reduced shall be divided among any other eligible survivors as if the member did not have an eligible spouse or, if there are no eligible survivors, distributed in accordance with the member's beneficiary designation filed with the board, or if the member failed to file a valid beneficiary designation, to the member's estate; and

(7) if the conditions described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (6) of this subsection exist, the surviving spouse may elect to maintain the DROP account with the fund in the same manner described by Subsections (e), (f), and (g) of this section.

(j-1) Only for the purpose of distributing a member's DROP account under Subsection (j) of this section, a person who is designated a beneficiary adult child in a valid beneficiary designation filed by the member with the board is considered an eligible child. A designation under this subsection is distinct from the member's beneficiary designation under Subsection (j)(5) of this section.

(k) An eligible beneficiary's share of a deceased member's DROP account shall be distributed as soon as administratively practicable after the member's death in the form of a single lump-sum payment, unless the surviving spouse makes the election permitted by Subsection (j)(7) of this section. All distributions to beneficiaries under this subsection must be made in a manner and at a time that comply with Section 401(a)(9) of the code.

(l) A member who participates in the DROP is ineligible for disability benefits described by Section 6 of this article, except the benefits described by Section 6(c). If a member who has a disability described by Section 6(c) of this article is a DROP participant, the disability benefit provided by Section 6(c)(1) shall be paid to the member, as a monthly pension benefit, in addition to payments from the DROP account balance. If a member who dies under the conditions described by Section 7(c) of this article is a DROP participant at the time of death or disability resulting in death, the benefit provided by Section 7(c) shall be paid to the member's eligible survivors, as a monthly pension benefit, in addition to payments from the DROP account balance.

(m) A DROP participant with a break in service may receive service credit within DROP for days worked after the regular expiration of the maximum DROP participation period prescribed by this section. The service credit shall be limited to the number of days in which the participant experienced a break in service or the number of days required to constitute 13 years of DROP participation, whichever is smaller. A retired member who previously participated in the DROP and who returns to active service is subject to the terms of this section in effect at the time of the member's return to active service.

(n) After August 31, 2000, the board may set a date after which additional members will not be allowed to elect to participate in the DROP. A member whose election to participate in the DROP becomes effective before a deadline established by the board is entitled to continue participating in the DROP.

(o) A member who has made a DROP election is not classified as retired, eligible to be paid, or eligible to accrue or to receive any benefit that is accrued or received by a member who has terminated active service or by the eligible survivors of deceased members unless the member who has made the DROP election has terminated active service.

(p) A member participating in the DROP who was qualified to make a DROP election before the actual date of the member's election may elect to have the member's DROP account recomputed by participating in a Back-DROP. Under a Back-DROP election, the member's account balance is equal to the amount that the account would have had if the member had elected to participate in the DROP on an earlier date chosen by the member. The Back-DROP date chosen by the member may not be earlier than the later of the date that is three years before the date the member elected to participate in the DROP, or September 1, 1995. The member's choice of a Back-DROP date is irrevocable, except as provided by Subsection (r) of this section.

(q) A member may revoke the member's Back-DROP election by notifying the fund in writing not later than the earlier of:

(1) the date the member leaves active service; or

(2) the 10th business day after the date the member signs an application form for a Back-DROP.

(r) A member may revoke the date chosen under a Back-DROP election and choose an earlier Back-DROP date only if:

(1) the first date the member chooses is not the earliest date permitted under Subsection (p) of this section; and

(2) the board determines that the member's injury or illness has caused the member to be separated from service earlier than the member anticipated.

Sec. 5A. POST-RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN. (a) The following persons may elect to participate in the post-retirement option plan provided by this section:

(1) a member who terminates active service after participating in the DROP and who is eligible to receive a service pension or other taxable benefits under Section 5 of this article;

(2) a retired member, whether or not that member was a DROP participant, who is eligible to receive a service pension or other taxable benefits under Section 4 of this article; or

(3) a surviving spouse of a member who elects and is eligible to participate in the PROP under Subsection (f) of this section.

(b) A PROP participant may elect to have all or part of the amount that the participant would otherwise receive as a monthly service pension or other taxable benefits under this article, less any amount the board determines is required to pay the participant's share of group medical insurance costs, credited to the participant's PROP account. The participant's PROP account shall be credited with hypothetical earnings in the same manner as the amounts in a member's DROP account under Section 5(d) of this article. At any time, a PROP participant may stop the amounts being credited to the participant's PROP account and elect to resume receiving the participant's monthly service pension or other taxable benefits under this article.

(c) A member or surviving spouse who elects to participate in the PROP shall comply with the PROP election process established by the board.

(d) Subject to rules and procedures adopted by the board, a PROP participant may elect to receive partial payments from the participant's PROP account in an amount determined by the participant. The board may establish rules and procedures concerning partial payments, including limitations on timing and frequency of those payments. A PROP participant who elects partial payments may, at any time, elect to receive the PROP participant's entire remaining PROP account balance in a single lump-sum payment. If, at any time after the initial credit to the PROP account, a participant's PROP account balance becomes zero, the account closes and the participant's participation in the PROP ceases. A person whose PROP account has been closed because of a zero balance is not eligible to again participate in the PROP.

(e) An election by a member or surviving spouse to receive a single lump-sum payment or partial payments under Subsection (d) of this section must satisfy the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the code. All distributions and changes in the form of distribution must be made in a manner and at a time that comply with that section of the code.

(f) The board by rule or policy may permit a member's surviving spouse to elect to participate in the PROP by choosing either or both of the following options:

(1) continuing a deceased member's PROP account; or

(2) establishing a PROP account in which to receive credits from all or part of the surviving spouse's survivor benefits.

(g) A surviving spouse PROP participant and the participant's PROP account are subject to this section and any additional rules the board may adopt relating to PROP accounts and participants generally or to surviving spouse PROP accounts and participants particularly. The board may, by rule, further restrict or define, through the establishment of reasonable categories, who is a surviving spouse of a member for purposes of this section.

(h) If a member who is a PROP participant dies before complete distribution of the participant's PROP account has been made, the participant's PROP account balance shall be distributed in the same manner as a DROP account balance is distributed under Sections 5(j), (j-1), and (k) of this article, except for amounts subject to a surviving spouse's election under Subsection (f) of this section that results in the nondistribution from the plan of all or part of the deceased participant's PROP account.

(i) Only benefits that are taxable under the code may be credited to a PROP account. Nontaxable disability benefits or other nontaxable benefits, including the nontaxable part of any benefit, may not be credited to a PROP account.

(j) The board may set a date after which additional members or surviving spouses will not be allowed to elect to participate in the PROP.

(k) The board may set a date after which the crediting of additional benefits of a member or a surviving spouse to a PROP account is not allowed.

(l) The board by rule or policy may limit the number of distribution transactions for all PROP participants or for any category of PROP participants.

(m) The board by rule or policy may establish a minimum dollar amount allowed for crediting of benefit amounts to a PROP account.

(n) The board may adopt rules, policies, or procedures that the board determines are necessary or desirable to implement or administer this section.

(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, on or after the year 2017 effective date:

(1) a PROP participant may not have any additional amounts that the participant would otherwise receive as a monthly service pension or other benefits under this article credited to the participant's PROP account; and

(2) a person, including a member or surviving spouse, may not elect to participate in the PROP.

Sec. 6. DISABILITY PENSION BENEFITS. (a) If the board determines that a member has suffered an on-duty disability, the member is entitled to an on-duty disability pension as provided by this section in lieu of any other benefit under this article.

(b) If the board determines that a member is not capable of performing the usual and customary duties of the member's classification or position because of the member's on-duty disability, the member is entitled to receive a monthly disability pension, beginning after the effective date of the member's termination of active service, in an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) 50 percent of the member's average monthly salary; or

(2) the service pension the member would have been entitled to receive under Section 4 of this article based on years of participation as of the effective date of the member's termination of active service.

(c) If the board determines that a member is not capable of performing any substantial gainful activity because of the member's on-duty disability, the member is entitled to receive a monthly disability pension, beginning after the effective date of the member's termination of active service, in an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) 75 percent of the member's average monthly salary; or

(2) the service pension the member would have been entitled to receive under Section 4 of this article based on years of participation on the effective date of the member's termination of active service.

(d) If a full-time active member with at least six years of service becomes disabled or dies from heart or lung disease or cancer, and the member successfully passed a physical examination before the claimed disability or death or on beginning employment as a firefighter, and the examination failed to reveal any evidence of the heart or lung disease or cancer, that condition will be presumed to have caused an on-duty disability for purposes of determining eligibility for disability benefits under this section, and the amount of the disability benefit is presumed to constitute, unless the presumption is rebutted, the pension amount that shall be used to determine the death benefit payable with respect to that member. The on-duty disability presumption may be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence. Another statutory presumption regarding the cause of illnesses or conditions does not affect any benefit payable under this article.

(e) If the board determines that a member is not capable of performing the usual and customary duties of the member's classification or position because of the member's off-duty disability, the member is entitled to an off-duty disability pension in lieu of any other benefit under this article. If the board makes that determination, the member is entitled to receive a monthly disability pension, beginning after the effective date of the member's termination of active service, in an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) 25 percent of the member's average monthly salary, plus 2-1/2 percent of the member's average monthly salary for each full year of participation in the fund, except that the total monthly disability pension under this subdivision may not exceed 50 percent of the member's average monthly salary; or

(f) A member is not eligible for an on-duty or off-duty disability pension as provided by this section if the member's on-duty or off-duty disability is a direct and proximate result of a condition that existed on the date the member began membership in the fund. In that event, if the member is not eligible to receive a service pension under Section 4 of this article, the member may elect any deferred pension or refund of contributions for which the member is eligible under Section 8 of this article. A member has a preexisting condition under this subsection if the board determines that the member had:

(1) symptoms that would cause an ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care, or treatment during the five-year period before the effective date of the member's membership in the fund; or

(2) a condition for which medical advice or treatment was recommended by or received from a physician during the five-year period before the effective date of the member's membership in the fund.

(g) The board shall review, on a case-by-case basis, existing benefit payments to members, and to survivors of deceased members, who retired as a result of a disability with 20 or more years of service under a provision of any predecessor statute previously governing the fund. The review will determine whether the member's disability was an on-duty disability that satisfies the requirements of Subsection (b) or (c) of this section. A determination that a member's disability was an on-duty disability, as described above, will apply only on a prospective basis beginning with January 1 of the calendar year in which the determination is made and will not affect the amount of the member's or survivor's benefits. The board shall make its review and determination under this subsection on the basis of the medical evidence and any other relevant non-testimonial evidence that was previously submitted in connection with the prior application for benefits, except that if the board finds that the historical file is insufficient to make the determination, supplemental evidence of a probative nature may be adduced and accepted to help make the determination.

(h) A person may not receive an on-duty or off-duty disability pension from the fund unless the person or the person's legal representative files with the board an application for disability benefits, in the form approved by the board, and certificates of the member's disability signed and sworn to by the member and the member's physician or by a physician selected by the board. The board may require other or additional evidence of disability before authorizing payment of disability pension benefits.

(i) The board shall make all determinations concerning benefits under this section in accordance with uniform principles consistently applied on the basis of medical or other evidence that the board determines is necessary or desirable.

Sec. 7. DEATH BENEFITS. (a) If a member dies who is eligible to receive a service pension under Section 4 of this article, a disability pension under Section 6 of this article, or a deferred pension under Section 8(a) of this article, or who is receiving those benefits, the member's eligible survivors are entitled to death benefits as follows:

(1) if the member is survived by both an eligible spouse and one or more eligible children, the eligible spouse is entitled to receive a monthly death benefit equal to one-half of the amount the member would have been entitled to receive, and the surviving eligible children are entitled to receive a monthly death benefit equal to the remainder of the amount the member would have been entitled to receive, divided equally among the eligible children;

(2) if the member is not survived by an eligible child, or if at any time after the death of the member an eligible child is not entitled to a benefit, the monthly death benefit to be paid the eligible spouse is equal to the full amount the member would have been entitled to receive;

(3) if the member is not survived by an eligible spouse, or if the member's eligible spouse dies after being entitled to a death benefit under this section, the surviving eligible children are entitled to receive a monthly death benefit equal to the full monthly pension benefit the member would have been entitled to receive, divided equally among the member's eligible children then living; and

(4) if the member is not survived by an eligible spouse or an eligible child, a monthly death benefit equal to the full monthly pension benefit the member would have been entitled to receive shall be divided among the eligible parents of the deceased member.

(b) If a member's eligible spouse was married to the member for less than five years and was not married to the member at the time the member left active service, the eligible spouse shall be paid a reduced benefit equal to the benefit otherwise payable to the eligible spouse under this section, multiplied by the number of months the eligible spouse was married to the member, and divided by 60 months. Any benefit the eligible spouse may be granted under Section 10A of this article shall be reduced in the same proportion as the reduced benefit provided by this subsection. The amount by which the eligible spouse's benefit is reduced shall be divided among any other eligible survivors as if the member did not have an eligible spouse. This subsection may not be construed to effect any reduction to an eligible spouse of benefits otherwise payable under Section 4(d) of this article.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a member dies in the course of the performance of the member's duties as a firefighter or suffers an on-duty disability and dies as a result of the bodily injuries that caused the on-duty disability, death benefits based on the member's service shall be computed on the basis of a benefit equal to 100 percent of the deceased member's average monthly salary.

(d) If a member dies after benefit payments have begun or at a time the member could have terminated active service and elected to receive a service pension or deferred pension immediately, the death benefits payable under this section shall begin or continue effective as of the member's date of death. If a member who is not entitled to receive any monthly pension benefit under this article other than a deferred pension under Section 8(a) of this article dies before age 50, any monthly death benefits payable under this section shall begin on the date the deceased member would have reached age 50.

(e) In addition to the monthly death benefit provided under Subsection (a) of this section, if an active member or a member receiving a service pension under Section 4 of this article or a disability pension under Section 6 of this article dies on or after July 1, 1998, the member's eligible survivors are entitled to a one-time $5,000 death benefit, payable as a lump sum as follows:

(1) if the member is survived by an eligible spouse, the eligible spouse is entitled to receive $5,000;

(2) if the member is not survived by an eligible spouse, the member's eligible children are entitled to receive $5,000, divided equally among those children;

(3) if the member is not survived by an eligible spouse or an eligible child, the $5,000 death benefit shall be divided equally among the eligible parents of the deceased member; or

(4) if the member is not survived by an eligible spouse, an eligible child, or an eligible parent, the $5,000 death benefit shall be paid to the deceased member's estate or to the member's court-approved small estate through its legal representative.

(f) A member in active service who dies, for purposes of Subsection (a) of this section, shall be treated as having become disabled because of the member's cause of death on the date of the member's death.

(g) If a member in active service dies and does not leave an eligible survivor, or the eligible survivors unanimously elect such a benefit in lieu of any other death benefit, a lump-sum benefit shall be paid in an amount equal to the refund, if any, to which the member would have been entitled under Section 8 of this article had the member terminated service on the date of the member's death. That lump-sum benefit shall be paid to the eligible survivors as provided by Subsection (a) of this section or, if there are not any eligible survivors, to the member's designated beneficiary. A member's beneficiary must be designated before the member's death on a form approved by the board. If more than one beneficiary is designated, the benefit shall be divided equally among the beneficiaries unless a different allocation is provided in the designation. If a member fails to properly designate a beneficiary, the benefit provided by this subsection shall be payable to the member's estate or to the member's court-approved small estate through its legal representative on application by the estate or legal representative. Money payable under this subsection may not escheat to the state.

(h) Death benefits are not payable under this article, including benefits to any survivor, based on a member's service if the board determines that the member's death resulted from suicide or attempted suicide that occurred before the member completed two years of participation or that the member's death resulted from a disability arising out of an attempted suicide that occurred before the member completed two years of participation.

(i) A benefit payable under this section to a member's eligible child ceases when the child ceases to be an eligible child.

(j) An eligible spouse is entitled to receive or continue to receive survivor benefits on remarriage, except that a person who is an eligible spouse of more than one member is entitled to receive survivor benefits as the eligible spouse of only the member whose survivor benefits provide the highest benefit to that eligible spouse.

Sec. 8. DEFERRED PENSION AT AGE 50; REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) On or after the year 2017 effective date, a member who is hired as a firefighter before the year 2017 effective date, including a member who was hired before the year 2017 effective date and who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated in accordance with an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling, terminates active service for any reason other than death with at least 10 years of participation, but less than 20 years of participation, is entitled to a monthly deferred pension benefit, beginning at age 50, in an amount equal to 1.7 percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the amount of the member's years of participation.

(b) In lieu of the deferred pension benefit provided under Subsection (a) of this section, a member who terminates active service for any reason other than death with at least 10 years of participation, but less than 20 years of participation, may elect to receive a lump-sum refund of the member's contributions to the fund with interest computed at five percent, not compounded, for the member's contributions to the fund made before the year 2017 effective date and without interest for the member's contributions to the fund made on or after the year 2017 effective date. A member's election to receive a refund of contributions must be made on a form approved by the board. The member's refund shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable after the member's election is received.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (a) of this section, a member who is hired or rehired as a firefighter on or after the year 2017 effective date or a member who terminates employment for any reason other than death before the member has completed 10 years of participation is entitled only to a refund of the member's contributions without interest and is not entitled to a deferred pension benefit under this section or to any other benefit under this article. The member's refund shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable after the effective date of the member's termination of active service.

Sec. 9. PROOF OF CONTINUED DISABILITY. (a) The board may at any time require a person receiving a disability pension or receiving death benefits as a disabled child under this article to undergo a medical examination by a physician appointed or selected by the board for that purpose.

(b) A person retired for disability under Section 6(c) of this article or a person receiving death benefits as a disabled child under Section 7 of this article must file an annual report of employment activities and earnings with the board. The board shall establish the form of the report and the time for filing the report.

(c) The result of the examination, the report by the physician, and the report of employment activities and earnings shall be considered by the board in determining whether the relief in the case shall be continued, increased if less than the maximum provided, decreased, or discontinued. The board may reduce or entirely discontinue all benefits to a person receiving benefits under this article who, after notice from the board, fails to appear for a required medical examination or fails to file the report of employment activities and earnings.

Sec. 10. NONSTATUTORY BENEFIT INCREASES. The benefits provided by this article may be increased if:

(1) an actuary selected by the board who, if an individual, is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice, or a member of the American Academy of Actuaries determines that the increase cannot reasonably be viewed as posing a material risk of jeopardizing the fund's ability to pay any existing benefit;

(2) a majority of the participating members of the fund vote for the increase by a secret ballot;

(3) the increase does not deprive a member, without the member's written consent, of a right to receive benefits that have already become fully vested and matured in a member; and

(4) the State Pension Review Board approves the determination by the actuary selected by the board that the increase cannot reasonably be viewed as posing a material risk of jeopardizing the fund's ability to pay any existing benefit.

Sec. 10A. ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT FOR CERTAIN RETIRED MEMBERS AND ELIGIBLE SURVIVORS. (a) The board shall pay supplemental benefits under this section to retired members and eligible survivors who are receiving retirement or survivor benefits on June 30 of the year preceding the year in which the supplemental benefits are to be paid. Deferred retirees or survivors of deferred retirees may not receive supplemental benefits under this section.

(b) The board shall pay the supplemental benefits under this section each January.

(c) For purposes of this section, the minimum income level is the federal poverty guideline for a family of five as issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, rounded up to the nearest $1,000.

(d) The aggregate supplemental benefit amount is $5 million.

(e) Based on the aggregate supplemental benefit amount under Subsection (d) of this section, the board shall determine the amount of a lump-sum payment for each retired member or eligible survivor.

(f) In determining the lump-sum payment amount, the total number of years since the commencement date of each retired member's or eligible survivor's annual retirement or survivor benefit shall be divided by the total number of years since the commencement date of all retired members' and eligible survivors' annual retirement or survivor benefit to establish a payment percentage for each retired member and eligible survivor. For purposes of this section, benefits provided under Section 4(d) of this article may not be included in a retired member's or eligible survivor's annual retirement or survivor benefit.

(g) The payment percentage of each retired member and eligible survivor shall be multiplied by the aggregate supplemental benefit less the total amount of any payments made under Subsection (i) of this section.

(h) The product of the computation under Subsection (g) of this section determines the lump-sum payment to the retired member or eligible survivor unless the lump-sum payment plus the annual retirement benefit is less than the minimum income level under Subsection (c).

(i) If the lump-sum payment plus the annual retirement benefit is less than the minimum income level under Subsection (c) of this section, the retired member or eligible survivor is entitled to receive an additional payment from the amount determined under Subsection (d) of this section that will cause payments to the recipient to meet but not exceed the minimum income level.

(j) The benefits commencement date for a retired member or the eligible survivor of a retired member is the first day on which the retired member most recently began receiving pension benefits from the fund. The benefits commencement date for an eligible survivor of an active member is the first day of receipt of benefits as an eligible survivor.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if more than one eligible survivor is to receive a supplemental benefit as a result of one deceased person under this section:

(1) only one eligible survivor is considered in computations under this section other than computations under Subdivision (2) of this subsection and as receiving the payments received by all eligible survivors of the one deceased person; and

(2) the amount of payments under this section will be paid to the eligible survivors in the same manner as payments under Sections 7(a) and (b) of this article are made.

(l) All actuarial determinations required under this section must be made by the fund's actuary.

Sec. 10B. ADDITIONAL LUMP-SUM RETIREMENT OR DEATH BENEFIT. (a) The board shall pay the following members a $5,000 lump-sum payment from the fund, in addition to any other benefits, as soon as administratively practicable after the date of the member's retirement:

(1) each member who retires or retired after completing 20 years of service and is eligible to receive service pension benefits under Section 4 of this article; and

(2) each member who retires or retired and is eligible to receive disability benefits under Section 6 of this article.

(b) The board shall pay a $5,000 lump-sum payment from the fund, in addition to any other benefits, to an eligible survivor of a member:

(1) who had not terminated active service; and

(2) who was eligible to receive service pension benefits under Section 4 of this article or disability benefits under Section 6 of this article.

(c) If more than one eligible survivor of one deceased member exists, the amount of each survivor's benefit is determined in the same manner as payment of death benefits is determined under Section 7(e) of this article. The board shall make payments under Subsection (b) of this section as soon as administratively practicable after the date of death of the member of whom each recipient is an eligible survivor.

Sec. 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR CALCULATION AND PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. (a) A member, eligible survivor, or beneficiary of a member is not entitled to receive payments from a fund under more than one section of this article in a particular capacity. However, a person may be entitled to benefits both as a member and as a survivor or beneficiary of another member.

(b) The amounts of all benefits that the member or the member's beneficiaries may become entitled to receive from the fund shall be computed on the basis of the schedule of benefits in effect for the fund at the member's election either on the day the member leaves active service or on the day the member ceases to carry out the member's regular duties as a firefighter, without adjustment for any subsequent increases of benefits unless those increases are expressly made applicable to previously retired members or their beneficiaries.

(c) Subject to Subsection (c-3) of this section and except as provided by Subsection (c-4) of this section, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the benefits, including survivor benefits, payable based on the service of a member who has terminated active service and who is or would have been at least 55 years old, received or is receiving an on-duty disability pension under Section 6(c) of this article, or died under the conditions described by Section 7(c) of this article, shall be increased in October of each year by a percentage rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the fund actuary, minus 475 basis points.

(c-1) Subject to Subsection (c-3) of this section and except as provided by Subsection (c-4) of this section, for the fund's fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2019, the benefits, including survivor benefits, payable based on the service of a member who is or would have been at least 70 years old and who received or is receiving a service pension under Section 4 of this article, received or is receiving an on-duty disability pension under Section 6(c) of this article, or died under the conditions described by Section 7(c) of this article, shall be adjusted in October of each applicable fiscal year by a percentage rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the fund actuary, minus 500 basis points.

(c-2) Subject to Subsection (c-3) of this section and except as provided by Subsection (c-4) of this section, for the fund's fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, members described by Subsection (c-1) of this section shall receive the increase provided under Subsection (c) of this section.

(c-3) The percentage rate prescribed by Subsections (c), (c-1), and (c-2) of this section may not be less than zero percent or more than four percent, irrespective of the return rate of the fund's investment portfolio.

(c-4) Each year after the year 2017 effective date, a member who elects to participate in the DROP under Section 5 of this article may not receive the increase provided under Subsection (c), (c-1), or (c-2) of this section in any October during which the member participates in the DROP.

(d) In computing a member's years of participation, time served in the armed forces of the nation during war or national emergency is considered continuous service. Except for that military service, credit for prior service shall be given only if a member returns to active service as a firefighter before the fifth anniversary of a previous effective date of termination. Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, contributions, benefits, and service credit with respect to qualified military service shall be provided in accordance with Section 414(u) of the code. A member who is engaged in active duty in any of the military services of the United States shall receive credited pension service for the period of the military service if the member returns to employment with the employer municipality's fire department with an honorable discharge within the period required by the federal reemployment Act and the period of military service does not exceed the period prescribed by that Act. If a member sustains an injury while on military leave under the terms of the federal reemployment Act, pension benefits are payable based on the off-duty disability benefit provisions prescribed by Section 6(e) of this article. If a member dies while on military leave under the terms of the federal reemployment Act, death benefits are payable to eligible survivors based on the off-duty death benefits prescribed by Section 7 of this article. This subsection is intended to comply with the federal reemployment Act. The board may make, maintain, and amend policies and procedures as desirable or necessary to implement the federal reemployment Act. In this subsection, "federal reemployment Act" means the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq.), as amended.

(e) A retired firefighter may be recalled to duty by the chief of the fire department in case of great conflagration and shall perform those duties the chief directs but does not have a claim against a municipality or the fund of that municipality for payment for the duty performed.

(f) A member, eligible survivor, or beneficiary who is entitled to receive a benefit payment under this article is entitled to receive the benefit beginning after the date the member ceases to carry out the member's regular duties as a firefighter, notwithstanding the fact that the member may remain on the payroll of the member's fire department or receive sick leave, vacation, or other pay after the effective date of termination of the member's regular duties as a firefighter. In this article, an authorization to receive a benefit "beginning after the effective date of the member's termination of active service" includes authority for the member to instead elect to make the member's pension effective after the date the member ceases to carry out the member's regular duties as a firefighter. If there is a delay in beginning payment of benefits resulting from the requirements of Section 6(h) of this article for disability pensions, the member or beneficiary shall, when the disability pension is approved by the board, be paid the full amount of the disability pension that has accrued since the effective date of termination of the member's regular duties as a firefighter.

(g) A member may designate in a trust document accepted by the fund a trustee to receive the benefit payable to any eligible survivor or beneficiary other than the member's eligible spouse or a spouse eligible to receive a benefit under the DROP. On or after the death or incapacity of the member, an eligible survivor or beneficiary may designate a trustee under this subsection. If the eligible survivor or beneficiary is disabled or a minor child, the parent or legal guardian, as applicable, of the eligible survivor or beneficiary may make the designation. Any designation made under this subsection must be made on a form approved by the board.

(h) A benefit payable under this article to a minor or another person under a legal disability may be made only to the legal guardian of the person, or as provided by Subsection (g) of this section. A payment made in accordance with this section on behalf of a minor or other person under a legal disability fully discharges the fund's obligation to that person.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a person entitled to receive benefit payments from the fund may:

(1) make a one-time election to receive a smaller pension or survivor benefit than is otherwise provided under this article;

(2) make a one-time election not to receive any future annual increases in the pension or survivor benefits received by the person or the person's beneficiary; or

(3) make a one-time election not to receive a specific benefit enhancement.

(j) An election under Subsection (i) of this section must be made in writing and submitted to the board for approval. On the date the board grants approval of an election under Subsection (i) of this section, the election becomes irrevocable.

(k) A benefit under this article may not be integrated with benefits payable under the federal Social Security Act. In a municipality in which firefighters are eligible to enroll for or receive retirement benefits under the Social Security Act, benefits that may be available to a member under the Social Security Act may not be taken into account in determining the amount of benefits a member may receive under this article.

(l) If the board determines that the amount in the fund is insufficient to pay in full any pension or disability benefits, all pension and disability benefits made after the date of the determination shall be reduced pro rata for the period the insufficiency exists.

(m) A benefit payable under this article because of the death of a member or eligible beneficiary may not be paid to a person convicted of causing that death but instead shall be paid as if the convicted person predeceased the deceased member or beneficiary. Except as otherwise permitted by this subsection with respect to suspension of benefits, the board is not required to withhold payment to a person convicted of causing the death of a member or eligible beneficiary until the board receives actual notice of the conviction of that person. The board may suspend payment of a benefit payable on the death of a member or an eligible beneficiary on the indictment of the person who would otherwise be entitled to the benefit, and the suspension remains in effect until the board determines that a final disposition of the charges relating to the cause of death has occurred. If a benefit payment is suspended under this subsection and the person is not convicted, the benefit again becomes payable with interest computed at the rate earned by the fund during the time the benefit payment was suspended. For purposes of this subsection, a person has been convicted of causing the death of a member or eligible beneficiary if:

(1) the person has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or the person has been found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of, an offense at the trial of which it is established that the person's intentional or knowing act or omission caused the death of the member or eligible beneficiary, regardless of whether sentence is imposed or probated; and

(2) an appeal of the conviction is not pending, and the time provided for appeal has expired.

(n) If one or more persons have been given a power of attorney effective to direct distribution of benefits to any person eligible to receive benefits under this article and the fund receives conflicting directions as to those distributions, the fund may withhold benefits until either the final result of judicial proceedings determining which directive prevails or the fund receives a signed agreement between attorneys-in-fact, and principals, if applicable, on distribution directives that completely resolves the conflict. The fund may not be made a party to any proceeding or suit concerning or involving the distribution of benefits under conflicting directives.

(o) The fund may offset amounts received wrongly or in error from the fund by any person receiving benefit payments under this article by making deductions from future benefit payments otherwise payable to the person or the person's beneficiaries. Deductions from future payments for an overpayment may be made only for an overpayment made during the three years preceding the date the board discovers or discovered the overpayment. The board may not recover an overpayment from a recipient if the overpayment was made more than three years before the date the board discovers or discovered the error. The limitation provided by this section does not apply to an overpayment that a reasonable person should know the person is not entitled to receive. The remedy provided by this subsection is not exclusive of any other remedy available to the fund.

Sec. 12. APPEALS OF BENEFIT DECISIONS. (a) A member who is eligible for retirement for length of service or disability or who has a claim for temporary disability, or any of the member's beneficiaries, who is aggrieved by a decision or order of the board, whether on the basis of rejection of a claim or of the amount allowed, may appeal from the decision or order of the board to a district court in the county in which the board is located by giving written notice of the intention to appeal. The notice must contain a statement of the intention to appeal, together with a brief statement of the grounds and reasons the party feels aggrieved. The notice must be served personally on an officer of the board not later than the 20th day after the date of the order or decision. After service of the notice, the party appealing shall file with the district court a copy of the notice of intention to appeal, together with the affidavit of the party making service showing how, when, and on whom the notice was served.

(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date of service of the notice of intention to appeal on the board, an officer of the board shall file with the district court a transcript of all papers and proceedings in the case before the board. When the copy of the notice of intention to appeal and the transcript have been filed with the court, the appeal is considered perfected, and the court shall docket the appeal, assign the appeal a number, fix a date for hearing the appeal, and notify both the appellant and the board of the date fixed for the hearing.

(c) At any time before issuing a decision on the appeal, the court may require further or additional proof or information, either documentary or under oath. On issuing a decision on the appeal, the court shall give to each party to the appeal a copy of the decision and shall direct the board as to the disposition of the case. The final decision or order of the district court is appealable in the same manner as are civil cases generally.

Sec. 13. MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Each person who becomes a firefighter before age 36 becomes a member of the fund if the person's application for membership is accepted by the board. In accepting employment as a firefighter, and on becoming a member of the fund, a firefighter agrees to make contributions required under this article of members of the fund who are in active service and is entitled to participate in the benefits of membership in the fund as provided by this article.

(b) At the time that physical examinations are administered on behalf of the municipality, each applicant must be provided written notice that a copy of the results of the examination will be forwarded to the board for the purpose of determining whether the applicant has a preexisting condition that would be relevant to any determination under Section 6 of this article. Not later than the 10th day after the date of a physical examination performed on an applicant for a beginning position in the fire department as required by Section 143.022, Local Government Code, the municipality shall provide to the board a copy of all documents resulting from the physical examination. The board may require additional physical examinations if necessary in determining the presence or absence of any preexisting condition. The fund shall pay the cost of any additional physical examination the board requires. The applicant's membership in the fund is effective on acceptance by the board.

(c) Subject to adjustments authorized by Section 13E or 13F of this article, each member in active service shall make contributions to the fund in an amount equal to 10.5 percent of the member's salary at the time of the contribution.

(c-1) In addition to the contribution under Subsection (c) of this section, each DROP participant, as identified by the fund to the municipality for purposes of this subsection, shall contribute to the fund an amount equal to 100 percent of the participant's unused leave pay that would otherwise be payable to the member. The fund shall credit any unused leave pay amount contributed by a DROP participant to the participant's DROP account.

(c-2) The governing body of the municipality shall deduct from the salary of each member the contribution required by this section and shall forward the contributions to the fund as soon as practicable.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.16, eff. July 1, 2017.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.16, eff. July 1, 2017.

(f) Money deducted from salaries or compensation as provided by this section and the payments and contributions provided by this section become a part of the fund of the municipality in which the contributing member serves at the time of the contribution. In accordance with Section 14(c) of this article, contributions under any qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement do not become part of the trust fund assets of the fund.

(g) On action of its governing body, a municipality may pick up members' contributions prescribed under Subsection (c) of this section for purposes of Section 414(h)(2) of the code. A member's salary is affected by this subsection only as this subsection relates to the computation of pension contributions and gross pay for federal tax purposes. The computation of pension benefits, severance pay, and other benefits is not affected.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 13.

Sec. 13A. MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Beginning with the year 2017 effective date, the municipality shall make contributions to the fund as provided by this section and Section 13B, 13C, 13E, or 13F of this article, as applicable. The municipality shall contribute:

(1) beginning with the year 2017 effective date and ending with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, an amount equal to the municipal contribution rate, as determined in the initial risk sharing valuation study conducted under Section 13C of this article and adjusted under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as applicable, multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the fiscal year; and

(2) for each fiscal year after the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, an amount equal to the municipal contribution rate, as determined in a subsequent risk sharing valuation study conducted under Section 13B of this article and adjusted under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as applicable, multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the applicable fiscal year.

(b) Except by written agreement between the municipality and the board providing for an earlier contribution date, at least biweekly, the municipality shall make the contributions required by Subsection (a) of this section by depositing with the fund an amount equal to the municipal contribution rate multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the applicable biweekly period.

(1) the first contribution by the municipality under this section for the fiscal year shall be made not later than the date payment is made to firefighters for their first full biweekly pay period beginning on or after the first day of the fiscal year; and

(2) the final contribution by the municipality under this section for the fiscal year shall be made not later than the date payment is made to firefighters for the final biweekly pay period of the fiscal year.

(d) In addition to the amounts required under this section, the municipality may at any time contribute additional amounts for deposit in the fund by entering into a written agreement with the board.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the municipality may not issue a pension obligation bond to fund the municipal contribution rate under this section.

Sec. 13B. RISK SHARING VALUATION STUDIES. (a) The fund and the municipality shall separately cause their respective actuaries to prepare a risk sharing valuation study in accordance with this section and actuarial standards of practice. A risk sharing valuation study must:

(1) be dated as of the first day of the fiscal year in which the study is required to be prepared;

(2) be included in the fund's standard valuation study prepared annually for the fund;

(3) calculate the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund;

(4) be based on actuarial data provided by the fund actuary or, if actuarial data is not provided, on estimates of actuarial data;

(5) estimate the municipal contribution rate, taking into account any adjustments required under Section 13E or 13F of this article for all applicable prior fiscal years;

(6) subject to Subsection (g) of this section, be based on the following assumptions and methods that are consistent with actuarial standards of practice:

(A) an ultimate entry age normal actuarial method;

(B) for purposes of determining the actuarial value of assets:

(i) except as provided by Subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and Section 13E(c)(1) or 13F(c)(2) of this article, an asset smoothing method recognizing actuarial losses and gains over a five-year period applied prospectively beginning on the year 2017 effective date; and

(ii) for the initial risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13C of this article, a marked-to-market method applied as of June 30, 2016;

(C) closed layered amortization of liability layers to ensure that the amortization period for each layer begins 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability layer is first recognized;

(D) each liability layer is assigned an amortization period;

(E) each liability loss layer amortized over a period of 30 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability loss layer is first recognized, except that the legacy liability must be amortized from July 1, 2016, for a 30-year period beginning July 1, 2017;

(F) the amortization period for each liability gain layer being:

(i) equal to the remaining amortization period on the largest remaining liability loss layer and the two layers must be treated as one layer such that if the payoff year of the liability loss layer is accelerated or extended, the payoff year of the liability gain layer is also accelerated or extended; or

(ii) if there is no liability loss layer, a period of 30 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability gain layer is first recognized;

(G) liability layers, including the legacy liability, funded according to the level percent of payroll method;

(H) the assumed rate of return, subject to adjustment under Section 13E(c)(2) of this article or, if Section 13C(g) of this article applies, adjustment in accordance with a written agreement, except the assumed rate of return may not exceed seven percent per annum;

(I) the price inflation assumption as of the most recent actuarial experience study, which may be reset by the board by plus or minus 50 basis points based on that actuarial experience study;

(J) projected salary increases and payroll growth rate set in consultation with the municipality's finance director; and

(K) payroll for purposes of determining the corridor midpoint and municipal contribution rate must be projected using the annual payroll growth rate assumption, which for purposes of preparing any amortization schedule may not exceed three percent; and

(7) be revised and restated, if appropriate, not later than:

(A) the date required by a written agreement entered into between the municipality and the board; or

(B) the 30th day after the date required action is taken by the board under Section 13E or 13F of this article to reflect any changes required by either section.

(b) As soon as practicable after the end of a fiscal year, the fund actuary at the direction of the fund and the municipal actuary at the direction of the municipality shall separately prepare a proposed risk sharing valuation study based on the fiscal year that just ended.

(c) Not later than September 30 following the end of the fiscal year, the fund shall provide to the municipal actuary, under a confidentiality agreement in which the municipal actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Section 17 of this article, the actuarial data described by Subsection (a)(4) of this section.

(d) Not later than the 150th day after the last day of the fiscal year:

(1) the fund actuary, at the direction of the fund, shall provide the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the fund actuary under Subsection (b) of this section to the municipal actuary; and

(2) the municipal actuary, at the direction of the municipality, shall provide the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the municipal actuary under Subsection (b) of this section to the fund actuary.

(e) Each actuary described by Subsection (d) of this section may provide copies of the proposed risk sharing valuation studies to the municipality or to the fund, as appropriate.

(f) If, after exchanging proposed risk sharing valuation studies under Subsection (d) of this section, it is found that the difference between the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended in the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the fund actuary and the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended in the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the municipal actuary for the corresponding fiscal year is:

(1) less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended by the fund actuary will be the estimated municipal contribution rate for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section, and the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared for the fund is considered to be the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for the purposes of this article; or

(2) greater than two percentage points, the municipal actuary and the fund actuary shall have 20 business days to reconcile the difference, provided that, without the mutual agreement of both actuaries, the difference in the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended by the municipal actuary and the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended by the fund actuary may not be further increased and:

(A) if, as a result of reconciliation efforts under this subdivision, the difference is reduced to less than or equal to two percentage points:

(i) subject to any adjustments under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as applicable, the estimated municipal contribution rate proposed under the reconciliation by the fund actuary will be the estimated municipal contribution rate for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section; and

(ii) the fund's risk sharing valuation study is considered to be the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for the purposes of this article; or

(B) if, after 20 business days, the fund actuary and the municipal actuary are not able to reach a reconciliation that reduces the difference to an amount less than or equal to two percentage points, subject to any adjustments under Section 13E or 13F of this article, as applicable:

(i) the municipal actuary at the direction of the municipality and the fund actuary at the direction of the fund each shall deliver to the finance director of the municipality and the executive director of the fund a final risk sharing valuation study with any agreed-to changes, marked as the final risk sharing valuation study for each actuary; and

(ii) not later than the 90th day before the first day of the next fiscal year, the finance director and the executive director shall execute a joint addendum to the final risk sharing valuation study received under Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph that is a part of the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for all purposes and reflects the arithmetic average of the estimated municipal contribution rates for the fiscal year stated by the municipal actuary and the fund actuary in the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section.

(g) The assumptions and methods used and the types of actuarial data and financial information used to prepare the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 13C of this article shall be used to prepare each subsequent risk sharing valuation study under this section, unless changed based on the actuarial experience study conducted under Section 13D of this article.

(h) The actuarial data provided under Subsection (a)(4) of this section may not include the identifying information of individual members.

Sec. 13C. INITIAL RISK SHARING VALUATION STUDIES; CORRIDOR MIDPOINT. (a) The fund and the municipality shall separately cause their respective actuaries to prepare an initial risk sharing valuation study that is dated as of July 1, 2016, in accordance with this section. An initial risk sharing valuation study must:

(1) except as otherwise provided by this section, be prepared in accordance with Section 13B of this article and, for purposes of Section 13B(a)(4) of this article, be based on actuarial data as of June 30, 2016, or, if actuarial data is not provided, on estimates of actuarial data; and

(2) project the corridor midpoint for 31 fiscal years beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.

(b) If the initial risk sharing valuation study has not been prepared consistent with this section before the year 2017 effective date, as soon as practicable after the year 2017 effective date:

(1) the fund shall provide to the municipal actuary, under a confidentiality agreement, the necessary actuarial data used by the fund actuary to prepare the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study; and

(2) not later than the 30th day after the date the municipal actuary receives the actuarial data:

(A) the municipal actuary, at the direction of the municipality, shall provide a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study to the fund actuary; and

(B) the fund actuary, at the direction of the fund, shall provide a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study to the municipal actuary.

(c) If, after exchanging proposed initial risk sharing valuation studies under Subsection (b)(2) of this section, it is determined that the difference between the estimated municipal contribution rate for any fiscal year recommended in the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the fund actuary and the estimated municipal contribution rate for any fiscal year recommended in the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the municipal actuary is:

(1) less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated municipal contribution rate for that fiscal year recommended by the fund actuary will be the estimated municipal contribution rate for purposes of Section 13B(a)(5) of this article; or

(2) greater than two percentage points, the municipal actuary and the fund actuary shall have 20 business days to reconcile the difference and:

(A) if, as a result of reconciliation efforts under this subdivision, the difference in any fiscal year is reduced to less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated municipal contribution rate recommended by the fund actuary for that fiscal year will be the estimated municipal contribution rate for purposes of Section 13B(a)(5) of this article; or

(B) if, after 20 business days, the municipal actuary and the fund actuary are not able to reach a reconciliation that reduces the difference to an amount less than or equal to two percentage points for any fiscal year:

(i) the municipal actuary at the direction of the municipality and the fund actuary at the direction of the fund each shall deliver to the finance director of the municipality and the executive director of the fund a final initial risk sharing valuation study with any agreed-to changes, marked as the final initial risk sharing valuation study for each actuary; and

(ii) the finance director and the executive director shall execute a joint addendum to the final initial risk sharing valuation study that is a part of each final initial risk sharing valuation study for all purposes and that reflects the arithmetic average of the estimated municipal contribution rate for each fiscal year in which the difference was greater than two percentage points for purposes of Section 13B(a)(5) of this article.

(d) In preparing the initial risk sharing valuation study, the municipal actuary and fund actuary shall:

(1) adjust the actuarial value of assets to be equal to the market value of assets as of July 1, 2016; and

(2) assume benefit and contribution changes under this article as of the year 2017 effective date.

(e) If the municipal actuary does not prepare an initial risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this section, the fund actuary's initial risk sharing valuation study will be used as the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this article unless the municipality did not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study because the fund actuary did not provide the necessary actuarial data in a timely manner. If the municipality did not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study because the fund actuary did not provide the necessary actuarial data in a timely manner, the municipal actuary shall have 60 days to prepare the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study on receipt of the necessary information.

(f) If the fund actuary does not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this section, the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the municipal actuary will be the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this article.

(g) The municipality and the board may agree on a written transition plan for resetting the corridor midpoint:

(1) if at any time the funded ratio is equal to or greater than 100 percent; or

(2) for any fiscal year after the payoff year of the legacy liability.

(h) If the municipality and the board have not entered into an agreement described by Subsection (g) of this section in a given fiscal year, the corridor midpoint will be the corridor midpoint determined for the 31st fiscal year in the initial risk sharing valuation study prepared in accordance with this section.

(i) If the municipality makes a contribution to the fund of at least $5 million more than the amount that would be required by Section 13A(a) of this article, a liability gain layer with the same remaining amortization period as the legacy liability is created and the corridor midpoint shall be decreased by the amortized amount in each fiscal year covered by the liability gain layer produced divided by the projected pensionable payroll.

Sec. 13D. ACTUARIAL EXPERIENCE STUDIES. (a) At least once every four years, the fund actuary at the direction of the fund shall conduct an actuarial experience study in accordance with actuarial standards of practice. The actuarial experience study required by this subsection must be completed not later than September 30 of the year in which the study is required to be conducted.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided by Sections 13B(a)(6)(A)-(I) of this article, actuarial assumptions and methods used in the preparation of a risk sharing valuation study, other than the initial risk sharing valuation study, shall be based on the results of the most recent actuarial experience study.

(c) Not later than the 180th day before the date the board may consider adopting any assumptions and methods for purposes of Section 13B of this article, the fund shall provide the municipal actuary with a substantially final draft of the fund's actuarial experience study, including:

(1) all assumptions and methods recommended by the fund actuary; and

(2) summaries of the reconciled actuarial data used in creation of the actuarial experience study.

(d) Not later than the 60th day after the date the municipality receives the final draft of the fund's actuarial experience study under Subsection (c) of this section, the municipal actuary and fund actuary shall confer and cooperate on reconciling and producing a final actuarial experience study. During the period prescribed by this subsection, the fund actuary may modify the recommended assumptions in the draft actuarial experience study to reflect any changes to assumptions and methods to which the fund actuary and the municipal actuary agree.

(e) At the municipal actuary's written request, the fund shall provide additional actuarial data used by the fund actuary to prepare the draft actuarial experience study, provided that confidential data may only be provided subject to a confidentiality agreement in which the municipal actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Section 17 of this article.

(f) The municipal actuary at the direction of the municipality shall provide in writing to the fund actuary and the fund:

(1) any assumptions and methods recommended by the municipal actuary that differ from the assumptions and methods recommended by the fund actuary; and

(2) the municipal actuary's rationale for each method or assumption the actuary recommends and determines to be consistent with standards adopted by the Actuarial Standards Board.

(g) Not later than the 30th day after the date the fund actuary receives the municipal actuary's written recommended assumptions and methods and rationale under Subsection (f) of this section, the fund shall provide a written response to the municipality identifying any assumption or method recommended by the municipal actuary that the fund does not accept. If any assumption or method is not accepted, the fund shall recommend to the municipality the names of three independent actuaries for purposes of this section.

(h) An actuary may only be recommended, selected, or engaged by the fund as an independent actuary under this section if the person:

(1) is not already engaged by the municipality, the fund, or any other pension system authorized under Article 6243g-4, Revised Statutes, or Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide actuarial services to the municipality, the fund, or another pension system referenced in this subdivision;

(2) is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; and

(3) has at least five years of experience as an actuary working with one or more public retirement systems with assets in excess of $1 billion.

(i) Not later than the 20th day after the date the municipality receives the list of three independent actuaries under Subsection (g) of this section, the municipality shall identify and the fund shall hire one of the listed independent actuaries on terms acceptable to the municipality and the fund to perform a scope of work acceptable to the municipality and the fund. The municipality and the fund each shall pay 50 percent of the cost of the independent actuary engaged under this subsection. The municipality shall be provided the opportunity to participate in any communications between the independent actuary and the fund concerning the engagement, engagement terms, or performance of the terms of the engagement.

(j) The independent actuary engaged under Subsection (i) of this section shall receive on request from the municipality or the fund:

(1) the fund's draft actuarial experience study, including all assumptions and methods recommended by the fund actuary;

(2) summaries of the reconciled actuarial data used to prepare the draft actuarial experience study;

(3) the municipal actuary's specific recommended assumptions and methods together with the municipal actuary's written rationale for each recommendation;

(4) the fund actuary's written rationale for its recommendations; and

(5) if requested by the independent actuary and subject to a confidentiality agreement in which the independent actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Section 17 of this article, additional confidential actuarial data.

(k) Not later than the 30th day after the date the independent actuary receives all the requested information under Subsection (j) of this section, the independent actuary shall advise the fund and the municipality whether it agrees with the assumption or method recommended by the municipal actuary or the corresponding method or assumption recommended by the fund actuary, together with the independent actuary's rationale for making the determination. During the period prescribed by this subsection, the independent actuary may discuss recommendations in simultaneous consultation with the fund actuary and the municipal actuary.

(l) The fund and the municipality may not seek any information from any prospective independent actuary about possible outcomes of the independent actuary's review.

(m) If an independent actuary has questions or concerns regarding an engagement entered into under this section, the independent actuary shall simultaneously consult with both the municipal actuary and the fund actuary regarding the questions or concerns. This subsection does not limit the fund's authorization to take appropriate steps to complete the engagement of the independent actuary on terms acceptable to both the fund and the municipality or to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the independent actuary, if needed.

(n) If the board does not adopt an assumption or method recommended by the municipal actuary to which the independent actuary agrees, or recommended by the fund actuary, the municipal actuary is authorized to use that recommended assumption or method in connection with preparation of a subsequent risk sharing valuation study under Section 13B of this article until the next actuarial experience study is conducted.

Sec. 13E. MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION RATE WHEN ESTIMATED MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION RATE LOWER THAN CORRIDOR MIDPOINT; AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. (a) This section governs the determination of the municipal contribution rate applicable in a fiscal year if the estimated municipal contribution rate is lower than the corridor midpoint.

(b) If the funded ratio is:

(1) less than 90 percent, the municipal contribution rate for the fiscal year equals the corridor midpoint; or

(2) equal to or greater than 90 percent and the municipal contribution rate is:

(A) equal to or greater than the minimum contribution rate, the estimated municipal contribution rate is the municipal contribution rate for the fiscal year; or

(B) except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, less than the minimum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the municipal contribution rate for the fiscal year equals the minimum contribution rate achieved in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2)(B) of this section, the following adjustments shall be applied sequentially to the extent required to increase the estimated municipal contribution rate to equal the minimum contribution rate:

(1) first, adjust the actuarial value of assets equal to the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment causes the municipal contribution rate to increase;

(2) second, under a written agreement between the municipality and the board entered into not later than April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, reduce the assumed rate of return;

(3) third, under a written agreement between the municipality and the board entered into not later than April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, prospectively restore all or part of any benefit reductions or reduce increased employee contributions, in each case made after the year 2017 effective date; and

(4) fourth, accelerate the payoff year of the existing liability loss layers, including the legacy liability, by accelerating the oldest liability loss layers first, to an amortization period that is not less than 10 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability loss layer is first recognized.

(d) If the funded ratio is:

(1) equal to or greater than 100 percent:

(A) all existing liability layers, including the legacy liability, are considered fully amortized and paid;

(B) the applicable fiscal year is the payoff year for the legacy liability; and

(C) for each fiscal year subsequent to the fiscal year described by Paragraph (B) of this subdivision, the corridor midpoint shall be determined as provided by Section 13C(g) of this article; and

(2) greater than 100 percent in a written agreement between the municipality and the fund, the fund may reduce member contributions or increase pension benefits if, as a result of the action:

(A) the funded ratio is not less than 100 percent; and

(B) the municipal contribution rate is not more than the minimum contribution rate.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, if an agreement under Subsection (d) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the first day of the next fiscal year the board shall reduce member contributions and implement or increase cost-of-living adjustments, but only to the extent that the municipal contribution rate is set at or below the minimum contribution rate and the funded ratio is not less than 100 percent.

(f) If any member contribution reduction or benefit increase under Subsection (e) of this section has occurred within the previous three fiscal years, the board may not make additional adjustments to benefits, and the municipal contribution rate must be set to equal the minimum contribution rate.

Sec. 13F. MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION RATE WHEN ESTIMATED MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION RATE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN CORRIDOR MIDPOINT; AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. (a) This section governs the determination of the municipal contribution rate in a fiscal year when the estimated municipal contribution rate is equal to or greater than the corridor midpoint.

(b) If the estimated municipal contribution rate is:

(1) less than or equal to the maximum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the estimated municipal contribution rate is the municipal contribution rate; or

(2) except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e) of this section, greater than the maximum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the municipal contribution rate equals the corridor midpoint achieved in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2) of this section, the following adjustments shall be applied sequentially to the extent required to decrease the estimated municipal contribution rate to equal the corridor midpoint:

(1) first, if the payoff year of the legacy liability was accelerated under Section 13E(c) of this article, extend the payoff year of existing liability loss layers, by extending the most recent loss layers first, to a payoff year not later than 30 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability loss layer is first recognized; and

(2) second, adjust the actuarial value of assets to the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment causes the municipal contribution rate to decrease.

(d) If the municipal contribution rate after adjustment under Subsection (c) of this section is greater than the third quarter line rate:

(1) the municipal contribution rate equals the third quarter line rate; and

(2) to the extent necessary to comply with Subdivision (1) of this subsection, the municipality and the board shall enter into a written agreement to increase member contributions and make other benefit or plan changes not otherwise prohibited by applicable federal law or regulations.

(e) If an agreement under Subsection (d)(2) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the start of the next fiscal year to which the municipal contribution rate would apply, the board, to the extent necessary to set the municipal contribution rate equal to the third quarter line rate, shall:

(1) increase member contributions and decrease cost-of-living adjustments;

(2) increase the normal retirement age; or

(3) take any combination of actions authorized under Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(f) If the municipal contribution rate remains greater than the corridor midpoint in the third fiscal year after adjustments are made in accordance with Subsection (d)(2) of this section, in that fiscal year the municipal contribution rate equals the corridor midpoint achieved in accordance with Subsection (g) of this section.

(g) The municipal contribution rate must be set at the corridor midpoint under Subsection (f) of this section by:

(1) in the risk sharing valuation study for the third fiscal year described by Subsection (f) of this section, adjusting the actuarial value of assets to equal the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment causes the municipal contribution rate to decrease; and

(2) under a written agreement entered into between the municipality and the board:

(A) increasing member contributions; and

(B) making any other benefit or plan changes not otherwise prohibited by applicable federal law or regulations.

(h) If an agreement under Subsection (g)(2) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the start of the next fiscal year, the board, to the extent necessary to set the municipal contribution rate equal to the corridor midpoint, shall:

(1) increase member contributions and decrease cost-of-living adjustments;

(2) increase the normal retirement age; or

(3) take any combination of actions authorized under Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

Sec. 13G. INTERPRETATION OF CERTAIN RISK SHARING PROVISIONS; UNILATERAL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) Nothing in this article, including Section 2(p) or (p-1) of this article and any authority of the board to construe and interpret this article, to determine any fact, to take any action, or to interpret any terms used in Sections 13A through 13F of this article, may alter or change Sections 13A through 13F of this article.

(b) No unilateral decision or action by the board is binding on the municipality and no unilateral decision or action by the municipality is binding on the fund with respect to the application of Sections 13A through 13F of this article unless expressly provided by a provision of those sections. Nothing in this subsection is intended to limit the powers or authority of the board.

(c) Section 10 of this article does not apply to a benefit increase under Section 13E of this article, and Section 10 of this article is suspended while Sections 13A through 13F of this article are in effect.

Sec. 13H. STATE PENSION REVIEW BOARD; REPORT. (a) After preparing a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 13B or 13C of this article, the fund and the municipality shall jointly submit a copy of the study or studies, as appropriate, to the State Pension Review Board for a determination that the fund and municipality are in compliance with this article.

(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date an action is taken under Section 13E or 13F of this article, the fund shall submit a report to the State Pension Review Board regarding any actions taken under those sections.

(c) The State Pension Review Board shall notify the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislative committees having principal jurisdiction over legislation governing public retirement systems if the State Pension Review Board determines the fund or the municipality is not in compliance with Sections 13A through 13G of this article.

Sec. 14. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE LIMITATIONS. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a member may not accrue a benefit or allowance under this article in excess of an amount that, when added to all other pension benefits received under plans of the municipality that are qualified under Section 401 of the code, results in an annual benefit in excess of the applicable limits provided by Section 415 of the code. That accrual limitation applies only as long as satisfaction of Section 415 of the code is necessary to maintain the tax-qualified status of the fund under Section 401 of the code. Any benefit accruals limited under this subsection must be determined by a qualified actuary selected by the board.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the fund shall be administered in a manner that complies with the code, United States Treasury Department regulations, and Internal Revenue Service rulings and notices applicable to public retirement systems. The board shall adopt rules and amend or repeal conflicting rules to ensure compliance with this subsection.

(c) The board may establish and maintain a qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement, in accordance with Section 415(m) of the code, solely for the purpose of providing to members the amount of each member's pension benefit otherwise payable under the fund that exceeds the limitations on benefits imposed by Section 415 of the code. The board may maintain a separate trust solely for providing benefits under the arrangement or may maintain the arrangement on an unfunded basis through municipal contributions as benefits become payable. Benefits provided by that arrangement may not be paid from the trust fund assets that are available for payment of any other benefit under this article. Benefits under any qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement shall be paid or funded entirely through municipal contributions in an amount approved by the board. An election may not be provided at any time to a member, directly or indirectly, to defer compensation under the arrangement. The operation and administration of any qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement is the responsibility of the board, which has the same powers concerning the arrangement as are provided to the board under this article concerning the fund.

Sec. 15. EXEMPTION OF BENEFITS FROM JUDICIAL PROCESS. The fund may not, either before or after its order of disbursement by the board to a member, a spouse eligible to receive a benefit under the DROP, an eligible spouse, the guardian of an eligible child, or an eligible parent, be held, seized, subjected to, or levied on by virtue of any execution, attachment, garnishment, injunction, or other writ, order, or decree, or any process issued out of, or by, any court for the payment or satisfaction of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against a member, a spouse eligible to receive a benefit under the DROP, an eligible spouse, the guardian of an eligible child, or an eligible parent. The fund or any claim against the fund may not be directly or indirectly assigned or transferred, and any attempt to assign or transfer the fund or a claim is void. The fund shall be sacredly held, kept, and disbursed only for the purposes provided by this article.

Sec. 16. SERVICE CREDIT FOR MEMBERS PREVIOUSLY MEMBERS OF SIMILAR FUNDS. (a) A person who becomes a firefighter in a municipality to which this article applies may receive service credit for prior employment with the fully paid fire department of another municipality in this state with a similar fund benefiting only firefighters of that municipality to which the firefighter contributed if:

(1) the firefighter is under 36 years of age at the time of applying to the fund;

(2) the firefighter passes a physical examination;

(3) the firefighter pays into the fund an amount equal to the total contribution the firefighter would have made had the firefighter been employed by the municipality, at the municipality's pay scale, instead of the municipality by which the firefighter was previously employed, plus six percent interest, compounded annually;

(4) the firefighter applies for that credit not later than the 60th day after the date on which membership begins; and

(5) the firefighter has moved directly into employment at the fire department from the fire department for which the prior service credit is sought, without any intervening employment or extended interruption.

(b) A member may receive credit for prior service in more than one fire department under Subsection (a) of this section only if there have not been interruptions in employment and each preceding service meets the other requirements of Subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The municipality to which the member has transferred shall pay an amount equal to the amount it would have paid had the member been employed by that municipality instead of the municipality by which the firefighter was previously employed, based on the municipality's pay scale, plus six percent interest, compounded annually. Both the municipality's contribution and the member's contribution must be paid promptly on approval of the member's application for service credit.

(d) A firefighter may not participate under this section in the fund of the municipality to which the firefighter has transferred until the firefighter has fully complied with this article and the municipality has complied with Subsection (c) of this section.

(e) A firefighter eligible for prior service credit may participate in the fund, subject to the other requirements of this article, without obtaining that credit, and if the firefighter does not comply with the provisions and time limits of this section, the firefighter is ineligible for the credit.

Sec. 17. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT MEMBERS OR BENEFICIARIES. (a) Information contained in records that are in the custody of a fund established under this article concerning an individual member, retiree, or beneficiary is not public information under Chapter 552, Government Code. The information may not be disclosed in a form identifiable with a specific individual unless:

(1) the information is disclosed to:

(A) the individual;

(B) the individual's attorney, guardian, executor, administrator, or conservator, or other legal representative of the individual's estate or court-approved small estate or other person who the board determines is acting in the interest of the individual or the individual's estate;

(C) a spouse or former spouse of the individual, or the attorney of the spouse or former spouse, if the information concerns the spouse's or former spouse's interest in member accounts, benefits, or other amounts payable by the fund; or

(D) a person with written authorization from the individual to receive the information; or

(2) the information is disclosed under an authorization of the board that specifies the reason for the disclosure.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, the fund may disclose the status or identity of an individual as a member, former member, retiree, deceased member, or beneficiary of the fund, as well as the individual's dates of service, date of death, last rank held, and the divisions of the fire department of the municipality in which service has been rendered.

(c) A determination and disclosure under Subsection (a)(2) of this section may be made without notice to the individual member, retiree, or beneficiary.

(d) The release of information concerning members, retirees, or beneficiaries to departments of the municipality, or to other municipal employee pension funds or systems of the municipality, in order to implement or advance the purposes of this article is permitted under this section. The release of that information does not constitute any waiver of confidentiality by the fund or any waiver as to confidentiality of the information under the statutes and policies governing the receiving municipal department or employee pension fund or system.

(e) The publication and provision by the fund of a retiree's address, e-mail address, telephone number, dates of service, and last rank held and of the divisions of the fire department of the municipality in which service was rendered, within compilations or directories of this information concerning fund retirees, is permitted under this section. The fund, in its sole discretion, may provide or distribute those compilations as it deems is in the best interest of the retirees in general. A retiree may prevent the publication under this subsection of information relating to the retiree by giving advance written notice to the fund.

(f) To carry out the provisions of Sections 13A through 13F of this article, the board and the fund must provide the municipal actuary under a confidentiality agreement the actuarial data used by the fund actuary for the fund's actuarial valuations or valuation studies and other data as agreed to between the municipality and the fund that the municipal actuary determines is reasonably necessary for the municipal actuary to perform the studies required by Sections 13A through 13F of this article. Actuarial data described by this subsection does not include information described by Subsection (a) of this section.

(g) A risk sharing valuation study prepared by either the municipal actuary or the fund actuary under Sections 13A through 13F of this article may not:

(1) include information described by Subsection (a) of this section; or

(2) provide confidential or private information regarding specific individuals or be grouped in a manner that allows confidential or private information regarding a specific individual to be discerned.

(h) The information, data, and document exchanges under Sections 13A through 13F of this article have all the protections afforded by applicable law and are expressly exempt from the disclosure requirements under Chapter 552, Government Code, except as may be agreed to by the municipality and fund in a written agreement.

(i) Subsection (h) of this section does not apply to:

(1) a proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the fund actuary and provided to the municipal actuary or prepared by the municipal actuary and provided to the fund actuary under Section 13B(d) or 13C(b)(2); or

(2) a final risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 13B or 13C of this article.

(j) Before a union contract is approved by the municipality, the mayor of the municipality shall cause the municipal actuaries to deliver to the mayor a report estimating the impact of the proposed union contract on fund costs.

Sec. 18. PROPORTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Combined service credit" means the total amount of service credit a member has for participation in the fund plus service credit the member has in any participating retirement system.

(2) "Participating retirement system" means the retirement system established under Article 6243g-4, Revised Statutes, or Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), or a successor statute to either of those laws.

(3) "Program" means a proportional retirement benefits program established under this section that permits members to establish service credit for a proportional retirement benefit using combined service credit.

(4) "Service credit" means service or participation that is credited under the fund or a participating retirement system to establish service or participation requirements for a proportional retirement benefit.

(b) The board may maintain a proportional retirement program under this section.

(c) Under the program, a member who is eligible to participate may use combined service credit to determine eligibility for a benefit under this article. The member must have at least 20 years of combined service credit to receive a proportional retirement benefit. The member is subject to the same requirements and receives the same benefits, including enhancements, as a member who establishes retirement eligibility for the same amount of service credit without using combined service credit.

(d) A member may not:

(1) use service credit in a participating retirement system to meet the eligibility requirements for participating in a DROP under Section 5 of this article;

(2) receive service credit in the fund for the same service for which the member receives service credit in a participating retirement system; or

(3) receive a benefit under the program in an amount that is greater than the amount the member would have received for the same benefit without the program unless the greater amount results from a modification under Subsection (j) of this section.

(e) A person is eligible to participate in the program if the person is employed by the city, is covered by a participating retirement system, and is or has been a member of the fund.

(f) A member who is retired or participating in a DROP under Section 5 of this article may not participate in the program. A member may not receive a disability retirement benefit and a service retirement benefit under the program.

(g) In determining proportional retirement benefits under the program for a member who has participated in the fund for less than 20 years, the member is entitled to a monthly benefit in an amount equal to 1.7 percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the number of the member's years of participation in the fund.

(h) A member who receives a disability benefit under a participating retirement system may receive a proportional disability benefit under the program as provided by Subsection (i) of this section.

(i) In determining disability retirement benefits under the program, the member is entitled to a monthly benefit in an amount equal to 1.7 percent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the number of the member's years of participation in the fund.

(j) The board may modify the program only to make the program's provisions compatible with the provisions of a participating retirement system. The board may not modify the program for the purpose of providing a new benefit to a member.

(k) If the board determines that the provisions governing a participating retirement system are not compatible with the provisions governing the fund under this article, the board may terminate the program. The board shall provide written notice to the executive director of the participating retirement system before the 30th day preceding the date of the program's termination. The board may reestablish the program at its discretion, subject to the requirements of this section.

(l) The board may adopt rules to implement and administer this section.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1268, Sec. 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1 to 10, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 87, Sec. 1 to 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 87, Sec. 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2001.

Sec. 1(1) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 1(1-a) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 1(7) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(b) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 3(j) to (m) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; ; Sec. 4(d) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 5(a), (c) to (e), (g), (i) to (k), and (m) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 6(g) and (h) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 6(i) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 7(b), (e), and (g) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 11(b), (d), (f), (h), and (m) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 11(n) and (o) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 13(c) and (d) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 13(h) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 16(a) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 17(a) and (b) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 17(d) and (e) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 18(b) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 1, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 2, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 3, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 4, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 5, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 6, eff. October 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 7, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 8, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 9, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 10, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 11, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 136 (H.B. 1390), Sec. 12, eff. May 18, 2007.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.01, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.02, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.03, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.04, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.05, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.06, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.07, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.08, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.09, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.10, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.11, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch.320 ( S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.12, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.13, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.14, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.15, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 1.16, eff. July 1, 2017.

Art. 6243e-2. FIREMEN'S PENSIONS IN CITIES OF 350,000 TO 400,000. Any city having a population of three hundred fifty thousand (350,000) or more, but less than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the last preceding Federal Census and having a full time regularly organized fire department and having an established municipal employees retirement plan shall be authorized to provide for the retirement of its firemen by appropriate ordinance under the terms and provisions of such employees retirement plan if the benefits provided by such employees retirement plan are substantially as advantageous as the benefits provided by Chapter 125, Acts of the 45th Legislature, as amended (Article 6243e, Vernon's Civil Statutes of the State of Texas).

Upon adoption of an appropriate ordinance, all of the assets of the Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund shall be transferred to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund and thereafter those persons serving as active firemen duly enrolled or contributing to the fund shall be subject to all provisions of such Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund and the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund of such city shall assume all liabilities and obligations of the Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund at the date of transfer. Thereafter such Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund as combined shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 125, Acts of the 45th Legislature, as amended (Article 6243e, Vernon's Civil Statutes of the State of Texas).

Provided, however, nothing contained in this Act shall be held or construed to affect or impair any act done or right vested or accrued under Article 6243e, V.A.C.S., pending in any proceeding, suit, or prosecution had or commenced in any cause thereunder, be it before the courts, the Firemen's Pension Commissioner, or the Board of Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund Trustees; but every act done, or right vested or accrued, or proceeding, suit or prosecution had or commenced shall remain in full force and effect to all intents as if Article 6243e, V.A.C.S., were applicable thereto and any and all liabilities existing under this proviso, be they vested, accrued or contingent, shall be the obligations of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund.

Acts 1963, 58th Leg., p. 54, ch. 36, eff. April 1, 1963.

Art. 6243e-3. FIREMEN'S DEATH AND DISABILITY BENEFITS; HEART OR LUNG DISEASE.

Section 1. The Board of Trustees of any firemen's pension fund in any incorporated city or town in this State may, upon fulfilling requirements hereinafter stated, establish benefit eligibility for a fulltime employee who has been employed for as long as six (6) years, and thereafter becomes disabled or dies from heart or lung disease, based on a presumption that such death or disease was a consequence of his duties as a fireman, if the fireman shall have successfully passed a physical examination prior to the claimed disability or death, or upon entering upon his employment as a fireman, and the examination failed to reveal any evidence of the condition or disease of the lungs, hypertension or heart disease.

Sec. 2. Before any such Board shall adopt as part of its plan for retirement benefits the presumption, together with qualifications, set forth in Section 1 hereof, it shall take the following preliminary step(s):

(a) Obtain an actuarial study showing how the proposed change in benefit eligibility standards will affect the financial condition of the fund.

(b) In the event that such actuarial study shows that inclusion of the proposed change in benefit eligibility standards will not make the fund financially unsound, then said Board shall, within thirty days after receipt of such actuarial study, hold an election in which the active participants contributing to the fund shall vote on the question of whether such benefit eligibility standard should be instituted, said Board being bound by the results of such election.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 2392, ch. 747, eff. Aug. 30, 1971.

Art. 6243f-1. INVOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OF FIRE FIGHTERS IN CITIES OF 400,000 TO 450,000; AGE; DISABILITY.

Sec. 1. No member of a fire department in any city or town in this state having a population of not less than 900,000 nor more than 950,000 shall be involuntarily retired prior to reaching the mandatory retirement age set for such cities' employees unless he is physically unable to perform his duties. In the event he is physically unable to perform his duties, he shall be allowed to use all of his accumulated sick leave, before retirement.

Sec. 2. As used in this Act, "the last preceding federal census" means the 1970 census or any future decennial federal census. This is despite any legislation that has been or may be enacted during any session of the 62nd Legislature delaying the effectiveness of the 1970 census for general State and local governmental purposes.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 863, ch. 103, eff. April 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 593, ch. 237, Sec. 125, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 49, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 167, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 193, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 290, eff. September 1, 2023.

Art. 6243g-4. POLICE OFFICERS PENSION SYSTEM IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.

Sec. 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this article is to restate and amend the provisions of former law creating and governing a police officers pension system in each city in this state having a population of two million or more, according to the most recent federal decennial census, and to reflect changes agreed to by the city and the board of trustees of the pension system under Section 27 of this article. The pension system shall continue to operate regardless of whether the city's population falls below two million.

Sec. 1A. INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE. This article does not and may not be interpreted to:

(1) relieve the city, the board, or the pension system of their respective obligations under Sections 9 through 9E of this article;

(2) reduce or modify the rights of the city, the board, or the pension system, including any officer or employee of the city, board, or pension system, to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this section;

(3) relieve the city, including any official or employee of the city, from:

(A) paying or directing to pay required contributions to the pension system under Section 8 or 9 of this article or carrying out the provisions of Sections 9 through 9E of this article; or

(B) reducing or modifying the rights of the board and any officer or employee of the board or pension system to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this section;

(4) relieve the pension system or board, including any officer or employee of the pension system or board, from any obligation to implement a benefit change or carry out the provisions of Sections 9 through 9E of this article; or

(5) reduce or modify the rights of the city and any officer or employee of the city to enforce an obligation described by Subdivision (4) of this section.

Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this article:

(1) "Active member" means an employee of the city within the police department of a city subject to this article, in a classified or appointed position, except for a person in an appointed position who opts out of the plan, a person who is a part-time, seasonal, or temporary employee, or a person who elected to remain a member of a pension system described by Chapter 88, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). The term does not include a person who is a member of another pension system of the same city, except to the extent provided by Section 18 of this article.

(1-a) "Actuarial data" includes:

(A) the census data, assumption tables, disclosure of methods, and financial information that are routinely used by the pension system actuary for the pension system's valuation studies or an actuarial experience study under Section 9C of this article; and

(B) other data that is reasonably necessary to implement Sections 9 through 9E of this article, as agreed to by the city and the board.

(1-b) "Actuarial experience study" has the meaning assigned by Section 802.1014, Government Code.

(1-c) "Amortization period" means the time period necessary to fully pay a liability layer.

(2) "Amortization rate" means the sum of the scheduled amortization payments for a given fiscal year for the current liability layers divided by the projected pensionable payroll for that fiscal year.

(3) "Assumed rate of return" means the assumed market rate of return on pension system assets, which is seven percent per annum unless adjusted as provided by this article.

(4) "Board" means the board of trustees of the pension system.

(4-a) "Catastrophic injury" means a sudden, violent, life-threatening, duty-related injury sustained by an active member that is due to an externally caused motor vehicle collision, gunshot wound, aggravated assault, or other external event or events and results, as supported by evidence, in one of the following conditions:

(A) total, complete, and permanent loss of sight in one or both eyes;

(B) total, complete, and permanent loss of the use of one or both feet at or above the ankle;

(D) injury to the spine that results in a total, permanent, and complete paralysis of both arms, both legs, or one arm and one leg; or

(E) an externally caused physical traumatic injury to the brain rendering the member physically or mentally unable to perform the member's duties as a police officer.

(4-b) "City" means a city subject to this article.

(4-c) "City contribution rate" means a percent of pensionable payroll that is the sum of the employer normal cost rate and the amortization rate for liability layers, except as determined otherwise under the express provisions of Sections 9D and 9E of this article.

(4-d) "Classified" means any person classified by the city as a police officer.

(5) "Code" means the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any successor, as amended.

(5-a) "Corridor" means the range of city contribution rates that are:

(A) equal to or greater than the minimum contribution rate; and

(B) equal to or less than the maximum contribution rate.

(5-b) "Corridor margin" means five percentage points.

(5-c) "Corridor midpoint" means the projected city contribution rate specified for each fiscal year for 31 years in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 9B of this article, as may be adjusted under Section 9D or 9E of this article, and in each case rounded to the nearest hundredths decimal place.

(6) "Dependent" means a dependent child or a dependent parent.

(7) "Dependent child" means a deceased member's unmarried natural or adopted child who:

(A) has not attained age 18;

(B) has attained age 18 but not age 24 and is attending school on a full-time basis; or

(C) has attained age 18 and is permanently disabled as the result of a disability that began before the child attained age 18.

(8) "Dependent parent" means a natural parent of a deceased member or an adoptive parent who adopted the member before the member attained age 18 and at least 50 percent of whose support was received from the member during the one-year period preceding the date of death of the member.

(9) "DROP" means the deferred retirement option plan described by Section 14 of this article.

(10) "Employee" means an individual who holds a classified position in the police department of a city subject to this article.

(10-a) "Employer normal cost rate" means the normal cost rate minus the member contribution rate.

(10-b) "Estimated city contribution rate" means the city contribution rate estimated in a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 9A or 9B of this article, as applicable, as required by Section 9A(a)(5) of this article.

(10-c) "Fiscal year," except as provided by Section 2A of this article, means a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

(10-d) "Final average pay" means the pay received by a member over the last 78 biweekly pay periods ending before the earlier of:

(A) the date the member terminates employment with the police department, divided by 36; or

(B) the date the member began participation in DROP, divided by 36.

(11) "Former member" means a person who was once an active member, eligible for benefits or not, but who terminated active member status and received a refund of member contributions.

(12) "Fund" means the fund originally established by Chapter 76, Acts of the 50th Legislature, Regular Session, 1947 (Article 6243g-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).

(12-a) "Funded ratio" means the ratio of the pension system's actuarial value of assets divided by the pension system's actuarial accrued liability.

(13) "Inactive member" means a person who has separated from service and is eligible to receive a service pension from the pension system but is not eligible for an immediate service pension. The term does not include a former member.

(13-a) "Legacy liability" means the unfunded actuarial accrued liability as of June 30, 2016, as reduced to reflect:

(A) changes to benefits and contributions under this article that took effect on the year 2017 effective date;

(B) the deposit of pension obligation bond proceeds on December 31, 2017, in accordance with Section 9B(j)(2) of this article;

(C) payments by the city and earnings at the assumed rate of return allocated to the legacy liability from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, excluding July 1, 2017; and

(D) for each subsequent fiscal year, contributions for that year allocated to the amortization of the legacy liability and adjusted by the assumed rate of return.

(13-b) "Level percent of payroll method" means the amortization method that defines the amount of the liability layer recognized each fiscal year as a level percent of pensionable payroll until the amount of the liability layer remaining is reduced to zero.

(13-c) "Liability gain layer" means a liability layer that decreases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.

(13-d) "Liability layer" means the legacy liability established in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 9B of this article and the unanticipated change as established in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A of this article.

(13-e) "Liability loss layer" means a liability layer that increases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability. For purposes of this article, the legacy liability is a liability loss layer.

(13-f) "Maximum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint plus the corridor margin.

(14) "Member" means an active member, inactive member, or retired member, as the context may require. The term does not include a former member.

(14-a) "Minimum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint minus the corridor margin.

(14-b) "Normal cost rate" means the salary weighted average of the individual normal cost rates determined for the current active population plus an allowance for projected administrative expenses. The allowance for projected administrative expenses equals the administrative expenses divided by the pensionable payroll for the previous fiscal year, provided the administrative allowance may not exceed one percent of pensionable payroll for the current fiscal year unless agreed to by the city.

(14-c) "Normal retirement age" means:

(A) for a member hired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired before October 9, 2004, who involuntarily separated from service but was retroactively reinstated under an arbitration, civil service, or court ruling after October 9, 2004, the earlier of:

(i) the age at which the member attains 20 years of service; or

(ii) the age at which the member first attains both the age of at least 60 and at least 10 years of service; or

(B) except as provided by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision, for a member hired or rehired on or after October 9, 2004, the age at which the sum of the member's age in years and years of service equals at least 70.

(15) "Normal retirement date" means the date at which a member is eligible for an immediate service pension under Section 12 of this article.

(15-a) "Pay," unless the context requires otherwise, means wages as defined by Section 3401(a) of the code, plus any amounts that are not included in gross income by reason of Section 104(a)(1), 125, 132(f), 402(g)(2), 457, or 414(h)(2) of the code, less any pay received for overtime work, exempt time pay, strategic officer staffing program pay, motorcycle allowance, clothing allowance, or mentor pay. The definition of "pay" for purposes of this article may only be amended by written agreement of the board and the city under Section 27 of this article.

(15-b) "Payoff year" means the year a liability layer is fully amortized under the amortization period. A payoff year may not be extended or accelerated for a period that is less than one month.

(16) "Pension" means a monthly payment for life from the fund to a retired member.

(16-a) "Pension obligation bond" means a bond issued in accordance with Chapter 107, Local Government Code.

(16-b) "Pensionable payroll" means the combined salaries, in an applicable fiscal year, paid to all:

(A) active members; and

(B) if applicable, participants in any alternative retirement plan established under Section 2B of this article, including a cash balance retirement plan established under that section.

(17) "Pension system" or "system," unless the context requires otherwise, means the retirement and disability plan for employees of any police department subject to this article.

(17-a) "Police department" means one or more law enforcement agencies designated as a police department by a city.

(17-b) "Price inflation assumption" means:

(A) the most recent headline consumer price index 10-year forecast published in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Survey of Professional Forecasters; or

(B) if the forecast described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision is not available, another standard as determined by mutual agreement between the city and the board entered into under Section 27 of this article.

(17-c) "Projected pensionable payroll" means the estimated pensionable payroll for the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A of this article, as applicable, at the time of calculation by:

(A) projecting the prior fiscal year's pensionable payroll projected forward two years by using the current payroll growth rate assumptions; and

(B) adjusting, if necessary, for changes in population or other known factors, provided those factors would have a material impact on the calculation, as determined by the board.

(17-d) "Retired member" means a member who has separated from service and who is eligible to receive an immediate service or disability pension under this article.

(17-e) "Salary" means pay provided for the classified position in the police department held by the employee.

(18) "School" means any public or private school through the 12th grade or any trade school, junior college, college, or university beyond the 12th grade that is accredited by a generally recognized accrediting authority.

(19) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(20) "Separation from service" means cessation of work for the police department of a city subject to this article, whether caused by death, discharge, resignation, or transfer to an unclassified position.

(21) "Service" means the period of time a person is employed in the police department of a city subject to this article, except for any period of DROP participation, and includes any period that the person is receiving a disability pension under Section 15 of this article or is on a military leave of absence described by Section 23 of this article, but only if the person returns to active service after the period of disability or military leave. The term does not include periods in which a person is suspended from duty without pay, on leave of absence without pay, or separated from service.

(22) "Surviving spouse" means a person who was married to an active, inactive, or retired member at the time of the member's death and, in the case of a marriage or remarriage after the member's retirement, for a period of at least five consecutive years.

(22-a) "Survivor" means a surviving spouse, a dependent child, or a dependent parent.

(23) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(24) "Third quarter line rate" means the corridor midpoint plus 2.5 percentage points.

(25) "Trustee" means a member of the board.

(26) "Ultimate entry age normal" means an actuarial cost method under which a calculation is made to determine the average uniform and constant percentage rate of contributions that, if applied to the compensation of each member during the entire period of the member's anticipated covered service, would be required to meet the cost of all benefits payable on the member's behalf based on the benefits provisions for newly hired employees. For purposes of this definition, the actuarial accrued liability for each member is the difference between the member's present value of future benefits based on the tier of benefits that apply to the member and the member's present value of future normal costs determined using the normal cost rate.

(27) "Unfunded actuarial accrued liability" means the difference between the actuarial accrued liability and the actuarial value of assets. For purposes of this definition:

(B) "actuarial value of assets" means the value of pension system investments as calculated using the asset smoothing method used in the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A or 9B of this article, as applicable.

(28) "Unanticipated change" means, with respect to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A of this article, the difference between:

(A) the remaining balance of all then-existing liability layers as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study; and

(B) the actual unfunded actuarial accrued liability as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study.

(29) "Year 2017 effective date" means the date on which S.B. No. 2190, Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, took effect.

Sec. 2A. FISCAL YEAR. If either the pension system or the city changes its respective fiscal year, the pension system and the city shall enter into a written agreement under Section 27 of this article to adjust the provisions of Sections 9 through 9E of this article to reflect that change for purposes of this article.

Sec. 2B. ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section, "salary-based benefit plan" means a retirement plan provided by the pension system under this article that provides member benefits calculated in accordance with a formula that is based on multiple factors, one of which is the member's salary at the time of the member's retirement.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 9F of this article, and except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, the board and the city may enter into a written agreement under Section 27 of this article to offer an alternative retirement plan or plans, including a cash balance retirement plan or plans, if both parties consider it appropriate.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 9F of this article, and except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, if, beginning with the final risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A of this article on or after July 1, 2021, either the funded ratio of the pension system is less than 65 percent as determined in the final risk sharing valuation study without making any adjustments under Section 9D or 9E of this article, or the funded ratio of the pension system is less than 65 percent as determined in a revised and restated risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A(a)(7) of this article, the board and the city shall, as soon as practicable but not later than the 60th day after the date the determination is made:

(1) enter into a written agreement under Section 27 of this article to establish a cash balance retirement plan that complies with Section 2C of this article; and

(2) require each employee first hired by the city on or after the 90th day after the date the cash balance retirement plan is established to participate in the cash balance retirement plan established under this subsection instead of participating in the salary-based benefit plan, provided the employee would have otherwise been eligible to participate in the salary-based benefit plan.

(d) If the city fails to deliver the proceeds of the pension obligation bonds described by Section 9B(j)(1) of this article within the time prescribed by that subdivision, notwithstanding the funded ratio of the pension system, the board and the city may not establish a cash balance retirement plan under Subsection (c) of this section.

Sec. 2C. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CASH BALANCE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Cash balance plan participant" means an employee who participates in a cash balance retirement plan.

(2) "Cash balance retirement plan" means a cash balance retirement plan established by written agreement under Section 2B(b) of this article or Section 2B(c) of this article.

(3) "Interest" means the interest credited to a cash balance plan participant's notional account, which may not:

(A) exceed a percentage rate equal to the cash balance retirement plan's most recent five fiscal years' smoothed rate of return; or

(B) be less than zero percent.

(4) "Salary-based benefit plan" has the meaning assigned by Section 2B of this article.

(b) The written agreement establishing a cash balance retirement plan must:

(1) provide for the administration of the cash balance retirement plan;

(2) provide for a closed amortization period not to exceed 20 years from the date an actuarial gain or loss is realized;

(3) provide for the crediting of city and cash balance plan participant contributions to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(4) provide for the crediting of interest to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(5) include a vesting schedule;

(6) include benefit options, including options for cash balance plan participants who separate from service prior to retirement;

(7) provide for death and disability benefits;

(8) allow a cash balance plan participant who is eligible to retire under the plan to elect to:

(A) receive a monthly annuity payable for the life of the cash balance plan participant in an amount actuarially determined on the date of the cash balance plan participant's retirement based on the cash balance plan participant's accumulated notional account balance annuitized in accordance with the actuarial assumptions and actuarial methods established in the most recent actuarial experience study conducted under Section 9C of this article, except that the assumed rate of return applied may not exceed the pension system's assumed rate of return in the most recent risk sharing valuation study; or

(B) receive a single, partial lump-sum payment from the cash balance plan participant's accumulated account balance and a monthly annuity payable for life in an amount determined in accordance with Paragraph (A) of this subdivision based on the cash balance plan participant's notional account balance after receiving the partial lump-sum payment; and

(9) include any other provision determined necessary by:

(A) the board and the city; or

(B) the pension system for purposes of maintaining the tax-qualified status of the pension system under Section 401 of the code.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Sections 2(1), 11, and 12 of this article, an employee who participates in a cash balance retirement plan:

(1) subject to Subsection (d) of this section, is not eligible to be an active member of and may not participate in the salary-based benefit plan; and

(2) may not accrue years of service or establish service credit in the salary-based benefit plan during the period the employee is participating in the cash balance retirement plan.

(d) A cash balance plan participant is considered an active member for purposes of Sections 9 through 9G of this article.

(e) At the time of implementation of the cash balance retirement plan, the employer normal cost rate of the cash balance retirement plan may not exceed the employer normal cost rate of the salary-based benefit plan.

Sec. 2D. CONFLICT OF LAW. To the extent of a conflict between this article and any other law, this article prevails.

Sec. 3. PENSION BOARD. (a) The board of trustees of the pension system that was created under Chapter 76, Acts of the 50th Legislature, Regular Session, 1947 (Article 6243g-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and that operates under Section 67, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, continues to be responsible for the general administration, management, and operation of the pension system, including the direction of investment and oversight of the fund's assets.

(b) The board is composed of seven members as follows:

(1) the administrative head of the city or the administrative head's authorized representative;

(2) three employees of the police department having membership in the pension system, elected by the active, inactive, and retired members of the pension system;

(3) two retired members who are receiving pensions from the system, who are elected by the active, inactive, and retired members of the pension system, and who are not:

(A) officers or employees of the city; or

(B) current or former employees of any other fund or pension system authorized under:

(i) Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes; or

(ii) Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); and

(4) the director of finance of the city or the person discharging the duties of the director of finance, or the director's designee.

(c) The terms of office of the board members elected as described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section shall be three years, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31, with one board member being elected every year at an election called by the board and held in December. If a vacancy occurs among the three elected active board members, the board shall hold an election within 60 days after the date the vacancy occurred. At that election, an active member shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the term of the vacant position or for a full term if the term of the board member that caused the vacancy would have ended in that year.

(d) The terms of office of the board members elected as described by Subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be three years, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. Beginning in 1999, and each third succeeding year, one board member shall be elected at an election called by the board and held in December. Beginning in 2000, and each third succeeding year, a second board member shall be elected at an election called by the board and held in December. If a vacancy occurs among the two elected retired members of the board, the board shall hold an election within 60 days after the date the vacancy occurred. At that election, a retired member shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the term of the vacant position or for a full term if the term of the board member that caused the vacancy would have ended in that year. A board member who is a retired member and who was appointed to the board before January 1999 shall serve the remainder of the board member's term. On expiration of the appointed term, the appointed board member is eligible to run for the board position described by Subsection (b)(3) of this section in the same manner as any other retired member.

(e) A board member vacates the member's seat on the board if the member is removed under Section 7 of this article or ceases to meet the qualifications for the seat.

(f) An individual who is an officer or employee of any employee organization or retiree organization or an employee of the pension system is prohibited from being elected to the board, appointed to the board, or in any other way serving as a member of the board.

(g) Each board member shall, within 30 days after taking office, take an oath of office:

(1) to diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the pension system by:

(A) being loyal exclusively to all members;

(B) being prudent in protecting and managing the trust's property;

(D) acting under the terms of the plan; and

(2) to not knowingly violate, or willingly permit to be violated, this article.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, if a candidate for an elected trustee position is unopposed in an election, the election may not be held for that position. The board shall certify the candidate as elected to the board on the executive director's certification that the candidate is eligible to be a trustee under this section and is unopposed for election. The certified candidate shall take the oath of office as soon as practicable in January, after being declared elected in December.

(i) If a candidate for either an active or retired board member position does not receive a majority vote for that position, a runoff election for that position shall be held. The board shall establish a policy for general and runoff elections for purposes of this subsection.

(j) Beginning with the year 2017 effective date:

(1) the term of office for a board member in the phase-down program A or B shall be one year; and

(2) a board member who subsequently enters phase-down program A or B and has served at least one year of the member's current term shall vacate the member's seat and may run for reelection.

Sec. 4. BOARD MEMBER LEAVE AND COMPENSATION. (a) The city shall allow active members who are trustees to promptly attend all board and committee meetings. The city shall allow trustees the time required to travel to and attend educational workshops and legislative hearings and to attend to other pension system business, including meetings regarding proposed amendments to this article, if attendance is consistent with a trustee's duty to the board.

(b) The board, by an affirmative vote of at least four board members, may elect to reimburse board members who are not employees of the city for their time while attending to official business of the pension system. The amount of any reimbursement may not exceed $750 a month for each affected board member.

Sec. 5. OFFICERS; MEETINGS; EMPLOYEES. (a) The board annually shall elect from its active and retired membership a chairman. The board also annually shall elect from its membership a vice chairman and a secretary.

(b) The board may hire one or more employees whose positions and salaries shall be set by the board and who, acting under the direction of the board, shall keep all of the records of and perform all of the clerical services for the pension system.

(b-1) The board may hire an executive director. The executive director, acting under the direction of the board, shall handle the operations of the plan and shall perform other duties as the board may assign. The executive director shall also serve as the plan administrator for purposes of complying with Subchapter A, Chapter 804, Government Code.

(c) The board may employ professional investment managers and advisors to manage, or advise the board regarding the management and investment of, the fund. These professional services may include investment counseling, evaluation of fund performance, investment research, and other comparable services.

(d) The board may employ one or more actuaries, legal counsel, accountants, or other professionals and pay the compensation for these services from the fund.

(e) The board shall hold regular monthly meetings at the time and place it designates by resolution. The chairman, secretary, or any four board members may call a special meeting of the board.

(f) Each board member is entitled to one vote.

(g) Notice shall be given to all board members, unless waived in writing, of any proposed meeting, by any method reasonably calculated to provide adequate notice of the meeting. The notice may be delivered by mail, in-hand personal delivery, or facsimile or other electronically transmitted notice with recordation of receipt by the receiving board member. If all board members attend a meeting, however, failure to give notice as required by this subsection is excused.

(h) The board shall keep accurate minutes of its meetings and records of its proceedings.

Sec. 5A. QUALIFICATIONS OF CITY ACTUARY. (a) An actuary hired by the city for purposes of this article must be an actuary from a professional service firm who:

(1) is not already engaged by the pension system or any other fund or pension system authorized under Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes, or Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide actuarial services to the pension system or other fund or pension system, as applicable;

(2) has a minimum of 10 years of professional actuarial experience; and

(3) is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries or a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and meets the applicable requirements to issue statements of actuarial opinion.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, the city actuary must at least meet the qualifications required by the board for the pension system actuary. The city actuary is not required to have greater qualifications than those of the pension system actuary.

Sec. 5B. LIABILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) The trustees, executive director, and employees of the pension system are fully protected from and free of liability for any action taken or suffered by them that were performed in good faith and in reliance on an actuary, accountant, counsel, or other professional service provider, or in reliance on records provided by the city.

(b) The officers and employees of the city are fully protected and free of liability for any action taken or suffered by the officer or employee, as applicable, in good faith and on reliance on an actuary, accountant, counsel, or other professional service provider.

(c) The protection from liability provided by this section is cumulative of and in addition to any other constitutional, statutory, or common law official or governmental immunity, defense, and civil or procedural protection provided to the city or pension system as a governmental entity and to a city or pension system official or employee as an official or employee of a governmental entity. Except for a waiver expressly provided by this article, this article does not grant an implied waiver of any immunity.

Sec. 6. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The board shall retain control over all money collected or to be collected for the pension system, shall keep separate from all other funds all money for the use and benefit of the system, and shall keep a record of all claims, receipts, and disbursements in one or more books maintained for that purpose.

(b) The board shall establish the policies and procedures for disbursements from the fund that it considers appropriate.

(c) The board may reimburse a board member or an officer or employee of the board for liability imposed as damages because of an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's capacity as a fiduciary or co-fiduciary of assets of the fund or as an officer or employee of the board and for costs and expenses incurred by a fiduciary or co-fiduciary officer or employee in defense of a claim of an alleged act, error, or omission, or may purchase from an insurer licensed to do business in this state one or more policies of insurance that provide for the reimbursement. However, no reimbursement may be provided and no policy of insurance may be purchased under this subsection that would provide for reimbursement of a board member or an officer or employee of the board for liability imposed or expenses incurred because of the individual's personal dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently. The cost of reimbursement or insurance coverage purchased under this subsection shall be paid from money in the fund.

(d) The board shall administer the pension system consistent with the applicable provisions of the code.

(e) The board is vested with the power to adopt for the administration of the pension system written rules and guidelines consistent with this article, including rules or guidelines to ensure that the pension system and the fund meet the qualification requirements of the code and regulations and rulings issued under the code and that are applicable to governmental plans.

(e-1) The board may sue on behalf of the pension system in any court with proper subject matter jurisdiction regardless of location. The board has sole authority to litigate matters on behalf of the pension system.

(f) The board has full discretion and authority to:

(1) administer the pension system;

(2) construe and interpret this article and any summary plan descriptions or benefits procedures;

(3) subject to Section 9F of this article, correct any defect, supply any omission, and reconcile any inconsistency that appears in this article; and

(4) take all other acts necessary to carry out the purpose of this article in a manner and to the extent that the board considers expedient to administer this article for the greatest benefit of all members.

(f-1) Except as provided by Section 9F of this article, all decisions of the board under Subsection (f) of this section are final and binding on all affected parties.

(g) The board, if reasonably necessary in the course of performing a board function, may issue process or subpoena a witness or the production of a book, record, or other document as to any matter affecting retirement, disability, or death benefits under any pension plan provided by the pension system. The presiding officer of the board may issue, in the name of the board, a subpoena only if a majority of the board approves. The presiding officer of the board, or the presiding officer's designee, shall administer an oath to each witness. A peace officer shall serve a subpoena issued by the board. If the person to whom a subpoena is directed fails to comply, the board may bring suit to enforce the subpoena in a district court of the county in which the person resides or in the county in which the book, record, or other document is located. If the district court finds that good cause exists for issuance of the subpoena, the court shall order compliance. The district court may modify the requirements of a subpoena that the court finds are unreasonable. Failure to obey the order of the district court is punishable as contempt.

(h) The board is not subject to Title 6, Property Code.

(i) If the board or its designee determines that any person to whom a payment under this article is due is a minor or is unable to care for the person's affairs because of a physical or mental disability, and if the board or its designee, as applicable, determines the person does not have a guardian or other legal representative and that the estate of the person is insufficient to justify the expense of establishing a guardianship, or continuing a guardianship after letters of guardianship have expired, then until current letters of guardianship are filed with the pension system, the board or its designee, as applicable, may make the payment:

(1) to the spouse of the person, as trustee for the person;

(2) to an individual or entity actually providing for the needs of and caring for the person, as trustee for the person; or

(3) to a public agency or private charitable organization providing assistance or services to the aged or incapacitated that agrees to accept and manage the payment for the benefit of the person as a trustee.

(j) The board or its designee is not responsible for overseeing how a person to whom payment is made under Subsection (i) of this section uses or otherwise applies the payments. Payments made under Subsection (i) of this section constitute a complete discharge of the pension system's liability and obligation to the person on behalf of whom payment is made.

Sec. 7. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER. (a) An elected board member may be removed from the board either by a vote of the membership of the pension system at a removal election initiated and held as provided by this section or by a vote of five board members together with a decision to remove the board member made by a hearing examiner as provided by this section.

(b) An appointed member of the board may be removed from the board by the administrative head of the city.

(c) To initiate an election for removal of an elected board member, a petition for removal signed by at least one-third of the members and retired members of the pension system must be filed with the board not later than the 45th day after the date the first signature on the petition is obtained. Each signature must be legible and accompanied by the signer's printed name and employee payroll number, if any. A member's payroll number may not be publicly disclosed. A removal election must be held not later than the 30th day after the date the board certifies that a petition for removal satisfies the requirements for a petition under this subsection. The results of a removal election are binding only if a majority of the active and retired members participate in the election. A board member's service on the board ends on the declaration by the board that a majority of those voting in the removal election voted in favor of removal.

(d) On the date the board makes a declaration under Subsection (c) of this section, the board shall call a special election to be held not earlier than the 20th or later than the 60th day after that date to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the person who was removed. The person who was removed is not eligible to run in the special election but is eligible to run in all subsequent board elections.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by Subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a board member may be removed only as provided by this subsection and Subsections (f) and (g) of this section. After an affirmative vote of the board to remove a board member under Subsection (a) of this section, the board or its designee and the board member whose removal is proposed shall attempt to agree on the selection of an impartial hearing examiner. If the parties do not agree on the selection of a hearing examiner not later than the 10th day after the date the board votes to remove the board member, on the next workday the parties involved shall request a list of seven qualified neutral arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or another arbitration organization with similarly stringent standards. The board member whose removal is proposed and the board or their designees may agree on one of the seven neutral arbitrators on the list. If the parties fail to agree before the 26th day after the date the board first votes to remove the board member, each party or the party's designee shall alternate striking a name from the list, and the name remaining is the hearing examiner. The board member whose removal is proposed or the board member's designee is entitled to strike the first name. If the 25th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the parties must strike names from the list on the next workday. The parties or their designees must agree on a date for the hearing that is within the period prescribed by Subsection (f) of this section.

(f) The hearing must begin as soon as the hearing examiner can be scheduled but not later than the 60th day after the date the board votes to remove the board member. In a hearing conducted under this subsection, the hearing examiner may issue subpoenas. The parties may agree to an expedited hearing procedure. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, in an expedited procedure, the hearing examiner must issue a decision not later than the 10th day after the date the hearing ends. Unless operating under an expedited hearing procedure, the hearing examiner shall make a reasonable effort to issue a decision not later than the 30th day after the date the hearing ends. The hearing examiner's inability to meet the time requirements imposed by this subsection does not affect the hearing examiner's jurisdiction or final decision. The final decision of the hearing examiner may be either to remove the board member or not to remove the board member from the board. The hearing examiner's fees and expenses shall be paid by the pension system. The costs of a witness shall be paid by the party who calls the witness.

(g) If the hearing examiner's decision is to remove a board member, the person removed is entitled to an opportunity to have the hearing examiner's decision reviewed. To have the decision reviewed, not later than the 30th day after the date of a decision under Subsection (f) of this section, the person removed must obtain signatures of at least one-third of the active and retired members of the pension system requesting an election to overrule the removal decision under Subsection (f). If the 30th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the following workday is considered the 30th day. Each signature must indicate the signing date beside the signature, be legible, and be accompanied by the signer's printed name and employee payroll number, if any. A member's payroll number may not be publicly disclosed. The board shall verify the list not later than the 10th day after the date the board receives it. Not later than the 30th day after the date the board has verified the signatures, the board shall hold an election among the active and retired members. If a majority of the votes cast at an election in which a majority of the active and retired members of the pension system participate favor overruling the hearing examiner's decision, the board member shall be reinstated. If a majority do not vote to overrule the decision to remove a board member, a replacement election must be held not later than the 30th day after the date of the preceding election.

(h) During the period beginning on the date of the board vote to remove a board member and ending on the date the board member is reinstated under this section, the person's privileges as a board member, including voting privileges, are suspended.

Sec. 8. CONTRIBUTIONS BY MEMBERS. (a) Subject to adjustments authorized by Section 9D or 9E of this article, each active member of the pension system shall pay into the system each month 10.5 percent of the member's pay. The payments shall be deducted by the city from the salary of each active member each payroll period and paid to the pension system. Except for the repayment of withdrawn contributions under Section 17(f) of this article and rollovers permitted by Section 17(h) of this article, a person may not be required or permitted to make any payments into the pension system after the person separates from service.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

Sec. 9. CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE CITY. (a) Beginning with the year 2017 effective date, the city shall make contributions to the pension system for deposit into the fund as provided by this section and Section 9A, 9B, 9D, or 9E of this article, as applicable. The city shall contribute:

(1) beginning with the year 2017 effective date and ending with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, an amount equal to the city contribution rate, as determined in the initial risk sharing valuation study conducted under Section 9B of this article and adjusted under Section 9D or 9E of this article, as applicable, multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the fiscal year; and

(2) for each fiscal year after the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, an amount equal to the city contribution rate, as determined in a subsequent risk sharing valuation study conducted under Section 9A of this article and adjusted under Section 9D or 9E of this article, as applicable, multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the applicable fiscal year.

(b) Except by written agreement between the city and the board under Section 27 of this article providing for an earlier contribution date, at least biweekly, the city shall make the contributions required by Subsection (a) of this section by depositing with the pension system an amount equal to the city contribution rate multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the biweekly period.

(1) the first contribution by the city under this section for the fiscal year shall be made not later than the date payment is made to employees for their first full biweekly pay period beginning on or after the first day of the fiscal year; and

(2) the final contribution by the city under this section for the fiscal year shall be made not later than the date payment is made to employees for the final biweekly pay period of the fiscal year.

(d) In addition to the amounts required under this section, the city may at any time contribute additional amounts to the pension system for deposit in the pension fund by entering into a written agreement with the board in accordance with Section 27 of this article.

(e) The governing body of a city to which this article applies by ordinance or resolution may provide that the city pick up active member contributions required by Section 8 of this article so that the contributions of all active members of the pension system qualify as picked-up contributions under Section 414(h)(2) of the code. If the governing body of a city adopts an ordinance or resolution under this section, the city, the board, and any other necessary party shall implement the action as soon as practicable. Contributions picked up as provided by this subsection shall be included in the determination of an active member's pay, deposited to the individual account of the active member on whose behalf they are made, and treated for all purposes, other than federal tax purposes, in the same manner and with like effect as if they had been deducted from the salary of, and made by, the active member.

(f) Only amounts paid by the city to the pension system shall be credited against any amortization schedule of payments due to the pension system under this article.

(g) Subsection (f) of this section does not affect changes to an amortization schedule of a liability layer under Section 9A(a)(6)(F), 9B(i), or 9D(c)(4) of this article.

(h) Notwithstanding any other law and except for the pension obligation bond assumed under Section 9B(d)(2) of this article, the city may not issue a pension obligation bond to fund the city contribution rate under this section.

Sec. 9A. RISK SHARING VALUATION STUDIES. (a) The pension system and the city shall separately cause their respective actuaries to prepare a risk sharing valuation study in accordance with this section and actuarial standards of practice. A risk sharing valuation study must:

(1) be dated as of the first day of the fiscal year in which the study is required to be prepared;

(2) be included in the pension system's standard valuation study prepared annually for the pension system;

(3) calculate the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension system;

(4) be based on actuarial data provided by the pension system actuary or, if actuarial data is not provided, on estimates of actuarial data;

(5) estimate the city contribution rate, taking into account any adjustments required under Section 9D or 9E of this article for all applicable prior fiscal years;

(6) subject to Subsection (g) of this section, be based on the following assumptions and methods that are consistent with actuarial standards of practice:

(A) an ultimate entry age normal actuarial method;

(B) for purposes of determining the actuarial value of assets:

(i) except as provided by Subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and Section 9D(c)(1) or 9E(c)(2) of this article, an asset smoothing method recognizing actuarial losses and gains over a five-year period applied prospectively beginning on the year 2017 effective date; and

(ii) for the initial risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9B of this article, a marked-to-market method applied as of June 30, 2016;

(D) each liability layer is assigned an amortization period;

(F) the amortization period for each liability gain layer being:

(G) liability layers, including the legacy liability, funded according to the level percent of payroll method;

(H) the assumed rate of return, subject to adjustment under Section 9D(c)(2) of this article or, if Section 9B(g) of this article applies, adjustment in accordance with a written agreement entered into under Section 27 of this article, except the assumed rate of return may not exceed seven percent per annum;

(I) the price inflation assumption as of the most recent actuarial experience study, which may be reset by the board by plus or minus 50 basis points based on that actuarial experience study;

(J) projected salary increases and payroll growth rate set in consultation with the city's finance director; and

(K) payroll for purposes of determining the corridor midpoint and city contribution rate must be projected using the annual payroll growth rate assumption, which for purposes of preparing any amortization schedule may not exceed three percent; and

(7) be revised and restated, if appropriate, not later than:

(A) the date required by a written agreement entered into between the city and the board; or

(B) the 30th day after the date required action is taken by the board under Section 9D or 9E of this article to reflect any changes required by either section.

(b) As soon as practicable after the end of a fiscal year, the pension system actuary at the direction of the pension system and the city actuary at the direction of the city shall separately prepare a proposed risk sharing valuation study based on the fiscal year that just ended.

(c) Not later than September 30 following the end of the fiscal year, the pension system shall provide to the city actuary, under a confidentiality agreement with the board in which the city actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Section 29 of this article, the actuarial data described by Subsection (a)(4) of this section.

(d) Not later than the 150th day after the last day of the fiscal year:

(1) the pension system actuary, at the direction of the pension system, shall provide the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the pension system actuary under Subsection (b) of this section to the city actuary; and

(2) the city actuary, at the direction of the city, shall provide the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the city actuary under Subsection (b) of this section to the pension system actuary.

(e) Each actuary described by Subsection (d) of this section may provide copies of the proposed risk sharing valuation studies to the city or to the pension system, as appropriate.

(f) If, after exchanging proposed risk sharing valuation studies under Subsection (d) of this section, it is found that the difference between the estimated city contribution rate recommended in the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the pension system actuary and the estimated city contribution rate recommended in the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the city actuary for the corresponding fiscal year is:

(1) less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated city contribution rate recommended by the pension system actuary will be the estimated city contribution rate for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section, and the proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared for the pension system is considered to be the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for the purposes of this article; or

(2) greater than two percentage points, the city actuary and the pension system actuary shall have 20 business days to reconcile the difference, provided that without the mutual agreement of both actuaries, the difference in the estimated city contribution rate recommended by the city actuary and the estimated city contribution rate recommended by the pension system actuary may not be further increased and:

(A) if, as a result of reconciliation efforts under this subdivision, the difference is reduced to less than or equal to two percentage points:

(i) the estimated city contribution rate proposed under the reconciliation by the pension system actuary will be the estimated city contribution rate for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section; and

(ii) the pension system's risk sharing valuation study is considered to be the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for the purposes of this article; or

(B) if, after 20 business days, the pension system actuary and the city actuary are not able to reach a reconciliation that reduces the difference to an amount less than or equal to two percentage points:

(i) the city actuary at the direction of the city and the pension system actuary at the direction of the pension system each shall deliver to the finance director of the city and the executive director of the pension system a final risk sharing valuation study with any agreed-to changes, marked as the final risk sharing valuation study for each actuary; and

(ii) not later than the 90th day before the first day of the next fiscal year, the finance director and the executive director shall execute a joint addendum to the final risk sharing valuation study received by them under Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph that is a part of the final risk sharing valuation study for the fiscal year for all purposes and reflects the arithmetic average of the estimated city contribution rates for the fiscal year stated by the city actuary and the pension system actuary in the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section, and for reporting purposes the pension system may treat the pension system actuary's risk sharing valuation study with the addendum as the final risk sharing valuation study.

(g) The assumptions and methods used and the types of actuarial data and financial information used to prepare the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 9B of this article shall be used to prepare each subsequent risk sharing valuation study under this section, unless changed based on the actuarial experience study conducted under Section 9C of this article.

(h) The actuarial data provided under Subsection (a)(4) of this section may not include the identifying information of individual members.

Sec. 9B. INITIAL RISK SHARING VALUATION STUDIES; CORRIDOR MIDPOINT. (a) The pension system and the city shall separately cause their respective actuaries to prepare an initial risk sharing valuation study that is dated as of July 1, 2016, in accordance with this section. An initial risk sharing valuation study must:

(1) except as otherwise provided by this section, be prepared in accordance with Section 9A of this article and, for purposes of Section 9A(a)(4) of this article, be based on actuarial data as of June 30, 2016, or, if actuarial data is not provided, on estimates of actuarial data; and

(2) project the corridor midpoint for 31 fiscal years beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.

(b) If the initial risk sharing valuation study has not been prepared consistent with this section before the year 2017 effective date, as soon as practicable after the year 2017 effective date:

(1) the pension system shall provide to the city actuary, under a confidentiality agreement, the necessary actuarial data used by the pension system actuary to prepare the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study; and

(2) not later than the 30th day after the date the city's actuary receives the actuarial data:

(A) the city actuary, at the direction of the city, shall provide a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study to the pension system actuary; and

(B) the pension system actuary, at the direction of the pension system, shall provide a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study to the city actuary.

(c) If, after exchanging proposed initial risk sharing valuation studies under Subsection (b)(2) of this section, it is determined that the difference between the estimated city contribution rate for any fiscal year recommended in the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the pension system actuary and in the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the city actuary is:

(1) less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated city contribution rate for that fiscal year recommended by the pension system actuary will be the estimated city contribution rate for purposes of Section 9A(a)(5) of this article; or

(2) greater than two percentage points, the city actuary and the pension system actuary shall have 20 business days to reconcile the difference and:

(A) if, as a result of reconciliation efforts under this subdivision, the difference in any fiscal year is reduced to less than or equal to two percentage points, the estimated city contribution rate recommended by the pension system actuary for that fiscal year will be the estimated city contribution rate for purposes of Section 9A(a)(5) of this article; or

(B) if, after 20 business days, the city actuary and the pension system actuary are not able to reach a reconciliation that reduces the difference to an amount less than or equal to two percentage points for any fiscal year:

(i) the city actuary at the direction of the city and the pension system actuary at the direction of the pension system each shall deliver to the finance director of the city and the executive director of the pension system a final initial risk sharing valuation study with any agreed-to changes, marked as the final initial risk sharing valuation study for each actuary; and

(ii) the finance director and the executive director shall execute a joint addendum to the final initial risk sharing valuation study that is a part of each final initial risk sharing valuation study for all purposes and that reflects the arithmetic average of the estimated city contribution rate for each fiscal year in which the difference was greater than two percentage points for purposes of Section 9A(a)(5) of this article, and for reporting purposes the pension system may treat the pension system actuary's initial risk sharing valuation study with the addendum as the final initial risk sharing valuation study.

(d) In preparing the initial risk sharing valuation study, the city actuary and pension system actuary shall:

(1) adjust the actuarial value of assets to be equal to the market value of assets as of July 1, 2016;

(2) assume the issuance of planned pension obligation bonds by December 31, 2017, in accordance with Subsection (j)(2) of this section; and

(3) assume benefit and contribution changes contemplated by this article as of the year 2017 effective date.

(e) If the city actuary does not prepare an initial risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this section, the pension system actuary's initial risk sharing valuation study will be used as the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this article unless the city did not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study because the pension system actuary did not provide the necessary actuarial data in a timely manner. If the city did not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study because the pension system actuary did not provide the necessary actuarial data in a timely manner, the city actuary shall have 60 days to prepare the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study on receipt of the necessary information.

(f) If the pension system actuary does not prepare a proposed initial risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this section, the proposed initial risk sharing valuation study prepared by the city actuary will be the final risk sharing valuation study for purposes of this article.

(g) The city and the board may agree on a written transition plan for resetting the corridor midpoint:

(1) if at any time the funded ratio is equal to or greater than 100 percent; or

(2) for any fiscal year after the payoff year of the legacy liability.

(h) If the city and the board have not entered into an agreement described by Subsection (g) of this section in a given fiscal year, the corridor midpoint will be the corridor midpoint determined for the 31st fiscal year in the initial risk sharing valuation study prepared in accordance with this section.

(i) If the city makes a contribution to the pension system of at least $5 million more than the amount that would be required by Section 9(a) of this article, a liability gain layer with the same remaining amortization period as the legacy liability is created and the corridor midpoint shall be decreased by the amortized amount in each fiscal year covered by the liability gain layer produced divided by the projected pensionable payroll.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, including Section 9F of this article:

(1) if the city fails to deliver the proceeds of pension obligation bonds totaling $750 million on or before March 31, 2018, the board shall:

(A) except as provided by Paragraph (B) of this subdivision, immediately rescind, prospectively, any or all benefit changes made effective under S.B. No. 2190, Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as of the year 2017 effective date; or

(B) reestablish the deadline for the delivery of pension obligation bond proceeds, which may not be later than May 31, 2018, reserving the right to rescind the benefit changes authorized by this subdivision if the bond proceeds are not delivered by the reestablished deadline; and

(2) subject to Subsection (k) of this section, if the board rescinds benefit changes under Subdivision (1) of this subsection or pension obligation bond proceeds are not delivered on or before December 31, 2017, the initial risk sharing valuation study shall be prepared again and restated without assuming the delivery of the pension obligation bond proceeds, the later delivery of pension obligation bond proceeds, or the rescinded benefit changes, as applicable, and the resulting city contribution rate will become effective in the fiscal year following the completion of the restated initial risk sharing valuation study.

(k) The restated initial risk sharing valuation study required under Subsection (j)(2) of this section must be completed at least 30 days before the start of the fiscal year:

(1) ending June 30, 2019, if the board does not reestablish the deadline under Subsection (j)(1) of this section; or

(2) immediately following the reestablished deadline, if the board reestablishes the deadline under Subsection (j)(1) of this section and the city fails to deliver the pension obligation bond proceeds described by Subsection (j)(1) of this section by the reestablished deadline.

Sec. 9C. ACTUARIAL EXPERIENCE STUDIES. (a) At least once every four years, the pension system actuary at the direction of the pension system shall conduct an actuarial experience study in accordance with actuarial standards of practice. The actuarial experience study required by this subsection must be completed not later than September 30 of the year in which the study is required to be conducted.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided by Sections 9A(a)(6)(A)-(I) of this article, actuarial assumptions and methods used in the preparation of a risk sharing valuation study, other than the initial risk sharing valuation study, shall be based on the results of the most recent actuarial experience study.

(c) Not later than the 180th day before the date the board may consider adopting any assumptions and methods for purposes of Section 9A of this article, the pension system shall provide the city actuary with a substantially final draft of the pension system's actuarial experience study, including:

(1) all assumptions and methods recommended by the pension system's actuary; and

(2) summaries of the reconciled actuarial data used in creation of the actuarial experience study.

(d) Not later than the 60th day after the date the city receives the final draft of the pension system's actuarial experience study under Subsection (c) of this section, the city actuary and pension system actuary shall confer and cooperate on reconciling and producing a final actuarial experience study. During the period prescribed by this subsection, the pension system actuary may modify the recommended assumptions in the draft actuarial experience study to reflect any changes to assumptions and methods to which the pension system actuary and the city actuary agree.

(e) At the city actuary's written request, the pension system shall provide additional actuarial data used by the pension system actuary to prepare the draft actuarial experience study, provided that confidential data may only be provided subject to a confidentiality agreement in which the city actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Section 29 of this article.

(f) The city actuary at the direction of the city shall provide in writing to the pension system actuary and the pension system:

(1) any assumptions and methods recommended by the city actuary that differ from the assumptions and methods recommended by the pension system actuary; and

(2) the city actuary's rationale for each method or assumption the actuary recommends and determines to be consistent with standards adopted by the Actuarial Standards Board.

(g) Not later than the 30th day after the date the pension system actuary receives the city actuary's written recommended assumptions and methods and rationale under Subsection (f) of this section, the pension system shall provide a written response to the city identifying any assumption or method recommended by the city actuary that the pension system does not accept. If any assumption or method is not accepted, the pension system shall recommend to the city the names of three independent actuaries for purposes of this section.

(h) An actuary may only be recommended, selected, or engaged by the pension system as an independent actuary under this section if the person:

(1) is not already engaged by the city, the pension system, or any other fund or pension system authorized under Article 6243e.2(1), Revised Statutes, or Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide actuarial services to the city, the pension system, or another fund or pension system referenced in this subdivision;

(2) is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; and

(3) has at least five years of experience as an actuary working with one or more public retirement systems with assets in excess of $1 billion.

(i) Not later than the 20th day after the date the city receives the list of three independent actuaries under Subsection (g) of this section, the city shall identify and the pension system shall hire one of the listed independent actuaries on terms acceptable to the city and the pension system to perform a scope of work acceptable to the city and the pension system. The city and the pension system each shall pay 50 percent of the cost of the independent actuary engaged under this subsection. The city shall be provided the opportunity to participate in any communications between the independent actuary and the pension system concerning the engagement, engagement terms, or performance of the terms of the engagement.

(j) The independent actuary engaged under Subsection (i) of this section shall receive on request from the city or the pension system:

(1) the pension system's draft actuarial experience study, including all assumptions and methods recommended by the pension system actuary;

(2) summaries of the reconciled actuarial data used to prepare the draft actuarial experience study;

(3) the city actuary's specific recommended assumptions and methods together with the city actuary's written rationale for each recommendation;

(4) the pension system actuary's written rationale for its recommendations; and

(5) if requested by the independent actuary and subject to a confidentiality agreement in which the independent actuary agrees to comply with the confidentiality provisions of this article, additional confidential actuarial data.

(k) Not later than the 30th day after the date the independent actuary receives all the requested information under Subsection (j) of this section, the independent actuary shall advise the pension system and the city whether it agrees with either the assumption or method recommended by the city actuary or the corresponding method or assumption recommended by the pension system actuary, together with the independent actuary's rationale for making the determination. During the period prescribed by this subsection, the independent actuary may discuss recommendations in simultaneous consultation with the pension system actuary and the city actuary.

(l) The pension system and the city may not seek any information from any prospective independent actuary about possible outcomes of the independent actuary's review.

(m) If an independent actuary has questions or concerns regarding an engagement entered into under this section, the independent actuary shall simultaneously consult with both the city actuary and the pension system actuary regarding the questions or concerns. This subsection does not limit the pension system's authorization to take appropriate steps to complete the engagement of the independent actuary on terms acceptable to both the pension system and the city or to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the independent actuary, if needed.

(n) If the board does not adopt an assumption or method recommended by the city actuary to which the independent actuary agrees, or recommended by the pension system actuary, the city actuary is authorized to use that recommended assumption or method in connection with preparation of a subsequent risk sharing valuation study under Section 9A of this article until the next actuarial experience study is conducted.

Sec. 9D. CITY CONTRIBUTION RATE WHEN ESTIMATED CITY CONTRIBUTION RATE LOWER THAN CORRIDOR MIDPOINT; AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. (a) This section governs the determination of the city contribution rate applicable in a fiscal year if the estimated city contribution rate is lower than the corridor midpoint.

(b) If the funded ratio is:

(1) less than 90 percent, the city contribution rate for the fiscal year equals the corridor midpoint; or

(2) equal to or greater than 90 percent and the city contribution rate is:

(A) equal to or greater than the minimum contribution rate, the estimated city contribution rate is the city contribution rate for the fiscal year; or

(B) except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, less than the minimum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the city contribution rate for the fiscal year equals the minimum contribution rate achieved in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2)(B) of this section, the following adjustments shall be applied sequentially to the extent required to increase the estimated city contribution rate to equal the minimum contribution rate:

(1) first, adjust the actuarial value of assets equal to the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment causes the city contribution rate to increase;

(2) second, under a written agreement between the city and the board entered into under Section 27 of this article not later than April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, reduce the assumed rate of return;

(3) third, under a written agreement between the city and the board entered into under Section 27 of this article no later than April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, prospectively restore all or part of any benefit reductions or reduce increased employee contributions, in each case made after the year 2017 effective date; and

(d) If the funded ratio is:

(1) equal to or greater than 100 percent:

(A) all existing liability layers, including the legacy liability, are considered fully amortized and paid;

(B) the applicable fiscal year is the payoff year for the legacy liability; and

(C) for each fiscal year subsequent to the fiscal year described by Paragraph (B) of this subdivision, the corridor midpoint shall be determined as provided by Section 9B(g) of this article; and

(2) greater than 100 percent in a written agreement between the city and the pension system under Section 27 of this article, the pension system may reduce member contributions or increase pension benefits if, as a result of the action:

(A) the funded ratio is not less than 100 percent; and

(B) the city contribution rate is not more than the minimum contribution rate.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, if an agreement under Subsection (d) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the first day of the next fiscal year the board shall reduce member contributions and implement or increase cost of living adjustments, but only to the extent that the city contribution rate is set at or below the minimum contribution rate and the funded ratio is not less than 100 percent.

(f) If any member contribution reduction or benefit increase under Subsection (e) of this section has occurred within the previous three fiscal years, the board may not make additional adjustments to benefits, and the city contribution rate must be set to equal the minimum contribution rate.

Sec. 9E. CITY CONTRIBUTION RATE WHEN ESTIMATED CITY CONTRIBUTION RATE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN CORRIDOR MIDPOINT; AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS. (a) This section governs the determination of the city contribution rate in a fiscal year when the estimated city contribution rate is equal to or greater than the corridor midpoint.

(b) If the estimated city contribution rate is:

(1) less than or equal to the maximum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the estimated city contribution rate is the city contribution rate; or

(2) except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e) of this section, greater than the maximum contribution rate for the corresponding fiscal year, the city contribution rate equals the corridor midpoint achieved in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2) of this section, the following adjustments shall be applied sequentially to the extent required to decrease the estimated city contribution rate to equal the corridor midpoint:

(1) first, if the payoff year of the legacy liability was accelerated under Section 9D(c) of this article, extend the payoff year of existing liability loss layers, by extending the most recent loss layers first, to a payoff year not later than 30 years from the first day of the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study in which the liability loss layer is first recognized; and

(2) second, adjust the actuarial value of assets to the current market value of assets, if making the adjustment causes the city contribution rate to decrease.

(d) If the city contribution rate after adjustment under Subsection (c) of this section is greater than the third quarter line rate:

(1) the city contribution rate equals the third quarter line rate; and

(2) to the extent necessary to comply with Subdivision (1) of this subsection, the city and the board shall enter into a written agreement under Section 27 of this article to increase member contributions and make other benefits or plan changes not otherwise prohibited by applicable federal law or regulations.

(e) If an agreement under Subsection (d)(2) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the start of the next fiscal year to which the city contribution rate would apply, the board, to the extent necessary to set the city contribution rate equal to the third quarter line rate, shall:

(1) increase member contributions and decrease cost-of-living adjustments;

(2) increase the normal retirement age; or

(3) take any combination of the actions authorized under Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(f) If the city contribution rate remains greater than the corridor midpoint in the third fiscal year after adjustments are made in accordance with an agreement under Subsection (d)(2) of this section, in that fiscal year the city contribution rate equals the corridor midpoint achieved in accordance with Subsection (g) of this section.

(g) The city contribution rate must be set at the corridor midpoint under Subsection (f) of this section by:

(2) under a written agreement entered into between the city and the board under Section 27 of this article:

(A) increasing member contributions; and

(B) making any other benefits or plan changes not otherwise prohibited by applicable federal law or regulations.

(h) If an agreement under Subsection (g)(2) of this section is not reached on or before April 30 before the first day of the next fiscal year, before the start of the next fiscal year, the board, to the extent necessary to set the city contribution rate equal to the corridor midpoint, shall:

(1) increase member contributions and decrease cost-of-living adjustments;

(2) increase the normal retirement age; or

(3) take any combination of the actions authorized under Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

Sec. 9F. UNILATERAL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) Notwithstanding Section 6(f) or 5B of this article, the board may not change, terminate, or modify Sections 9 through 9E of this article.

(b) No unilateral decision or action by the board is binding on the city and no unilateral decision or action by the city is binding on the pension system with respect to the application of Sections 9 through 9E of this article unless expressly provided by a provision of those sections. Nothing in this subsection is intended to limit the powers or authority of the board.

Sec. 9G. STATE PENSION REVIEW BOARD; REPORT. (a) After preparing a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 9A or 9B of this article, the pension system and the city shall jointly submit a copy of the study or studies, as appropriate, to the State Pension Review Board for a determination that the pension system and city are in compliance with this article.

(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date an action is taken under Section 9D or 9E of this article, the pension system shall submit a report to the State Pension Review Board regarding any actions taken under those sections.

(c) The State Pension Review Board shall notify the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislative committees having principal jurisdiction over legislation governing public retirement systems if the State Pension Review Board determines the pension system or the city is not in compliance with Sections 9 through 9F of this article.

Sec. 10. INVESTMENT OF SURPLUS. (a) If the board determines that a surplus of funds exists in an amount exceeding the current demands upon the pension system, the board shall invest the surplus funds in the manner provided for by Chapter 802, Government Code.

(b) The board may select an investment manager or investment advisor if the board determines the service is desirable. Selection of managers or advisors must be made from firms that have made presentations in person or in writing to the board.

(c) The board may terminate a contract with an investment advisor at any time. The board may terminate a contract with an investment manager on notice the board considers appropriate. A contract may not require the pension system to pay a penalty for early termination. The costs of investment management or advisory services shall be paid from the fund.

Sec. 10A. REPORT ON INVESTMENTS BY INDEPENDENT INVESTMENT CONSULTANT. (a) At least once every three years, the board shall hire an independent investment consultant, including an independent investment consulting firm, to conduct a review of pension system investments and submit a report to the board and the city concerning that review. The independent investment consultant shall review and report on at least the following:

(1) the pension system's compliance with its investment policy statement, ethics policies, including policies concerning the acceptance of gifts, and policies concerning insider trading;

(2) the pension system's asset allocation, including a review and discussion of the various risks, objectives, and expected future cash flows;

(3) the pension system's portfolio structure, including the system's need for liquidity, cash income, real return, and inflation protection and the active, passive, or index approaches for different portions of the portfolio;

(4) investment manager performance reviews and an evaluation of the processes used to retain and evaluate managers;

(5) benchmarks used for each asset class and individual manager;

(6) evaluation of fees and trading costs;

(7) evaluation of any leverage, foreign exchange, or other hedging transaction; and

(8) an evaluation of investment-related disclosures in the pension system's annual reports.

(b) When the board retains an independent investment consultant under this section, the pension system may require the consultant to agree in writing to maintain the confidentiality of:

(1) information provided to the consultant that is reasonably necessary to conduct a review under this section; and

(2) any nonpublic information provided for the pension system for the review.

Sec. 11. SERVICE CREDIT. (a) A member who returns to service after an interruption in service is eligible for credit for the previous service to the extent provided by Section 17 or 19 of this article.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, if a member has withdrawn the contributions made during any previous period of service, the previous period of service may not be counted in determining years of service unless the contributions are repaid to the pension system in accordance with Section 17 of this article.

(c) A member may not have any service credited for unused sick leave, vacation pay, accumulated overtime, or equivalent types of pay until the date the member retires, at which time the member may apply some or all of the service to satisfy the requirements for retirement, although the member otherwise could not meet the service requirement without the credit.

(d) The board shall determine the prior service to be credited to each employee of the police department who becomes an active member of the pension system. The board shall rely on the personnel records of the city or the police department in determining prior service credits.

Sec. 12. RETIREMENT; AMOUNT OF PENSION; ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS. (a) A member who separates from service after attaining normal retirement age is eligible to receive a monthly service pension, beginning in the month of separation from service. A member who separates from service as a classified police officer with the city after November 23, 1998, after earning 10 or more but less than 20 years of service in the pension system and who complies with all applicable requirements of Section 19 of this article is eligible to receive a monthly service pension, beginning in the month the individual attains normal retirement age. An individual may not receive a pension under this article while still an active member. All service pensions end with the month in which the retired member dies. The city shall supply all personnel, financial, and payroll records necessary to establish the member's eligibility for a benefit, the member's credited service, and the amount of the benefit. The city must provide those records in the format specified by the pension system.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, including Subsection (b-3) of this section, the monthly service pension of a member who:

(1) is hired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired before October 9, 2004, who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling, is equal to the sum of:

(A) 2.75 percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's first 20 years of service; and

(B) two percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's years of service in excess of the 20 years of service described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision; or

(2) except as provided by Subdivision (1) of this subsection and subject to Subsection (b-3) of this section, is hired or rehired as an active member on or after October 9, 2004, is equal to the sum of:

(A) 2.25 percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's first 20 years of service; and

(B) two percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service in excess of 20 years of service described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(b-1) A member who begins to receive a monthly service pension under Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall also receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $5,000 at the same time the first monthly pension payment is made. The lump-sum payment under this subsection is not available to a member who has previously received a $5,000 payment under this section or Section 16 of this article. A member described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section may not receive the lump-sum payment described by this subsection.

(b-2) For purposes of Subsections (b) and (b-1) of this section, partial years shall be computed to the nearest one-twelfth of a year.

(b-3) A member's monthly service pension determined under Subsection (b)(2) of this section may not exceed 80 percent of the member's final average pay.

(c) Subject to Subsection (c-2) of this section, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the pension payable to a retired member or survivor who is 55 years of age or older as of April 1 of the applicable fiscal year, a member or survivor who received benefits or survivor benefits before June 8, 1995, or a survivor of an active member who dies from a cause connected with the performance of the member's duties shall be adjusted annually, effective April 1 of each year, upward at a rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the pension system actuary, minus 500 basis points.

(c-1) Subject to Subsection (c-2) of this section, for the pension system's fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, June 30, 2019, and June 30, 2020, the pension payable to each retired member or survivor who is 70 years of age or older shall be adjusted annually, effective April 1 of each year, upward at a rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the pension system actuary, minus 500 basis points.

(c-2) The percentage rate prescribed by Subsections (c) and (c-1) of this section may not be less than zero percent or more than four percent, irrespective of the return rate of the pension system's investment portfolio.

(d) A retired member who receives a service pension under this article is eligible to receive an additional amount each month equal to $150, beginning on the later of the date the retired member's pension begins or the date the first monthly payment becomes due after June 18, 2001, and continuing until the end of the month in which the retired member dies. This amount is intended to defray the retired member's group medical insurance costs and will be paid directly by the fund to the retired member for the retired member's lifetime.

(e) At the end of each calendar year beginning after 1998, and subject to the conditions provided by this subsection, the pension system shall make a 13th benefit payment to each member or survivor who is hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, who was reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling after that date, and who is receiving a service pension. The amount of the 13th payment shall be the same as the last monthly payment received by the retiree or survivor before issuance of the payment, except the payment received by any person who has been in pay status for less than 12 months shall be for a prorated amount determined by dividing the amount of the last payment received by 12 and multiplying this amount by the number of months the person has been in pay status. The 13th payment may be made only for those calendar years in which the pension system's funded ratio is 120 percent or greater.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, service pensions that began before May 1, 2001, shall continue to be paid in accordance with applicable prior law, subject only to the adjustments that are specifically provided by this section.

(h) Final average pay for a member who retires after participating in a phase-down program in which the member receives a periodic payment that is generated from the member's accumulated sick time, vacation time, and overtime balances shall be based on the final average pay the member received on the earlier of the date:

(1) immediately preceding the date the member began phase-down participation; or

(2) if the member began DROP participation on or after the year 2017 effective date, the member began participation in DROP.

(i) The computation of final average pay shall be made in accordance with procedures and policies adopted by the board.

(j) A member participating in the phase-down program, defined in the 2011 labor agreement between the city and the police officers' union, who has separated from service is eligible to receive a monthly service pension as if the member had attained normal retirement age. Notwithstanding any other law, a member participating in option A or B of the phase-down program whose effective date of entry into DROP is on or before the year 2017 effective date is, on exiting the phase-down program and separating from service, eligible to receive a monthly service pension equal to the amount credited to the member's DROP account under Section 14(d) of this article immediately before the member separated from service.

(k) If a member is hired on or after October 9, 2004, the member may elect to receive a partial lump-sum optional payment equal to not more than 20 percent of the actuarial value of the member's accrued pension at retirement. The lump-sum payment under this subsection shall be actuarially neutral. Notwithstanding any other law, if a member elects to receive a lump-sum payment under this subsection, the value of the member's monthly service pension shall be reduced actuarially to reflect the lump-sum payment.

(l) A member who is receiving workers' compensation payments or who has received workers' compensation and subsequently retires or begins participation in DROP will have the member's pension or DROP benefit, as applicable, calculated on the pay that the member would have received had the member not been receiving workers' compensation benefits.

(m) For a member who is promoted or appointed to a position above the rank of captain on or after the year 2017 effective date, the member's monthly service pension and member contributions shall be based on, as determined by the board:

(1) the member's pay for the position the member held immediately before being promoted or appointed; or

(2) the pay of the highest civil rank for classified police officers for those members who have no prior service with the city, which pay must be calculated based on the three-year average prior to retirement.

Sec. 13. RESUMPTION OF SERVICE AS DEPARTMENT HEAD AFTER RETIREMENT. (a) The pension system shall suspend all pension payments to a retired member who has separated from service and is subsequently appointed as the department head of the police department. The suspension of payments begins on the effective date of the person's appointment.

(b) Pension benefits based on the person's previous period of service do not accrue during the period of pension payment suspension described by Subsection (a) of this section, but the person again becomes an active member during this period, and contributions of the city and the department head for the subsequent service are payable during the period. The department head retains credit for all previous service and acquires credit for the subsequent service unless the department head is or becomes a DROP participant.

(c) Once the department head again separates from service, pension benefits under this article shall resume based on both periods of service.

Sec. 14. DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN. (a) In this section "DROP benefit" means the total amount credited to a member's notional DROP account, payable as described by this section, plus a monthly retirement pension.

(b) An active member who was hired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired before October 9, 2004, who has been reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling after that date, and has at least 20 years of service with the police department may file with the pension system an election to participate in DROP and receive a DROP benefit instead of the standard form of pension provided by this article as of the date the active member attained 20 years of service. The election may be made, under procedures established by the board, by an eligible active member who has attained the required years of service. A DROP election that is made and accepted by the board may not be revoked.

(c) The monthly service pension or death benefits of an active member who is a DROP participant that were accrued under this article as it existed immediately before the year 2017 effective date remain accrued.

(c-1) The monthly service pension or death benefits of an active member who becomes a DROP participant on or after the year 2017 effective date will be determined as if the member had separated from service and begun receiving a pension on the effective date of the member's DROP election and the member does not retire but does not accrue additional service credit beginning on the effective date of the member's entry into DROP.

(c-2) For a member who exits DROP on or after the year 2017 effective date:

(1) any increases in the member's pay that occur on or after the effective date of the member's entry into DROP may not be used in computing the member's monthly service pension; and

(2) any cost-of-living adjustments that occur on or after the effective date of the member's entry into DROP and that otherwise would be applicable to the pension will not be made during the time the member participates in DROP.

(d) The member's DROP benefit is determined as provided by this subsection and Subsection (e) of this section. Each month an amount equal to the monthly service pension the active member would have been eligible to receive if the active member had separated from service on the effective date of entry into DROP, less any amount that is intended to help defray the active member's group medical insurance costs as described by Section 12(d) of this article, shall be credited to a notional DROP account for the active member. In any year in which a 13th payment is made to retired members under Section 12(e) of this article, an amount equal to the amount of the 13th payment that would have been made to the DROP participant if the DROP participant had retired on the date of DROP entry will be credited to the DROP account.

(e) As of the end of each month an amount is credited to each active member's notional DROP account at the rate of one-twelfth of a hypothetical earnings rate on amounts in the account. The hypothetical earnings rate is determined for each calendar year based on the compounded average of the aggregate annual rate of return on investments of the pension system for the five consecutive fiscal years ending June 30 preceding the calendar year to which the earnings rate applies, multiplied by 65 percent. The hypothetical earnings rate may not be less than 2.5 percent.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(f-1) If a DROP participant separates from service due to death, the participant's surviving spouse is eligible to receive benefits under Sections 16 and 16A of this article and the surviving spouse may elect to receive the DROP benefit in the form of an additional annuity over the life expectancy of the surviving spouse.

(g) In lieu of receiving a lump-sum DROP benefit on separation from service, a retired member who has been a DROP participant or, if separation from service was due to the DROP participant's death, the surviving spouse may leave the retired member's DROP account with the pension system, in which case interest will be credited to the DROP account in the manner described by Subsection (e) of this section.

(h) Instead of beginning to receive a service pension on separation from service in accordance with Section 12 of this article, a retired member who is a DROP participant may elect to have part or all of the amount that would otherwise be paid as a monthly service pension, less any amount required to pay the retired member's share of group medical insurance costs, credited to a DROP account, in which case the additional amounts will become eligible to be credited with hypothetical earnings in the same manner as the amounts described by Subsection (g) of this section. On and after the year 2017 effective date, additional amounts may not be credited to a DROP account under this subsection. Any amounts credited under this subsection before the year 2017 effective date shall remain accrued in a retired member's DROP account.

(i) A retired member who has not attained age 70-1/2, whether or not a DROP participant before retirement, may elect to have part or all of an amount equal to the monthly service pension the retired member would otherwise be entitled to receive, less any amount required to pay the retired member's share of group medical insurance costs, credited to a DROP account, in which case the amounts will become eligible to be credited with hypothetical earnings in the same manner as the amounts described by Subsection (g) of this section. On and after the year 2017 effective date, additional amounts may not be credited to a DROP account under this subsection. Any amounts credited under this subsection before the year 2017 effective date shall remain accrued in a retired member's DROP account.

(j) A retired member who is a DROP participant, or a surviving spouse, may elect to receive distribution of the DROP account in a one-time lump-sum payment or in any other form of distribution that is approved by the board and satisfies the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the code.

(k) If a retired member who is a DROP participant is rehired as an employee of the police department, any pension or DROP distribution that was being paid shall be suspended and the monthly amount described by Subsection (d) of this section will again begin to be credited to the DROP account while the member continues to be an employee. If the member's DROP account has been completely distributed, a new notional account may not be created and the monthly amount described by Subsection (d) of this section may not be credited to a DROP account on behalf of the member.

(l) The maximum number of years an active member may participate in DROP is 20 years. Except as provided by this subsection, after the DROP participant has reached the maximum number of years of DROP participation prescribed by this subsection, including DROP participants with 20 years or more in DROP on or before the year 2017 effective date, the DROP participant may not receive the monthly service pension that was credited to a notional DROP account but may receive the hypothetical earnings rate stated in Subsection (e) of this section. Notwithstanding the preceding, a member's DROP account balance before the year 2017 effective date may not be reduced under the preceding provisions of this subsection.

(m) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

Sec. 15. DISABILITY BENEFITS. (a) An active member who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for the performance of the member's duties as a result of a bodily injury received in, or illness caused by, the performance of those duties shall, on presentation to the board of proof of total and permanent incapacity, be retired and shall receive an immediate duty-connected disability pension equal to:

(1) for members hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, the greater of 55 percent of the member's final average pay at the time of retirement or the member's accrued service pension; or

(2) for members hired or rehired on or after October 9, 2004, the greater of 45 percent of the member's:

(A) final average pay at the time of retirement; or

(B) accrued service pension.

(a-1) If the injury or illness described by Subsection (a) of this section involves a traumatic event that directly causes an immediate cardiovascular condition resulting in a total disability, the member is eligible for a duty-connected disability pension. A disability pension granted by the board shall be paid to the member for the remainder of the member's life, as long as the incapacity remains, subject to Subsection (e) of this section. If a member is a DROP participant at the commencement of the member's disability, the member shall have the option of receiving the DROP balance in any manner that is approved by the board and that satisfies the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.104-1(b) (26 C.F.R. Section 1.104-1) and is otherwise available to any other member under this article.

(b) A member who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for the performance of the member's duties and is not eligible for either an immediate service pension or a duty-connected disability pension is eligible for an immediate monthly pension computed in the same manner as a service retirement pension but based on final average pay and service accrued to the date of the disability. The pension under this subsection may not be less than:

(1) for members hired before October 9, 2004, including a member who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling, 27.5 percent of the member's final average pay; or

(2) except as provided by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, for members hired or rehired on or after October 9, 2004, 22.5 percent of the member's final average pay.

(c) A member hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, who becomes eligible to receive a disability pension after November 23, 1998, is eligible to receive:

(1) subject to Subsection (c-1) of this section, a one-time lump-sum payment of $5,000 at the same time the first monthly disability pension payment is made, but only if the member has not previously received a $5,000 payment under this section or Section 12 of this article; and

(2) an additional amount each month equal to $150, beginning on the later of the date the pension begins or the date the first monthly payment becomes due after June 18, 2001, and continuing as long as the disability pension continues, to help defray the cost of group medical insurance.

(c-1) For any year in which a 13th payment is made to retired members under Section 12(e) of this article, a 13th payment, computed in the same manner and subject to the same conditions, shall also be paid to members who have retired under this section.

(d) A person may not receive a disability pension unless the person files with the board an application for a disability pension not later than 180 days after the date of separation from service, at which time the board shall have the person examined, not later than the 90th day after the date the member files the application, by a physician or physicians chosen and compensated by the board. The physician shall make a report and recommendations to the board regarding the extent of any disability and whether any disability that is diagnosed is a duty-connected disability. Except as provided by Subsection (j) of this section, a person may not receive a disability pension for an injury received or illness incurred after separation from service. In accordance with Section 6(g) of this article, the board may, through its presiding officer, issue process, administer oaths, examine witnesses, and compel witnesses to testify as to any matter affecting retirement, disability, or death benefits under any pension plan within the pension system.

(e) A retired member who has been retired for disability is subject at all times to reexamination by a physician chosen and compensated by the board and shall submit to further examination as the board may require. If a retired member refuses to submit to an examination, the board shall order the payments stopped. If a retired member who has been receiving a disability pension under this section recovers so that in the opinion of the board the retired member is able to perform the usual and customary duties formerly performed for the police department, and the retired member is reinstated or offered reinstatement to the position, or hired by another law enforcement agency to a comparable position, the board shall order the member's disability pension stopped. A member may apply for a normal pension benefit, if eligible, if the member's disability benefit payments are stopped by the board under this subsection.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 24.

(g) For purposes of this section, a member is totally and permanently incapacitated from performing duties if the member is prevented by a physical or mental injury or illness from performing duties in the police department after any reasonable accommodation offered by the police department and this condition is expected to be permanent.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(i) Effective for payments that become due after April 30, 2000, and instead of the disability benefit provided by Subsection (a) or (b) of this section, a member who suffers a catastrophic injury shall receive a monthly benefit equal to 100 percent of the member's final average pay determined as of the date of retirement, and the member's DROP balance, if any.

(j) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(k) A benefit payment that becomes due under this section is effective on the later of the first day the disabled member leaves the payroll of the city or the date the member signs the application for a disability pension.

(l) A disability pension may not be paid to a member for any disability if:

(1) the disability resulted from an intentionally self-inflicted injury or a chronic illness resulting from:

(A) an addiction by the member through a protracted course of non-coerced ingestion of alcohol, narcotics, or prescription drugs not prescribed to the member; or

(B) other substance abuse; or

(2) except as provided by Subsection (m) of this section, the disability was a result of the member's commission of a felony.

(m) The board may waive Subsection (l)(2) of this section if the board determines that facts exist that mitigate denying the member's application for a disability pension.

(n) A person who fraudulently applies for or receives a disability pension may be subject to criminal and civil prosecution.

Sec. 16. RIGHTS OF SURVIVORS. (a) For purposes of this article, a marriage is considered to exist only if the couple is lawfully married under the laws of a state, the District of Columbia, a United States territory, or a foreign jurisdiction and the marriage would be recognized as a marriage under the laws of at least one state, possession, or territory of the United States, regardless of domicile. In the case of a common-law marriage, a marriage declaration must be signed by the member and the member's common-law spouse before a notary public or similar official and recorded in the records of the applicable jurisdiction in which the couple resides at the commencement of the marriage. In addition, a marriage that is evidenced by a declaration of common-law marriage signed before a notary public or similar official after December 31, 1999, may not be treated as effective earlier than the date on which it was signed before the notary public or similar official.

(b) If a retired member dies after becoming eligible for a service or disability pension, the board shall pay an immediate monthly benefit as follows:

(1) to the surviving spouse for life, if there is a surviving spouse, a sum equal to the pension that was being received by the retired member at the time of death;

(2) to the guardian of any dependent child under 18 years of age or a child with a disability as long as the dependent child complies with the definition of dependent child under Section 2(7) of this article, on behalf of the dependent child, or directly to a dependent child described by Section 2(7)(B) of this article, and if there is no spouse eligible for an allowance, the sum a surviving spouse would have received, to be divided equally among all dependent children if there is more than one dependent child; or

(3) to any dependent parents for life if no spouse or dependent child is eligible for an allowance, the sum the spouse would have received, to be divided equally between the two parents if there are two dependent parents.

(c) If an active member of the pension system who has not completed 20 years of service in the police department is killed or dies from any cause growing out of or in consequence of any act clearly not in the actual performance of the member's official duty, the member's surviving spouse, dependent child or children, or dependent parent or parents are eligible to receive an immediate benefit. The benefit is computed in the same manner as a service retirement pension but is based on the deceased member's service and final average pay at the time of death. The monthly benefit may not be less than:

(1) 27.5 percent of the member's final average pay for members hired before October 9, 2004, including a member who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling; or

(2) 22.5 percent of the member's final average pay for members hired or rehired on or after October 9, 2004.

(e) If any active member is killed or dies from any cause growing out of or in consequence of the performance of the member's duty, the member's surviving spouse, dependent child or children, or dependent parent or parents are eligible to receive immediate benefits computed in accordance with Subsection (b) of this section, except that the benefit is equal to 100 percent of the member's final average pay, computed as of the date of death.

(f) A surviving spouse who receives a survivor's benefit under this article is eligible to receive an additional amount each month equal to $150, beginning with the later of the date the first payment of the survivor's benefit is due or the date the first monthly payment becomes due after June 18, 2001, and continuing until the end of the month in which the surviving spouse dies.

(g) A surviving spouse or dependent who becomes eligible to receive benefits with respect to an active member who was hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, who dies in active service after November 23, 1998, is eligible to receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $5,000 at the time the first monthly pension benefit is paid, if the member has not already received a $5,000 lump-sum payment under Section 12 or 15(c) of this article. If more than one dependent is eligible to receive a payment under this subsection, the $5,000 shall be divided equally among the eligible dependents. This payment has no effect on the amount of the surviving spouse's or dependents' monthly pension and may not be paid more than once.

(h) The monthly benefits of surviving spouses or dependents provided under this section, except the $150 monthly payments described by Subsection (f) of this section, shall be increased annually at the same time and by the same percentage as the pensions of retired members are increased in accordance with Section 12(c) or 12(c-1) of this article. Also, for any year in which a 13th payment is made pursuant to Section 12(e) of this article, a 13th payment, computed in the same manner and subject to the same conditions, shall also be made to the survivor who is eligible to receive death benefits at that time if the member would have been entitled to a 13th payment, if living.

(i) If a member or individual receiving a survivor's pension dies before monthly payments have been made for at least five years, leaving no person otherwise eligible to receive further monthly payments with respect to the member, the monthly payments shall continue to be made in the same amount as the last monthly payment made to the member or survivor until payments have been made for five years with respect to the member. The payments shall be made to the spouse of the member, if living, and if no spouse is living, to the natural or adopted children of the member, to be divided equally among the children if the member has more than one child. If the member has no spouse or children who are living, the benefit may not be paid. If the member dies after becoming eligible to receive benefits but before payments begin, leaving no survivors eligible for benefits, the amount of each monthly payment over the five-year period shall be the same as the monthly payment the member would have received if the member had taken disability retirement on the date of the member's death and shall be paid to the member's spouse or children in the manner provided by this subsection. If the member has no spouse or children who are living, then the benefit may not be paid. The member's estate or a beneficiary who is not a survivor or dependent is not eligible to receive the payment described by Subsection (g) of this section.

(j) A benefit payment made in accordance with this section on behalf of a minor or other person under a legal disability fully discharges the pension system's obligation to that person.

(k) A retired member or surviving spouse may designate a beneficiary on a form prescribed by the pension system to receive the final monthly payment owed but not received before the member's or surviving spouse's death.

(l) The board may at any time require a person receiving death benefits as a disabled child under this article to undergo a medical examination by a physician appointed or selected by the board for that purpose.

Sec. 16A. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FOR DROP. (a) Except for the marriage requirement described by Section 16(a) of this article, the provisions of Section 16 of this article pertaining to rights of survivors do not apply to an amount held in a member's DROP account. A member who participates in DROP may designate a beneficiary in the form and manner prescribed by or on behalf of the board to receive the balance of the member's DROP account in the event of the member's death, as permitted by Section 401(a)(9) of the code and the board's policies. A member who is married is considered to have designated the member's spouse as the member's beneficiary unless the spouse consents, in a notarized writing delivered to the board, to the designation of another person as beneficiary. If no designated beneficiary survives the member, the board shall pay the balance of the member's DROP account to the member's beneficiaries in the following order:

(1) to the member's spouse;

(2) if the member does not have a spouse, to each natural or adopted child of the member, or to the guardian of the child if the child is a minor or has a disability, in equal shares;

(3) if the member does not have a spouse or any children, to each surviving parent of the member in equal shares; or

(4) if the member has no beneficiaries described by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection, to the estate of the member.

(b) If a member names a spouse as a beneficiary and is subsequently divorced from that spouse, the divorce voids the designation of the divorced spouse as the member's beneficiary. A designation of a divorced spouse will cause the board to pay any balance remaining in the member's DROP account in the order prescribed by Subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The surviving spouse may designate a beneficiary on a form prescribed by the pension system to receive the balance of the DROP account owed but not received before the surviving spouse's death.

(d) Payment of the balance of the member's DROP account made in accordance with this section on behalf of a minor or other person under a legal disability fully discharges the pension system's obligation to that person.

Sec. 17. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; REFUNDS; REEMPLOYMENT. (a) When any active member of the pension system separates from service, either voluntarily or involuntarily, before becoming eligible for an immediate service retirement or disability pension, the member ceases to be an active member of the pension system.

(b) A member of the pension system who has not completed 20 years of service at the time of separation from service with the police department is eligible for a refund of the total of the contributions the member made to the pension system, plus any amount that was contributed for the member by the city and not applied in accordance with this section to provide the member with 10 years of service. The refund does not include interest, and neither the city nor the member is eligible for a refund of the contributions the city made on the member's behalf, except as expressly provided by this subsection. By receiving the refund, the member forfeits any service earned before separation from service, even if it is otherwise nonforfeitable.

(d) A member must apply to the board for a refund within one year after the date of separation from service. Failure to apply for the refund within the one-year period results in a forfeiture of the right to the refund except for an inactive member who is eligible for a pension. However, the board may reinstate any amount forfeited and allow the refund on application by the former member.

(e) Heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, or assignees are not eligible to apply for and receive the refund authorized by this section.

(f) If a person who separates from service and receives a refund is subsequently reemployed as an employee of the police department, the person shall be reinstated as an active member of the pension system. Prior service of the active member with the police department may not be counted toward a retirement pension unless the member pays to the pension system, not later than the 90th day after the date of a subsequent separation from service, an amount equal to any contributions previously refunded to the member under this section. Except as provided by Section 18 of this article, a person is not eligible to repay any withdrawn contributions unless the person is reemployed by the police department of the city for which the prior service was performed.

(g) A member who is contesting an indefinite suspension action may, on application to the board, receive a return of the member's contributions and be separated from service on receipt of the contributions; otherwise, a suspended member is considered to have a separation from service when a final decision of the arbitrator adverse to the member is rendered.

(h) Subject to procedures adopted by the board, the pension system shall accept a direct cash transfer of funds from another plan that is an eligible rollover distribution within the meaning of Section 402(f)(2)(A) of the code. The transfer shall be accepted only for the purpose of repaying contributions the member has previously withdrawn or for other purposes expressly authorized by the board's procedures.

(i) Former members reemployed on or after October 9, 2004, or current members who left service after October 9, 2004, if reemployed by the city, may purchase prior service credit at a rate of interest equal to 2.25 percent per year. Active members hired before October 9, 2004, who have not yet purchased prior service credit or members hired before October 9, 2004, who involuntarily separated from service but have been retroactively reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling may purchase prior service credit at a rate of interest equal to 2.75 percent per year. The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 18. EMPLOYMENT BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. (a) Except as provided by this section:

(1) credit may not be allowed to any person for service with any department in the city other than the police department;

(2) a person's service will be computed from the date of entry into the service of the police department as a classified police officer until the date of separation from service with the police department; and

(3) a member who received service credit for service with any department in the city other than the police department and who is receiving a monthly pension benefit or who began participation in DROP before the year 2017 effective date shall continue to have the service credit apply.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

(d) Classified police officers who were formerly employed by a city as park police, airport police, or marshals, who were involuntarily transferred from another city department to the police department of the city, and who are current active members of the pension system shall have the option to receive credit with the pension system for previous service with another pension system of the city, provided that a person may not receive service credit for both pension systems for the same period of service.

Sec. 19. PERSONS REJOINING OR TRANSFERRED BY CITY; SERVICE CREDIT; DOUBLE BENEFITS; RETURN TO SERVICE. (a) An employee of the city who has retired under this article or under former law governing the pension system and is or has been transferred by action of the city to a classified position in a police department included in the pension system again becomes an active member of the pension system as of the effective date of the transfer.

(b) A person who rejoins the pension system under this section is eligible to receive service credit for each day of service and work performed by the person in a classified position in the police department, except for any period during which the person is a DROP participant. The board shall add service earned after the transfer to the prior service the active member accrued in a classified position in the police department. However, the active member may not receive service credit under this article, except to the extent provided by Section 18, for service performed for the city other than in a classified position in the police department.

(c) After a transfer described by this section, contributions of the city and the active member become payable as for other active members of the pension system.

(d) When a member who has transferred as described by this section subsequently retires, the retired member is eligible for a pension computed on the basis of the combined service described by Subsection (b) of this section, after deducting any period in which the member was suspended from duty without pay, on leave of absence without pay, separated from service, or employed by the city in a capacity other than in a classified position in the police department.

(e) If a retired member receives both pension benefits from the pension system and a salary from a classified position in the police department that cover the same period, the retired member shall repay to the pension system the pension benefits received during that period. The board shall withhold payment of pension benefits under this article if it is determined that a retired member is receiving both pension benefits from the fund and a salary from the police department that cover the same period. On request of the board, the city attorney or a private attorney chosen by the board shall file suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover pension benefits owed to the pension system under this subsection.

(f) This article does not authorize the return to service with a police department or the resumption of active membership in the pension system by a retired member except as specifically provided by Section 13 or 14 of this article or this section.

Sec. 20. DONATIONS. The pension system may accept gifts and donations, and the gifts and donations shall be added to the fund for the use of the pension system, including, but not limited to, for use for education programs and the related administrative expenses of the programs.

Sec. 21. DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS; PROVISION OF INFORMATION. (a) The board may require any member, survivor, or other person or entity to furnish information the board requires for the determination of benefits under this article. If a person or entity does not cooperate in the furnishing or obtaining of information required as provided by this section, the board may withhold payment of the pension or other benefits dependent on the information.

(b) The city, not later than the 14th day after the date the city receives a request by or on behalf of the board, shall, unless otherwise prohibited by law, supply the pension system with personnel, payroll, and financial records in the city's possession that the pension system determines necessary to provide pension administrative and fiduciary services under this section, to establish beneficiaries' eligibility for any benefit, or to determine a member's credited service or the amount of any benefits, including disability benefits, and such other information the pension system may need, including:

(1) information needed to verify service, including the following information:

(A) the date a person is sworn in to a position;

(B) the days a person is under suspension;

(D) the date of a person's termination from employment; and

(E) the date of a person's reemployment with the city;

(2) medical records;

(3) workers' compensation records and pay information;

(4) payroll information;

(5) information needed to verify whether a member is on military leave; and

(6) information regarding phase-down participants, including information related to entry date and phase-down plan.

(c) The city shall provide any information that may be reasonably necessary to enable the pension system to comply with administrative services the pension system performs for the city as reasonably necessary to obtain any ruling or determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service.

(d) The information provided by the city shall be transmitted to the pension system electronically in a format specified by the pension system, to the extent available to the city, or in writing if so requested on behalf of the pension system.

(e) The pension system shall determine each member's credited service and pension benefits on the basis of the personnel and financial records of the city and the records of the pension system.

Sec. 22. LEGAL ADVICE. The city attorney of the city shall handle all legal matters for the pension system that are referred by the board without additional compensation for the service. The board may, however, as it considers necessary, employ outside legal counsel to the exclusion of, or to assist, the city attorney and pay reasonable compensation for the service of the additional legal counsel from the fund.

Sec. 23. MEMBERS IN MILITARY SERVICE. (a) A member of the pension system engaged in active service in a uniformed service may not be required to make the monthly payments into the fund and may not lose any previous years' service with the city because of the uniformed service. The uniformed service shall count as continuous service in the police department if the member returns to the city police department after discharge from the uniformed service as an employee within the period required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq.), as amended, and the uniformed service does not exceed the period for which a person is eligible to have service counted pursuant to that Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, contributions and benefits shall be paid and qualified service for military service shall be determined in compliance with Section 414(u) of the code.

(b) The city is required to make its payments into the fund on behalf of each member while the member is engaged in a uniformed service. If a member who has less than 10 years of service in the pension system dies directly or indirectly as a result of the uniformed service, and without returning to active service, the spouse, dependent children, dependent parent, or estate of the member is eligible to receive a benefit in the same manner as described by Section 16(c) of this article.

Sec. 24. ACTIONS FOR FUNDS MISAPPLIED. (a) The board may recover by civil action from any offending party or from the party's bondsman, if any, any money paid out or obtained from the fund through fraud, misrepresentation, theft, embezzlement, or misapplication and may institute, conduct, and maintain the action in the name of the board for the use and benefit of the fund.

(b) Payments due on behalf of a dependent child shall be paid to the dependent child's guardian, if any, or if none to the person with whom the dependent child is living, except that the board may make payments directly to a dependent child in an appropriate case and withhold payments otherwise due on behalf of any person if the board has reason to believe the payments are not being applied on behalf of the person eligible to receive them. The board may request a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a person to receive and administer the payments due to any dependent child or person under a disability.

Sec. 25. FEDERAL TAX QUALIFICATION OF FUND. (a) The fund described by this article is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the code and is for the exclusive benefit of the members and their survivors. No part of the corpus or income of the fund may ever be used for, or diverted to, any purpose other than the benefit of members and their survivors as provided by this article.

(b) A member or survivor of a member of the pension system may not accrue a retirement pension, disability retirement allowance, death benefit allowance, DROP benefit, or any other benefit under this article in excess of the benefit limits applicable to the fund under Section 415 of the code. The board shall reduce the amount of any benefit that exceeds those limits by the amount of the excess. If total benefits under this fund and the benefits and contributions to which any member is eligible under any other qualified plans maintained by the city that employs the member would otherwise exceed the applicable limits under Section 415 of the code, the benefits the member would otherwise receive from the fund shall be reduced to the extent necessary to enable the benefits to comply with Section 415.

(c) Subject to Subsection (c-1) of this section, any distributee who receives an eligible rollover distribution is eligible to have that distribution transferred directly to another eligible retirement plan of the distributee's choice on providing direction to the pension system regarding that transfer in accordance with procedures established by the board.

(c-1) For purposes of Subsection (c) of this section:

(1) "Direct rollover" means a payment by the plan to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee.

(2) "Distributee" means a member or a member's surviving spouse or non-spouse designated beneficiary or a member's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order with regard to the interest of the spouse or former spouse.

(3) "Eligible retirement plan" means:

(A) an individual retirement account as defined by Section 408(a) of the code;

(B) an individual retirement annuity as defined by Section 408(b) of the code;

(D) an eligible deferred compensation plan as defined by Section 457(b) of the code that is maintained by an eligible employer as described by Section 457(e)(1)(A) of the code;

(E) an annuity contract as described by Section 403(b) of the code;

(F) a qualified trust as described by Section 401(a) of the code that accepts the distributee's eligible rollover distribution; and

(G) in the case of an eligible rollover distribution, for a designated beneficiary that is not the surviving spouse, a spouse, or a former spouse who is an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, an eligible retirement plan means only an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity that is established for the purpose of receiving the distribution on behalf of the beneficiary.

(4) "Eligible rollover distribution" means any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include:

(A) any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, not less frequently than annually, made for life or life expectancy of the distributee or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of the distributee and the distributee's designated beneficiary or for a specified period of 10 years or more;

(B) any distribution to the extent the distribution is required under Section 401(a)(9) of the code; or

(d) The annual compensation for each member taken into account for any purpose under this article may not exceed $200,000 for any year for an eligible participant, or for years beginning after 2001 for an ineligible participant, or $150,000 a year before 2001 for an ineligible participant. These dollar limits shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with guidelines provided by the United States secretary of the treasury and must comply with Section 401(a)(17) of the code. For purposes of this subsection, an eligible participant is a person who first became an active member before 1996, and an ineligible participant is a member who is not an eligible participant.

(e) Accrued benefits under this article become 100 percent nonforfeitable for a member on the date the member has completed 10 years of service. If the pension system or the fund is terminated or partially terminated, or city contributions to the fund are discontinued completely, there may not be a reversion of funds to the employer. On complete or partial termination or discontinuance of city contributions, the fund held by the pension system shall be used exclusively for benefits for members and their surviving spouses and dependents, and the members' rights to the benefits, to the extent funded, shall be nonforfeitable if not already nonforfeitable under this subsection.

(f) Amounts representing forfeited nonvested benefits of terminated members may not be used to increase benefits payable from the fund.

(g) Distribution of benefits must begin not later than April 1 of the year following the calendar year during which the member eligible for the benefits becomes 70-1/2 years of age or terminates employment with the employer, whichever is later, and must otherwise conform to Section 401(a)(9) of the code.

(h) For purposes of adjusting any benefit due to the limitations prescribed by Section 415 of the code, the following provisions shall apply:

(1) the 415(b) limitation with respect to any member who at any time has been a member in any other defined benefit plan as defined in Section 414(j) of the code maintained by the city shall apply as if the total benefits payable under all the defined benefit plans in which the member has been a member were payable from one plan; and

(2) the 415(c) limitation with respect to any member who at any time has been a member in any other defined contribution plan as defined in Section 414(i) of the code maintained by the city shall apply as if the total annual additions under all such defined contribution plans in which the member has been a member were payable from one plan.

(h-1) For purposes of adjusting any benefit due to the limitations prescribed by Section 415(b) of the code, the following provisions shall apply:

(1) before January 1, 1995, a member may not receive an annual benefit that exceeds the limits specified in Section 415(b) of the code, subject to the applicable adjustments in that section;

(2) on and after January 1, 1995, a member may not receive an annual benefit that exceeds the dollar amount specified in Section 415(b)(1)(A) of the code, subject to the applicable adjustments in Section 415(b) of the code and subject to any additional limits that may be specified in the pension system;

(3) in no event may a member's annual benefit payable under the pension system, including any DROP benefits, in any limitation year be greater than the limit applicable at the annuity starting date, as increased in subsequent years pursuant to Section 415(d) of the code, including regulations adopted under that section; and

(4) the "annual benefit" means a benefit payable annually in the form of a straight life annuity, with no ancillary benefits, without regard to the benefit attributable to any after-tax employee contributions, unless attributable under Section 415(n) of the code, and to rollover contributions as defined in Section 415(b)(2)(A) of the code. For purposes of this subdivision, the "benefit attributable" shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal regulations.

(h-2) For purposes of adjustments to the basic limitation under Section 415(b) of the code in the form of benefits, the following provisions apply:

(1) if the benefit under the pension system is other than the form specified in Subsections (h-1)(1)-(3) of this section, including DROP benefits, the benefit shall be adjusted so that it is the equivalent of the annual benefit, using factors prescribed in applicable federal regulations; and

(2) if the form of benefit without regard to the automatic benefit increase feature is not a straight life annuity or a qualified joint and survivor annuity, Subdivision (1) of this subsection is applied by either reducing the limit under Section 415(b) of the code applicable at the annuity starting date or adjusting the form of benefit to an actuarially equivalent amount determined by using the assumptions specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.415(b)-1(c)(2)(ii) that takes into account the additional benefits under the form of benefit as follows:

(A) for a benefit paid in a form to which Section 417(e)(3) of the code does not apply, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity benefit that is the greater of:

(i) the annual amount of the straight life annuity, if any, payable to the member under the pension system commencing at the same annuity starting date as the form of benefit to the member or the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the same annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the form of benefit payable to the member, computed using a five percent interest assumption or the applicable statutory interest assumption; and

(ii) for years prior to January 1, 2009, the applicable mortality tables described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.417(e)-1(d)(2), and for years after December 31, 2008, the applicable mortality tables described in Section 417(e)(3)(B) of the code; or

(B) for a benefit paid in a form to which Section 417(e)(3) of the code applies, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity benefit that is the greatest of:

(i) the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial experience;

(ii) the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using a 5.5 percent interest assumption or the applicable statutory interest assumption, and for years prior to January 1, 2009, the applicable mortality tables for the distribution under Treasury Regulation Section 1.417(e)-1(d)(2), and for years after December 31, 2008, the applicable mortality tables described in Section 417(e)(3)(B) of the code; or

(iii) the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable computed using the applicable interest rate for the distribution under Treasury Regulation Section 1.417(e)-1(d)(3) using the rate in effect for the month prior to retirement before January 1, 2017, and using the rate in effect for the first day of the plan year with a one-year stabilization period on and after January 1, 2017, and for years prior to January 1, 2009, the applicable mortality tables for the distribution under Treasury Regulation Section 1.417(e)-1(d)(2), and for years after December 31, 2008, the applicable mortality tables described in Section 417(e)(3)(B) of the code, divided by 1.05.

(h-3) The pension system actuary may adjust the limitation under Section 415(b) of the code at the annuity starting date in accordance with Subsections (h-1) and (h-2) of this section.

(h-4) The following are benefits for which no adjustment of the limitation in Section 415(b) of the code is required:

(1) any ancillary benefit that is not directly related to retirement income benefits;

(2) the portion of any joint and survivor annuity that constitutes a qualified joint and survivor annuity; and

(3) any other benefit not required under Section 415(b)(2) of the code and regulations adopted under that section to be taken into account for purposes of the limitation of Section 415(b)(1) of the code.

(h-5) The following provisions apply to other adjustments of the limitation under Section 415(b) of the code:

(1) in the event the member's pension benefits become payable before the member attains 62 years of age, the limit prescribed by this section shall be reduced in accordance with federal regulations adopted under Section 415(b) of the code, so that that limit, as reduced, equals an annual straight life annuity benefit when the retirement income benefit begins, that is equivalent to a $160,000, as adjusted, annual benefit beginning at 62 years of age;

(2) in the event the member's benefit is based on at least 15 years of service as a full-time employee of any police or fire department or on 15 years of military service, in accordance with Sections 415(b)(2)(G) and (H) of the code, the adjustments provided for in Subdivision (1) of this section may not apply; and

(3) in accordance with Section 415(b)(2)(I) of the code, the reductions provided for in Subdivision (1) of this section may not be applicable to preretirement disability benefits or preretirement death benefits.

(h-6) The following provisions of this subsection govern adjustment of the defined benefit dollar limitation for benefits commenced after 65 years of age:

(1) if the annuity starting date for the member's benefit is after 65 years of age and the pension system does not have an immediately commencing straight life annuity payable at both 65 years of age and the age of benefit commencement, the defined benefit dollar limitation at the member's annuity starting date is the annual amount of a benefit payable in the form of a straight life annuity commencing at the member's annuity starting date that is the actuarial equivalent of the defined benefit dollar limitation, with actuarial equivalence computed using a five percent interest rate assumption and the applicable mortality table for that annuity starting date as defined in Section 417(e)(3)(B) of the code, expressing the member's age based on completed calendar months as of the annuity starting date;

(2) if the annuity starting date for the member's benefit is after age 65, and the pension system has an immediately commencing straight life annuity payable at both 65 years of age and the age of benefit commencement, the defined benefit dollar limitation at the member's annuity starting date is the lesser of the limitation determined under Subdivision (1) of this section and the defined benefit dollar limitation multiplied by the ratio of the annual amount of the adjusted immediately commencing straight life annuity under the pension system at the member's annuity starting date to the annual amount of the adjusted immediately commencing straight life annuity under the pension system at 65 years of age, both determined without applying the limitations of this subsection; and

(3) notwithstanding the other requirements of this section:

(A) no adjustment shall be made to reflect the probability of a member's death between the annuity starting date and 62 years of age, or between 65 years of age and the annuity starting date, as applicable, if benefits are not forfeited on the death of the member prior to the annuity starting date; and

(B) to the extent benefits are forfeited on death before the annuity starting date, the adjustment shall be made, and for this purpose no forfeiture shall be treated as occurring on the member's death if the pension system does not charge members for providing a qualified preretirement survivor annuity, as defined in Section 417(c) of the code, on the member's death.

(h-7) For the purpose of Subsection (h-6)(2) of this section, the adjusted immediately commencing straight life annuity under the pension system at the member's annuity starting date is the annual amount of such annuity payable to the member, computed disregarding the member's accruals after 65 years of age but including actuarial adjustments even if those actuarial adjustments are used to offset accruals, and the adjusted immediately commencing straight life annuity under the pension system at 65 years of age is the annual amount of the annuity that would be payable under the pension system to a hypothetical member who is 65 years of age and has the same accrued benefit as the member.

(h-8) The maximum pension benefits payable to any member who has completed less than 10 years of participation shall be the amount determined under Subsection (h-1) of this section, as adjusted under Subsection (h-2) or (h-5) of this section, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of the member's years of participation and the denominator of which is 10. The limit under Subsection (h-9) of this section concerning the $10,000 limit shall be similarly reduced for any member who has accrued less than 10 years of service, except the fraction shall be determined with respect to years of service instead of years of participation. The reduction provided by this subsection cannot reduce the maximum benefit below 10 percent of the limit determined without regard to this subsection. The reduction provided for in this subsection may not be applicable to preretirement disability benefits or preretirement death benefits.

(h-9) Notwithstanding Subsection (h-8) of this section, the pension benefit payable with respect to a member shall be deemed not to exceed the limit provided by Section 415 of the code if the benefits payable, with respect to such member under this pension system and under all other qualified defined benefit pension plans to which the city contributes, do not exceed $10,000 for the applicable limitation year and for any prior limitation year and the city has not at any time maintained a qualified defined contribution plan in which the member participated.

(h-10) On and after January 1, 1995, for purposes of applying the limits under Section 415(b) of the code to a member's benefit paid in a form to which Section 417(e)(3) of the code does not apply, the following provisions apply:

(1) a member's applicable limit shall be applied to the member's annual benefit in the member's first limitation year without regard to any cost-of-living adjustments under Section 12 of this article;

(2) to the extent that the member's annual benefit equals or exceeds the limit, the member shall no longer be eligible for cost-of-living increases until such time as the benefit plus the accumulated increases are less than the limit; and

(3) after the time prescribed by Subdivision (2) of this subsection, in any subsequent limitation year, a member's annual benefit, including any cost-of-living increases under Section 12 of this article, shall be tested under the applicable benefit limit, including any adjustment under Section 415(d) of the code to the dollar limit under Section 415(b)(1)(A) of the code, and the regulations under those sections.

(h-11) Any repayment of contributions, including interest on contributions, to the plan with respect to an amount previously refunded on a forfeiture of service credit under the plan or another governmental plan maintained by the pension system may not be taken into account for purposes of Section 415 of the code, in accordance with applicable federal regulations.

(h-12) Reduction of benefits or contributions to all plans, where required, shall be accomplished by:

(1) first, reducing the member's benefit under any defined benefit plans in which the member participated, with the reduction to be made first with respect to the plan in which the member most recently accrued benefits and then in the priority determined by the pension system and the plan administrator of such other plans; and

(2) next, reducing or allocating excess forfeitures for defined contribution plans in which the member participated, with the reduction to be made first with respect to the plan in which the member most recently accrued benefits and then in the priority determined by the pension system and the plan administrator for such other plans.

(h-13) Notwithstanding Subsection (h-12) of this section, reductions may be made in a different manner and priority pursuant to the agreement of the pension system and the plan administrator of all other plans covering such member.

(i) To the extent permitted by law, the board may adjust the benefits of retired members and survivors by increasing any benefit that was reduced because of Section 415 of the code. If Section 415 of the code is amended to permit the payment of amounts previously precluded under that section, the board may adjust the benefits of retired members or their surviving spouses or dependents, including the restoration of benefits previously denied. Benefits paid under this subsection are not considered as extra base salary earned after retirement but as the delayed payment of benefits earned before retirement.

(j) The board may make any change in this article to the extent that the change is necessary to assure compliance with the qualification requirements of Section 401 of the code or any other federal law.

Sec. 26. EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN. (a) A separate, nonqualified, unfunded excess benefit plan is created outside the fund.

(b) In this section:

(1) "Excess benefit plan" or "plan" means the separate, nonqualified, unfunded excess benefit plan created by this section for the benefit of eligible members, as amended or restated from time to time, that is intended to be a "qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement" within the meaning of Section 415(m) of the code.

(2) "Qualified plan" means the pension system and any other plan maintained by the city for the exclusive benefit of some or all of the members of the pension system that has been found by the Internal Revenue Service to be qualified or has been treated by the city as a qualified plan under Section 401 of the code.

(3) "Maximum benefit" means the retirement benefit a retired member and the spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent of a retired member or deceased member or retiree are eligible to receive from all qualified plans in any month after giving effect to Section 25(b) of this article and any similar provisions of any other qualified plans designed to conform to Section 415 of the code.

(4) "Excess benefit participant" means any retired member whose retirement benefits as determined on the basis of all qualified plans without regard to the limitations of Section 25(b) of this article and comparable provisions of other qualified plans would exceed the maximum benefit permitted under Section 415 of the code.

(5) "Unrestricted benefit" means the monthly retirement benefit a retired member and the spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent of a retired member or deceased member would have received under the terms of all qualified plans except for the restrictions of Section 25(b) of this article and any similar provisions of any other qualified plans designed to conform to Section 415 of the code.

(c) An excess benefit participant who is receiving benefits from the pension system is eligible for a monthly benefit under this excess benefit plan in an amount equal to the lesser of:

(1) the member's unrestricted benefit less the maximum benefit; or

(2) the amount by which the member's monthly benefit from the fund has been reduced because of the limitations of Section 415 of the code.

(d) If a spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent is eligible for preretirement or postretirement death benefits under a qualified plan after the death of an excess benefit participant, the surviving spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent is eligible for a monthly benefit under the excess benefit plan equal to the benefit determined in accordance with this article without regard to the limitations under Section 25(b) of this article or Section 415 of the code, less the maximum benefit.

(e) Any benefit to which a person is eligible under this section shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner as the benefit would have been paid from the pension system if payment of the benefit from the pension system had not been precluded by Section 25(b) of this article. An excess benefit participant or any beneficiary may not, under any circumstances, elect to defer the receipt of all or any part of a payment due under this section.

(f) The board shall administer the plan, and the board's designee shall also carry out the business of the board with respect to the plan. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the board and the board's designee are the same for the plan as for the funds of the pension system.

(g) The consultants, independent auditors, attorneys, and actuaries selected to perform services for the fund also shall perform services for the plan, but the fees for their services may not be paid by the fund. The actuary engaged to perform services for the fund shall advise the board of the amount of benefits that may not be provided from the fund solely by reason of the limitations of Section 415 of the code and the amount of employer contributions that will be made to the plan rather than to the fund.

(h) Contributions may not be accumulated under the plan to pay future retirement benefits. Instead, each payment of city contributions that would otherwise be made to the fund under Section 9 of this article shall be reduced by the amount determined by the board or its designee as necessary to meet the requirements for retirement benefits under the plan, including reasonable administrative expenses, until the next payment of city contributions is expected to be made to the pension system. The city shall then pay to the plan, from the withheld contributions, not earlier than the 30th day before the date each distribution of monthly retirement benefits is required to be made from the plan, the amount necessary to satisfy the obligation to pay monthly retirement benefits from the plan. The board or its designee shall satisfy the obligation of the plan to pay retirement benefits from the employer contributions so transferred for that month.

(i) Employer contributions otherwise required to be made to the pension system under Section 9 of this article and any other qualified plan shall be divided into those contributions required to pay retirement benefits under this section and those contributions paid into and accumulated to pay the maximum benefits permitted under the qualified plan. Employer contributions made to provide retirement benefits under this section may not be commingled with the money of the fund forming part of the pension system or any other qualified plan.

Sec. 27. CERTAIN WRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PENSION SYSTEM AND CITY AUTHORIZED. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board or a designee of the board is responsible for representing the interests of the pension system and all pension issues and benefits affecting the pension system or its members and beneficiaries under this article. The board may enter into a written agreement with the city on behalf of the pension system and members and beneficiaries of the pension system if the agreement is approved by the board and signed by the mayor and the board or the board's designee.

(b) A pension benefit or allowance provided by this article may be increased if the increase:

(1) is first approved by a qualified actuary selected by the board;

(2) is approved by the board and the city in a written agreement as authorized by this section; and

(3) does not deprive a member, without the member's written consent, of a right to receive benefits when the member is fully eligible.

(1) alter Sections 9 through 9E of this article, except and only to the extent necessary to comply with federal law;

(2) increase the assumed rate of return to more than seven percent per year;

(4) allow a city contribution rate in any year that is less than or greater than the city contribution rate required under Section 9D or 9E of this article, as applicable.

Sec. 28. NONREDUCTION, NONALIENATION, AND NONASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS. (a) No portion of the funds held by the pension system, either before or after an order for its disbursement by the board, and no amounts due or to become due to any member or survivor under this article may be held, seized, taken, subject to, detained, or levied on by virtue of any execution, attachment, garnishment, injunction, or other writ, and no order or decree, and no process may issue out of or by any court of this state for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, out of the funds held by or due from the pension system, of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against any member, survivor, dependent, or any other person.

(b) No part of the funds or any claim to the funds may be directly or indirectly assigned or transferred. Any attempt to transfer or assign any part of the funds or a claim to the funds is void.

(c) The funds shall be held, kept, and disbursed for the purposes provided by this article, and for no other purpose, except that a retired member, survivor, or dependent, at the person's discretion, may have deducted from the person's pension the monthly premium cost of any group insurance program in which the retired member is participating.

(d) A benefit payable under this article may not be reduced or discontinued for any person except under the terms applicable to the benefit at the time the person becomes eligible to receive the benefit.

(e) This section does not prevent the division of the benefits accrued by a member under any court order determined by the board or its designee to be a qualified domestic relations order and the payment of a share of a retired member's benefits or contributions to an alternate payee in accordance with the order.

Sec. 29. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT MEMBERS OR BENEFICIARIES. (a) Information contained in a record that is in the custody of a fund established under this article concerning an individual member, retiree, survivor, or beneficiary is confidential for purposes of Sections 552.101, 552.102, and 552.117, Government Code. The information may not be disclosed in a form that identifies a specific individual unless the information is disclosed to:

(1) the individual;

(2) the individual's attorney, guardian, executor, administrator, or conservator; or

(3) a person who has written authorization from the individual to receive the information.

(b) This section does not prevent the disclosure of the status or identity of an individual as a member, former member, retiree, deceased member, survivor, beneficiary, or alternate payee of the system.

(c) To carry out the provisions of Sections 9 through 9E of this article, the board and the pension system shall provide the city actuary under a confidentiality agreement the actuarial data used by the pension system actuary for the pension system's actuarial valuations or valuation studies and other data as agreed to between the city and the pension system that the city actuary determines is reasonably necessary for the city actuary to perform the studies required by Sections 9A through 9E of this article. Actuarial data described by this subsection does not include information described by Subsection (a) of this section.

(d) A risk sharing valuation study prepared by either the city actuary or the pension system actuary under Sections 9A through 9E of this article may not:

(1) include information described by Subsection (a) of this section; or

(e) The information, data, and document exchanges under Sections 9 through 9E of this article have all the protections afforded by applicable law and are expressly exempt from the disclosure requirements under Chapter 552, Government Code, except as may be agreed to by the city and pension system in a written agreement under Section 27 of this article.

(f) Subsection (e) of this section does not apply to:

(1) a proposed risk sharing valuation study prepared by the pension system actuary and provided to the city actuary or prepared by the city actuary and provided to the pension system actuary under Section 9A(d) or 9B(b)(2) of this article; or

(2) a final risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 9A or 9B of this article.

(g) Before a union contract is approved by the city, the mayor of the city must cause the city actuaries to deliver to the mayor a report estimating the impact of the proposed union contract on fund costs.

Sec. 30. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a member who is convicted, after exhausting all appeals, of an offense punishable as a felony of the first degree in relation to, arising out of, or in connection with the member's service as a classified police officer may not receive any benefits under this article.

(b) After the member described by Subsection (a) of this section is finally convicted, the member's spouse may apply for benefits if the member, but for application of Subsection (a) of this section, would have been eligible for a pension benefit or a delayed payment of benefits. If the member would not have been eligible for a pension benefit or a delayed payment of benefits, the member's spouse may apply for a refund of the member's contributions. A refund under this subsection does not include interest and does not include contributions the city made on the member's behalf. The city may not receive a refund of any contributions the city made on the member's behalf.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 381, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1 amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(1) and (2) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(4-a) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(7), (11) and (14) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(14-a), added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(19) renumbered Sec. 2(17-a) by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(22-a) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 2(23) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 3(a) to (d), (f) and (g) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 3(h) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 4(a) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 5(b-1) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 5(d) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 6(e-1) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 6(f) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 6(g) and (h) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 7(d) and (f) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 8(a) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 9 heading and sec. 9(a) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 9, 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 9(b) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 11(a) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 12(a), (b), (d), (f) and (g) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 12(h) and (i) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 14(b) to (f) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 14(f-1) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 14(g), (j) and (l) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 14(m) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 15(a) to (d) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 15(f) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 15(h) to (k) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 16(a) and (c) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 16(d) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 16(f) to (h) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 16A added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 17(h) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 18(a) and (b) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 18(d) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, 18, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Sec. 20 amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 22 amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 23 amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 25(d) and (e) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 29 added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1267, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.01, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.02, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.03, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.04, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.05, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.06, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.07, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.08, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.09, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.10, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.11, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.12, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.13, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.14, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.15, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.16, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.17, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.18, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.19, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.20, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.21, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.22, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.23, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.24, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.25, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.26, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.27, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.28, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.29, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.30, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.31, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 140, eff. September 1, 2023.

Art. 6243h. MUNICIPAL PENSION SYSTEM IN CITIES OF 1,500,000 OR MORE.

Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Actuarial data" includes:

(A) the census data, assumption tables, disclosure of methods, and financial information that are routinely used by the pension system actuary for the pension system's studies or an actuarial experience study under Section 8D of this Act; and

(B) other data that is reasonably necessary to implement Sections 8A through 8F of this Act, as agreed to by the city and pension board.

(1-a) "Actuarial experience study" has the meaning assigned by Section 802.1014, Government Code.

(1-b) "Adjustment factor" means the assumed rate of return less two percentage points.

(1-c) "Amortization period" means the time period necessary to fully pay a liability layer.

(1-d) "Amortization rate" means the sum of the scheduled amortization payments less the city contribution amount for a given fiscal year for the liability layers divided by the projected pensionable payroll for the same fiscal year.

(1-e) "Assumed rate of return" means the assumed market rate of return on pension system assets, which is seven percent per annum unless adjusted as provided by this Act.

(1-f) "Authorized absence" means:

(A) each day an employee is absent due to an approved holiday, vacation, accident, or sickness, if the employee is continued on the employment rolls of the city or the pension system, receives the employee's regular salary from the city or the pension system for each day of absence, and remains eligible to work on recovery or return; or

(B) any period that a person is on military leave of absence under Section 18(a) of this Act, provided the person complies with the requirements of that section.

(2) "Average monthly salary" means:

(A) the amount computed by dividing the sum of the 78 highest biweekly salaries paid to an employee during years of credited service by 36; or

(B) if there are fewer than 78 biweekly salaries paid to an employee during the employee's period of credited service, the amount computed by multiplying the average of all biweekly salaries paid to the employee during the period of credited service by 26 and dividing the product by 12.

(3) "Benefit accrual rate" means the percentage in Section 10(d) or (e) of this Act for each year of a member's credited service used to compute a pension or benefit.

(4) "City" means a municipality having a population of more than two million.

(4-a) "City contribution amount" means, for each fiscal year, a predetermined payment amount expressed in dollars in accordance with a payment schedule amortizing the legacy liability, using the level percent of payroll method and the amortization period and payoff year, that is included in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 8C(a)(3) of this Act, as may be restated from time to time in:

(A) a subsequent risk sharing valuation study to reflect adjustments to the amortization schedule authorized by Section 8E or 8F of this Act; or

(B) a restated initial risk sharing valuation study or a subsequent risk sharing valuation study to reflect adjustments authorized by Section 8C(i) or (j) of this Act.

(4-b) "City contribution rate" means a percent of pensionable payroll that is the sum of the employer normal cost rate and the amortization rate for liability layers, excluding the legacy liability, except as determined otherwise under the express provisions of Sections 8E and 8F of this Act.

(4-c) "Corridor" means the range of city contribution rates that are:

(A) equal to or greater than the minimum contribution rate; and

(B) equal to or less than the maximum contribution rate.

(4-d) "Corridor margin" means five percentage points.

(4-e) "Corridor midpoint" means the projected city contribution rate specified for each fiscal year for 31 years in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 8C of this Act, and as may be adjusted under Section 8E or 8F of this Act, and in each case rounded to the nearest hundredths decimal place.

(4-f) "Cost-of-living adjustment percentage" means a percentage that:

(A) except as provided by Paragraph (B), is equal to the pension system's five-year investment return, based on a rolling five-year basis and net of investment expenses, minus the adjustment factor, and multiplied by 50 percent; and

(B) may not be less than zero or more than two percent.

(5) "Credited service" means each day of service and prior service of a member for which:

(A) the city and the member have made required contributions to the pension fund that were not subsequently withdrawn;

(B) the member has purchased service credit or converted service credit from group B to group A by paying into the pension fund required amounts that were not subsequently withdrawn;

(D) the member has previously made payments to the pension fund that, under then existing provisions of law, make the member eligible for credit for the service and that were not subsequently withdrawn.

(6) "Deferred participant" means a person who:

(A) has separated from service;

(B) has at least five years of credited service in the pension system;

(D) has made an election under Section 17(c) of this Act.

(7) "Dependent child" means an unmarried natural or legally adopted child of a member, deferred participant, or retiree who:

(A) was supported by the member, deferred participant, or retiree before the termination of employment of the member, deferred participant, or retiree; and

(B) is under 21 years of age or is totally and permanently disabled from performing any full-time employment because of an injury, illness, serious mental illness, intellectual disability, or pervasive development disorder that began before the child became 18 years of age and before the termination of employment of the member, deferred participant, or retiree.

(8) "Disability" means the complete and permanent inability of a member to perform the usual and customary duties that the member has been performing as an employee, or any other full-time duties for which the member is reasonably suited by training or experience, as determined by the pension board on the basis of a medical examination and any other evidence the pension board determines is necessary.

(9) "Effective retirement date" means the first day retirement begins for a member or deferred participant who is eligible for retirement. If the pension system receives a member's application for normal retirement before the member's separation from service or not later than the 90th day after the date of the member's separation from service, the effective retirement date is the later of the first day of the month following the month of separation or the date specified in the application. If the pension system receives the member's application after the 90th day after the date of the member's separation from service, the effective retirement date is the later of the first day of the month after the pension system receives the application or the date specified in the application. The effective retirement date for a member who qualifies for a service or ordinary disability retirement is the later of the day following the member's last day of credited service or the date the pension system receives the member's request for disability retirement.

(10) "Eligible survivor" means a surviving spouse or dependent child.

(11) "Employee" means any person, including an elected official during the official's service to the city, who is eligible to be a member of the pension system or to participate in an alternative retirement plan established under this Act and:

(A) who holds a municipal position or a position with the pension system;

(B) whose name appears on a regular full-time payroll of a city or of the pension fund; and

(11-a) "Employer normal cost rate" means the normal cost rate minus the applicable member contribution rate for newly hired employees, initially set as three percent for group D members on the year 2017 effective date. The present value of additional member contributions different from the group D rate taken into account for purposes of determining the employer normal cost rate must be applied toward the actuarial accrued liability.

(11-b) "Estimated city contribution amount" means the city contribution amount estimated in a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 8B or 8C of this Act, as applicable, as required by Section 8B(a)(5) of this Act.

(11-c) "Estimated city contribution rate" means the city contribution rate estimated in a final risk sharing valuation study under Section 8B or 8C of this Act, as applicable, as required by Section 8B(a)(5) of this Act.

(11-d) "Estimated total city contribution" means the total city contribution estimated by the pension system actuary or the city actuary, as applicable, by using the estimated city contribution rates and the estimated city contribution amounts recommended by each actuary for purposes of preparing the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 8C of this Act.

(11-e) "Fiscal year," except as provided by Section 1B of this Act, means a fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30.

(11-f) "Funded ratio" means the ratio of the pension system's actuarial value of assets divided by the pension system's actuarial accrued liability.

(11-g) "Legacy liability" means the unfunded actuarial accrued liability:

(A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, reduced to reflect:

(i) changes to benefits and contributions under this Act that took effect on the year 2017 effective date;

(ii) the deposit of pension obligation bond proceeds on December 31, 2017, in accordance with Section 8C(j)(2) of this Act; and

(iii) payments by the city and earnings at the assumed rate of return allocated to the legacy liability from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, excluding July 1, 2017; and

(B) for each subsequent fiscal year:

(i) reduced by the city contribution amount for that year allocated to the amortization of the legacy liability; and

(ii) adjusted by the assumed rate of return.

(11-h) "Level percent of payroll method" means the amortization method that defines the amount of the liability layer recognized each fiscal year as a level percent of pensionable payroll until the amount of the liability layer remaining is reduced to zero.

(11-i) "Liability gain layer" means a liability layer that decreases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.

(11-j) "Liability layer" means the legacy liability established in the initial risk sharing valuation study under Section 8C of this Act and the unanticipated change as established in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B of this Act.

(11-k) "Liability loss layer" means a liability layer that increases the unfunded actuarial accrued liability. For purposes of this Act, the legacy liability is a liability loss layer.

(12) "Marriage" means a marriage in which:

(A) a marriage certificate is recorded in the records of the county clerk's office in the county in which the marriage ceremony was performed; or

(B) in the case of a common-law marriage, a marriage declaration is executed by the couple and recorded in the records of the county clerk's office in the county in which the couple resides. For separations from service after June 29, 2002, a marriage that is evidenced by a declaration of common-law marriage signed before a notary public after June 30, 2002, may not be treated as effective before the date it was signed before the notary public.

(12-a) "Maximum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint plus the corridor margin.

(12-b) "Minimum contribution rate" means the rate equal to the corridor midpoint minus the corridor margin.

(13) "Member" means each active employee included in the pension system, except for an employee who is ineligible under Section 4 of this Act.

(14) "Military service" means active service in the armed forces of the United States or wartime service in the armed forces of the United States or in the allied forces, if credit for military service has not been granted under any federal or other state system or used in any other retirement system, except as expressly required under federal law.

(14-a) "Normal cost rate" means the salary weighted average of the individual normal cost rates determined for the current active population, plus the assumed administrative expenses determined in the most recent actuarial experience study conducted under Section 8D of this Act, expressed as a rate, provided the assumed administrative expenses may not exceed 1.25 percent of pensionable payroll for the current fiscal year unless agreed to by the city.

(14-b) "Payoff year" means the year a liability layer is fully amortized under the amortization period. A payoff year may not be extended or accelerated for a period that is less than one month.

(15) "Pension" means a benefit payable to a retired member out of the pension fund based on a disability or service retirement.

(16) "Pension board" means the board of trustees of the pension system created under Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and reenacted and continued under this Act for the purpose of administering the pension system.

(17) "Pension fund" means assets consisting of the contributions made by the city, contributions made by any member, and any income, profits, or other amounts resulting from the investment of those contributions.

(17-a) "Pension obligation bond" means a bond issued in accordance with Chapter 107, Local Government Code.

(18) "Pension system," unless the context otherwise requires, means the retirement, disability, and survivor benefit plans for municipal employees of a city under this Act and employees under Section 3(d) of this Act.

(18-a) "Pension system actuary" means the actuary engaged by the pension system under Section 2B of this Act.

(18-b) "Pensionable payroll" means the combined salaries, in an applicable fiscal year, paid to all:

(A) members; and

(B) if applicable, participants in any alternative retirement plan established under Section 1C of this Act, including a cash balance retirement plan established under that section.

(19) "Predecessor system" means the retirement system authorized by Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).

(20) "Previous service" means any service as an employee, other than prior service, that preceded a member's current period of employment.

(20-a) "Price inflation assumption" means:

(A) the most recent headline consumer price index 10-year forecast published in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Survey of Professional Forecasters; or

(B) if the forecast described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision is not available, another standard as determined by mutual agreement between the city and the pension board entered into under Section 3(n) of this Act.

(21) "Prior service" means any service performed as an employee before September 1, 1943.

(21-a) "Projected pensionable payroll" means the estimated pensionable payroll for the fiscal year beginning 12 months after the date of the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B of this Act, at the time of calculation by:

(A) projecting the prior fiscal year's pensionable payroll forward two years using the current payroll growth rate assumptions; and

(B) adjusting, if necessary, for changes in population or other known factors, provided those factors would have a material impact on the calculation, as determined by the pension board.

(22) "Retiree" means a former member of the pension system who:

(A) has separated from service;

(B) has met the eligibility requirements for a deferred retirement pension, normal retirement pension, or disability pension under this Act; and

(C) is receiving a deferred retirement pension, normal retirement pension, or disability pension under this Act based on service that was credited to the person.

(23) "Salary" means base pay, longevity pay, and shift-differential pay paid to an employee and attributable to services rendered by the employee, regardless of how the employee was paid.

(24) "Separation from service" means the cessation of work for the city or the pension system in an eligible position covered by this Act for any reason involving the person's removal from the employment rolls of the city or the pension system, including death, discharge, resignation, or retirement, the effective date of which shall be certified by the city or the pension system. The term includes the termination of employment.

(25) "Service" means each day of services and work performed by an employee, including an authorized absence. The term does not include a period in which a person:

(A) is a DROP participant;

(B) is suspended from duty without pay;

(D) is ineligible for membership under Section 4 of this Act; or

(E) is separated from service.

(26) "Surviving spouse" means a spouse by marriage of a member, deferred participant, or retiree at the time of death of the member, deferred participant, or retiree and as of the date of separation from service by the member, deferred participant, or retiree.

(26-a) "Third quarter line rate" means the corridor midpoint plus 2.5 percentage points.

(26-b) "Total city contribution" means, for a fiscal year, an amount equal to the sum of:

(A) the city contribution rate multiplied by the pensionable payroll for the fiscal year; and

(B) the city contribution amount for the fiscal year.

(27) "Trustee" means a trustee of the pension board.

(28) "Ultimate entry age normal" means an actuarial cost method under which a calculation is made to determine the average uniform and constant percentage rate of contributions that, if applied to the compensation of each member during the entire period of the member's anticipated covered service, would be required to meet the cost of all benefits payable on the member's behalf based on the benefits provisions for newly hired employees. For purposes of this definition, the actuarial accrued liability for each member is the difference between the member's present value of future benefits based on the tier of benefits that apply to the member and the member's present value of future normal costs determined using the normal cost rate.

(29) "Unfunded actuarial accrued liability" means the difference between the actuarial accrued liability and the actuarial value of assets. For purposes of this definition:

(B) "actuarial value of assets" means the value of pension plan investments as calculated using the asset smoothing method used in the risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B or 8C of this Act, as applicable.

(30) "Unanticipated change" means, with respect to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in each subsequent risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B of this Act, the difference between:

(A) the remaining balance of all then-existing liability layers as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study; and

(B) the actual unfunded actuarial accrued liability as of the date of the risk sharing valuation study.

(31) "Year 2017 effective date" means the date on which S.B. No. 2190, Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, took effect.

Sec. 1A. INTERPRETATION OF ACT. This Act does not and may not be interpreted to:

(1) relieve the city, the pension board, or the pension system of their respective obligations under Sections 8A through 8F of this Act;

(2) reduce or modify the rights of the city, the pension system, or the pension board, including any officer or employee of the city, pension system, or pension board, to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection;

(3) relieve the city, including any official or employee of the city, from:

(A) paying or directing to pay required contributions to the pension system or fund under Section 8 or 8A of this Act or carrying out the provisions of Sections 8A through 8F of this Act; or

(B) reducing or modifying the rights of the pension board and any officer or employee of the pension board or pension system to enforce obligations described by Subdivision (1) of this section;

(4) relieve the pension board or pension system, including any officer or employee of the pension board or pension system, from any obligation to implement a benefit change or carry out the provisions of Sections 8A through 8F of this Act; or

(5) reduce or modify the rights of the city and any officer or employee of the city to enforce an obligation described by Subdivision (4) of this section.

Sec. 1B. FISCAL YEAR. If either the pension system or the city changes its respective fiscal year, the pension system and the city shall enter into a written agreement under Section 3(n) of this Act to adjust the provisions of Sections 8A through 8F of this Act to reflect that change for purposes of this Act.

Sec. 1C. ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section, "salary-based benefit plan" means a retirement plan provided by the pension system under this Act that provides member benefits that are calculated in accordance with a formula that is based on multiple factors, one of which is the member's salary at the time of the member's retirement.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 8H of this Act, and except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, the pension board and the city may enter into a written agreement under Section 3(n) of this Act to offer an alternative retirement plan or plans, including a cash balance retirement plan or plans, if both parties consider it appropriate.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 8H of this Act, and except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, if, beginning with the final risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B of this Act on or after July 1, 2027, either the funded ratio of the pension system is less than 60 percent as determined in the final risk sharing valuation study without making any adjustments under Section 8E or 8F of this Act, or the funded ratio of the pension system is less than 60 percent as determined in a revised and restated risk sharing valuation study prepared under Section 8B(a)(8) of this Act, the pension board and the city shall, as soon as practicable but not later than the 60th day after the date the determination is made:

(1) enter into a written agreement under Section 3(n) of this Act to establish a cash balance retirement plan that complies with Section 1D of this Act; and

(d) If the city fails to deliver the proceeds of the pension obligation bonds described by Section 8C(j)(1) of this Act within the time prescribed by that subdivision, notwithstanding the funded ratio of the pension system, the pension board and the city may not establish a cash balance retirement plan under Subsection (c) of this section.

Sec. 1D. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CASH BALANCE RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Cash balance plan participant" means an employee who participates in a cash balance retirement plan.

(2) "Cash balance retirement plan" means a cash balance retirement plan established by written agreement under Section 1C(b) or Section 1C(c) of this Act.

(3) "Interest" means the interest credited to a cash balance plan participant's notional account, which may not:

(A) exceed a percentage rate equal to the cash balance retirement plan's most recent five fiscal years' smoothed rate of return; or

(B) be less than zero percent.

(4) "Salary-based benefit plan" has the meaning assigned by Section 1C of this Act.

(b) The written agreement establishing a cash balance retirement plan must:

(1) provide for the administration of the cash balance retirement plan;

(2) provide for a closed amortization period not to exceed 20 years from the date an actuarial gain or loss is realized;

(3) provide for the crediting of city and cash balance plan participant contributions to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(4) provide for the crediting of interest to each cash balance plan participant's notional account;

(5) include a vesting schedule;

(6) include benefit options, including options for cash balance plan participants who separate from service prior to retirement;

(7) provide for death and disability benefits;

(8) allow a cash balance plan participant who is eligible to retire under the plan to elect to:

(A) receive a monthly annuity payable for the life of the cash balance plan participant in an amount actuarially determined on the date of the cash balance plan participant's retirement based on the cash balance plan participant's accumulated notional account balance annuitized in accordance with the actuarial assumptions and actuarial methods established in the most recent actuarial experience study conducted under Section 8D of this Act, except that the assumed rate of return applied may not exceed the pension system's assumed rate of return in the most recent risk sharing valuation study; or

(B) receive a single, partial lump-sum payment from the cash balance plan participant's accumulated account balance and a monthly annuity payable for life in an amount determined in accordance with Paragraph (A) of this subdivision based on the cash balance plan participant's account balance after receiving the partial lump-sum payment; and

(9) include any other provision determined necessary by:

(A) the pension board and the city; or

(B) the pension system for purposes of maintaining the tax-qualified status of the pension system under Section 401, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 5 of this Act, an employee who participates in a cash balance retirement plan:

(1) subject to Subsection (d) of this section, is not eligible to be a member of and may not participate in the salary-based benefit plan; and

(2) may not earn credited service in the salary-based benefit plan during the period the employee is participating in the cash balance retirement plan.

(d) A cash balance plan participant is considered a member for purposes of Section 8A through 8I of this Act.

Sec. 1E. CONFLICT OF LAW. To the extent of a conflict between this Act and any other law, this Act prevails.

Sec. 2. PENSION BOARD. (a) The pension board of the predecessor system shall continue to administer, manage, and operate the pension system, including directing investments and overseeing the fund's assets.

(b) The pension system shall operate for the benefit of the employees of a city and the pension system. The pension system continues to operate regardless of whether the city's population falls below the population required for the city. The pension board is not subject to Title 9, Property Code.

(1) one person appointed by the mayor of the city;

(2) one person appointed by the controller of the city;

(3) four municipal employees of the city who are members of the pension system;

(4) two retirees, each of whom:

(A) has at least five years of credited service in the pension system;

(B) receives a retirement pension from the pension system; and

(5) one person appointed by the elected trustees who has been a resident of this state for the three years preceding the date of initial appointment; and

(6) two persons appointed by the governing body of the city.

(c-1) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (c)(1), (2), or (6) of this section, a person may not be a participant in or beneficiary of the pension system.

(c-2) A trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(1), (2), (5), or (6) of this section must have expertise in at least one of the following areas: accounting, finance, pensions, investments, or actuarial science. Of the trustees appointed under Subsections (c)(1), (2), and (6) of this section, not more than two trustees may have expertise in the same area.

(c-3) A trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(1) of this section shall serve a three-year term expiring in July of the applicable year. The appointed trustee may be removed at any time by the mayor. The mayor shall fill a vacancy caused by the trustee's death, resignation, or removal and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee and may not serve beyond the expiration of the unexpired term unless appointed by the mayor.

(c-4) A trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(2) of this section shall serve a three-year term expiring in July of the applicable year. The appointed trustee may be removed at any time by the controller. The controller shall fill a vacancy caused by the trustee's death, resignation, or removal and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee and may not serve beyond the expiration of the unexpired term unless appointed by the controller.

(d) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (c)(3) of this section, a person must be a member with at least five years of credited service and be elected by the active members of the pension system voting at an election called by the pension board. No more than two of the employee trustees may be employees of the same department.

(e) A person elected as an employee trustee under Subsection (d) of this section who retires during the trustee's term shall remain in office until the expiration of the term. Persons elected as employee trustees serve staggered four-year terms, with the terms of two of the trustees expiring in each even-numbered year. Each employee trustee shall continue to serve until a successor is qualified.

(f) A vacancy caused by an employee trustee's death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by an appointment made by a majority of the trustees elected by the members of the pension system on a notarized affidavit of appointment submitted to the executive director not later than the 10th day after the date the vacancy occurs. The appointee serves for the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee. If the notarized affidavit of appointment is not timely submitted, the executive director shall call an election to be held not later than the 90th day after the date of the vacancy to elect an employee trustee to fill the vacancy.

(g) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (c)(4) of this section, a person must be elected by a majority of the retirees voting at an election called by the pension board.

(h) Persons elected as retiree trustees serve four-year staggered terms, with the term of one trustee expiring in each even-numbered year.

(i) Each retiree trustee serves until the retiree's successor is qualified. A vacancy caused by a retiree trustee's death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by appointment made by the other trustee normally chosen by retiree election on a notarized affidavit of appointment submitted to the executive director not later than the 10th day after the date the vacancy occurs. The appointee serves for the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee. If the notarized affidavit of appointment is not timely submitted, the executive director shall call an election to be held not later than the 90th day after the date of the vacancy to elect a retiree trustee to fill the vacancy.

(j) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (c)(5) of this section, the person must be appointed by a vote of a majority of the elected trustees of the pension board. The trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(5) of this section shall serve a three-year term. The appointment or reappointment of the appointed trustee shall take place in July of the year in which the term ends. The appointed trustee may be removed at any time by a vote of a majority of the elected trustees of the pension board. A vacancy caused by the appointed trustee's death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by the elected trustees of the pension board. The appointee serves for the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee. An appointed trustee may not serve beyond the expiration of the three-year term unless a majority of the elected trustees of the pension board reappoint the trustee for a new term.

(j-1) To serve as a trustee under Subsection (c)(6) of this section, a person must be appointed by a vote of a majority of the members of the governing body of the city. Each trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(6) of this section shall serve three-year terms expiring in July of the applicable year. A trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(6) of this section may be removed at any time by a vote of a majority of the members of the governing body of the city. A vacancy caused by the appointed trustee's death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the members of the governing body of the city. A person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the replaced trustee, and may not serve beyond the expiration of the unexpired term unless appointed by the governing body of the city.

(j-2) If a majority of the pension board determines that a trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(1), (2), or (6) of this section has acted or is acting in a manner that conflicts with the interests of the pension system or is in violation of this Act or any agreement between the pension board and the city entered into under Section 3(n) of this Act, the pension board may recommend to the mayor, controller, or governing body, as appropriate, that the appointed trustee be removed from the pension board. If the appointed trustee was appointed by the governing body of the city, an action item concerning the pension board's recommendation shall be placed on the governing body's agenda for consideration and action. The governing body shall make a determination on the recommendation and communicate the determination to the pension system not later than the 45th day after the date of the recommendation.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, if an eligible candidate for an elected trustee position on the pension board is unopposed for an election, the election may not be held for that position, and the pension board shall certify the candidate as elected to the pension board on the executive director's designation that the candidate is eligible to be a trustee under this section and is unopposed for election. The pension board's certification shall be effective on the day following the date the preceding term for the trustee position expires.

(l) To serve on the pension board, each trustee shall, on or before the first pension board meeting following the trustee's most recent election or appointment, take an oath of office that the trustee:

(1) will diligently and honestly administer the pension system; and

(2) will not knowingly violate this Act or willingly allow a violation of this Act to occur.

(m) A trustee serves without bond unless otherwise required by law and may not receive compensation for service on the pension board. The pension board by resolution may adopt a policy for removal of a trustee.

(n) The person serving as a trustee under Subsection (c)(2) of this section serves as the treasurer of the pension fund. The treasurer shall file an official bond payable to the pension system. The treasurer is liable on the treasurer's official bond for the faithful performance of the treasurer's duties under this Act in connection with the pension fund.

(o) The pension board shall receive, manage, and disburse the pension fund as provided by this Act and rules adopted by the pension board.

(p) In each odd-numbered year, the pension board shall elect from the elected trustees a chair, vice chair, and secretary.

(q) The pension board shall hold regular monthly meetings at a time and place set by the chair. The chair, the secretary, or a majority of the trustees may call a special meeting of the pension board.

(r) The city shall allow city employees who are trustees to promptly attend all pension board and committee meetings. The city shall allow trustees the time required to travel to and attend educational workshops, legislative hearings, and meetings regarding proposed amendments to this Act if attendance is consistent with a trustee's duty to the pension board.

(s) Notice shall be given to all trustees of the pension board, unless waived in writing, as to any proposed meeting by any method reasonably calculated to give adequate notice of the meeting. The notice may be delivered by mail, personal delivery, or electronically transmitted notice, including facsimile, and shall be properly addressed to each trustee. If a meeting occurs that all trustees of the pension board attend, notice is not necessary under this subsection.

(t) Each trustee is entitled to one vote on the pension board. A majority of concurring votes present at any meeting of the pension board is needed for a decision by the trustees. A majority of the trustees is a quorum. A trustee who is a member may not vote on any issue relating specifically to that trustee.

(u) The city shall provide full and timely information to the pension board about employees as reasonably required by the pension board to administer the pension fund and provide benefits properly, including information relating to the hiring of employees, members' service dates, compensation of members, members' deaths, and terminations of employment.

(v) The pension board may purchase from an insurer licensed to do business in this state an insurance policy that provides for reimbursement of a trustee, officer, or employee of the pension board for liability imposed for damages caused by an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's capacity as fiduciary or cofiduciary of assets of the pension fund and for costs and expenses incurred by a fiduciary or cofiduciary in defense of a claim of an alleged act, error, or omission. A policy of insurance purchased under this subsection may not provide for reimbursement of a trustee, officer, or employee of the pension board for liability imposed or expenses incurred because of the individual's personal dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently. The cost of insurance coverage purchased under this subsection shall be paid from money in the pension fund.

(w) If the insurance described in Subsection (v) of this section is not in effect, the pension board may indemnify a trustee, officer, or employee of the pension board for liability imposed as damages because of an alleged act, error, or omission committed in the individual's capacity as fiduciary or cofiduciary of assets of the pension fund and for reasonable costs and expenses incurred by a fiduciary or a cofiduciary in defense of a claim of an alleged act, error, or omission. Indemnification may not extend to liability imposed or expenses incurred by a trustee, officer, or employee of the pension board because of the individual's personal dishonesty, fraudulent breach of trust, lack of good faith, intentional fraud or deception, or intentional failure to act prudently. A determination of indemnification shall be made by a majority vote of the pension board. If a proposed indemnification is of a trustee, that trustee may not vote on the matter. In the event the vote of the pension board results in a tie, the indemnification shall be approved. The pension board may adopt a policy establishing a method for presentation, approval, and payment of claims for indemnification. Indemnification approved under this subsection extends to acts, errors, and omissions of trustees, officers, or employees of the predecessor system as long as the alleged act, error, or omission occurs after July 1, 1989.

(x) The pension board shall manage the pension fund under this Act and under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and may:

(1) adopt, for the administration of the pension fund, written rules and guidelines;

(2) interpret and construe this Act and any summary plan, descriptions, or benefits procedures, except that each construction must meet any qualification requirements established under Section 401, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(3) correct any defect, supply any omission, and reconcile any inconsistency that appears in this Act in a manner and to the extent that the pension board considers expedient to administer this Act for the greatest benefit of all members;

(4) determine all questions, whether legal or factual, relating to eligibility for membership, service, or benefits or relating to the administration of the pension fund to promote the uniform administration of the pension fund for the benefit of all members and retirees; and

(5) establish and maintain records necessary or appropriate for the proper administration of the pension fund.

(y) The determination of any fact by the pension board and the pension board's interpretation of this Act are final and binding on any interested party, including members, deferred participants, retirees, eligible survivors, beneficiaries, and the city.

(z) The pension board shall determine the prior service to be credited to each member of the pension system based on:

(1) the personnel records of the city; or

(2) affidavits, if the personnel records are incomplete.

(aa) The pension board shall determine each member's credited service based on the personnel and financial records of the city and the records of the pension board.

(bb) The trustees and the executive director may rely on:

(1) tables, valuations, certificates, and reports furnished by any actuary employed by the pension board;

(2) certificates and reports made by an accountant selected or approved by the pension board;

(3) any report furnished by the treasurer; and

(4) opinions given by any legal counsel selected or approved by the pension board.

(cc) The trustees, executive director, and employees of the pension system are fully protected and free of liability for any action taken or suffered by them in good faith in reliance on the actuary, accountant, treasurer, or counsel, and the action is conclusively binding on all employees, members, deferred participants, retirees, eligible survivors, beneficiaries, and other persons.

(dd) A gathering of any number of trustees to investigate, research, or review prospective or current investments, without formal action by the trustees, is not a deliberation or meeting under Chapter 551, Government Code, and is not required to be open to the public.

(ee) A trustee appointed under Subsection (c)(1), (2), (5), or (6) of this section who fails to attend at least 50 percent of all regular pension board meetings, as determined annually each July 1, may be removed from the pension board by the appointing entity. A trustee removed under this subsection may not be appointed as a trustee for one year following removal.

(ff) All trustees appointed under Subsection (c) of this section shall complete minimum educational training requirements established by the State Pension Review Board. The appointing entity may remove an appointed trustee who does not complete minimum educational training requirements during the period prescribed by the State Pension Review Board.

(gg) The pension board shall adopt an ethics policy governing, among other matters, conflicts of interest that each trustee must comply with during the trustee's term on the pension board.

(hh) During a trustee's term on the pension board and for one year after leaving the pension board, a trustee may not represent any other person or organization in any formal or informal appearance before the pension board or pension system staff concerning a matter for which the person has or had responsibility as a trustee.

(ii) The pension board may establish standing or temporary committees as necessary to assist the board in carrying out its business, including committees responsible for risk management or governance, investments, administration and compensation, financial and actuarial matters, audits, disability determinations, and agreements under Section 3(n) of this Act. The pension board shall establish a committee responsible for agreements under Section 3(n) of this Act that must be composed of the elected trustees and the trustee appointed by the elected trustees. Except for a committee responsible for agreements under Section 3(n) of this Act and any committee responsible for personnel issues:

(1) each committee must include at least one elected trustee and one trustee appointed by the mayor, controller, or governing body of the city;

(2) committee meetings are open to all trustees; and

(3) a committee may not make final decisions and may only make recommendations to the pension board.

(jj) Subsections (x)(1) through (4), (y), and (cc) of this section do not grant the pension board authority to modify or terminate Sections 8A through 8F of this Act.

Sec. 2A. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) The existence or appearance of a conflict of interest on the part of any trustee is detrimental to the proper functioning of the pension system if not properly addressed. An appointed trustee may not deliberate or vote on an action relating to the investment of pension system assets if:

(1) the trustee or an entity with which the trustee is affiliated:

(A) is a competitor or an affiliate of the person or firm that is the subject of or otherwise under consideration in the action; or

(B) likely would be subject to a due diligence review by the person or firm that is under consideration in the investment-related action; or

(2) the pension board otherwise determines that the proposed action would create a direct or indirect benefit for the appointed trustee or a firm with which the appointed trustee is affiliated.

(b) The city attorney shall:

(1) provide annual training to trustees appointed by the city regarding conflicts of interest; and

(2) to the extent authorized by city ordinances, at the request of the external affairs committee of the pension board, review and take appropriate action on a complaint alleging a conflict of interest on the part of a city-appointed trustee.

Sec. 2B. PENSION SYSTEM ACTUARY; ACTUARIAL VALUATIONS. (a) The pension board shall retain an actuary or actuarial firm for purposes of this Act.

(b) At least annually, the pension system actuary shall make a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the pension fund. The valuation must include the risk sharing valuation study conducted under Section 8B or 8C of this Act, as applicable.

Sec. 2C. QUALIFICATIONS OF CITY ACTUARY. (a) An actuary hired by the city for purposes of this Act must be an actuary from a professional service firm who:

(1) is not already engaged by the pension system or any other pension system or fund authorized under Article 6243e.2(1) or 6243g-4, Revised Statutes, to provide actuarial services to the pension system or fund, as applicable;

(2) has a minimum of 10 years of professional actuarial experience; and

(3) is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries or a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and who, in carrying out duties for the city, has met the applicable requirements to issue statements of actuarial opinion.

Sec. 2D. REPORT ON INVESTMENTS BY INDEPENDENT INVESTMENT CONSULTANT. (a) At least once every three years, the board shall hire an independent investment consultant, including an independent investment consulting firm, to conduct a review of pension system investments and submit a report to the board and the city concerning the review or demonstrate in the pension system's annual financial report that the review was conducted. The independent investment consultant shall review and report on at least the following:

(1) the pension system's compliance with its investment policy statement, ethics policies, including policies concerning the acceptance of gifts, and policies concerning insider trading;

(2) the pension system's asset allocation, including a review and discussion of the various risks, objectives, and expected future cash flows;

(3) the pension system's portfolio structure, including the pension system's need for liquidity, cash income, real return, and inflation protection and the active, passive, or index approaches for different portions of the portfolio;

(4) investment manager performance reviews and an evaluation of the processes used to retain and evaluate managers;

(5) benchmarks used for each asset class and individual manager;

(6) an evaluation of fees and trading costs;

(7) an evaluation of any leverage, foreign exchange, or other hedging transaction; and

(8) an evaluation of investment-related disclosures in the pension system's annual reports.

(b) When the board retains an independent investment consultant under this section, the pension system may require the consultant to agree in writing to maintain the confidentiality of:

(1) information provided to the consultant that is reasonably necessary to conduct a review under this section; and

(2) any nonpublic information provided for the pension system for the review.

Sec. 3. ADDITIONAL POWERS OF PENSION BOARD. (a) If the pension board determines that there is a surplus of funds in an amount exceeding the current obligations of the pension fund, the pension board may invest the surplus in the manner provided by Chapter 802, Government Code.

(b) The pension board may contract with a person to perform any investment, administrative, legal, medical, accounting, clerical, or other service the pension board considers appropriate, including:

(1) a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants to perform an audit of the pension fund at times and intervals the pension board considers necessary;

(2) a professional investment manager or firm of managers as provided by Section 802.204, Government Code;

(3) an actuary or actuarial firm at times and for purposes the pension board considers appropriate; and

(4) an attorney or law firm to advise, assist, or represent the pension board in any legal matter relating to the pension fund.

(c) A fee for a service or person contracted with under Subsection (b) of this section may be paid from the pension fund.

(d) The pension board may hire employees as the pension board considers advisable for the proper and efficient administration of the system, including persons described in Subsection (b) of this section, whose positions and salaries shall be set by the pension board.

(e) The executive director hired by the pension board is the plan administrator.

(f) The pension board shall compensate from the pension fund the persons performing services under Subsections (d) and (e) of this section and may provide other employee benefits that the pension board considers proper. Any person employed by the pension board under Subsection (d) or (e) of this section who has service credits with the pension system at the time of the person's employment by the pension board retains the person's status in the pension system. Any person employed by the pension system on or after January 1, 2008, who does not have service credits with the pension system at the time of employment is a group D member in accordance with Section 5 of this Act. The pension board shall adopt a detailed annual budget detailing its proposed administrative expenditures under this subsection for the next fiscal year.

(g) The pension board may institute legal action in the name of the pension board on behalf of the pension system, including a civil action to recover from any offending party, or from the party's surety, money paid out or obtained from the pension fund through fraud, misrepresentation, defalcation, theft, embezzlement, or misapplication.