TITLE public-finance

Part III. Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Chapter 29. Benefits

Subchapter F. Partial Lump-Sum Option Plan

34 TAC §29.70, §29.71

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) adopts on an emergency basis new §29.70 and §29.71 concerning the Partial Lump-Sum Option as passed by the 76th Legislature, 1999, in Senate Bill 1128 (SB). Section 29.70 provides for the methods of distribution of the lump-sum to include payments in the event of the death of the retiree. Section 29.71 provides the tables needed for calculation of the reduction to the retiree annuity when the option is selected.

These sections are adopted on an emergency basis in order that the retirement system may process any person who wishes to select the option as early as September, 1999. The agency finds that requirements of state law (specifically, those found in Senate Bill 1128) require the adoption of these new rules on fewer than 30 days notice. The new rules are simultaneously being proposed for permanent adoption.

The new emergency rules are adopted on an emergency basis under the Government Code, Chapter 825, §825.102, which authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System to adopt rules for the administration of the funds of the retirement system and under Government Code, §824.2045(h) which authorizes the Board to adopt rules for the implementation of the partial lump-sum option.

Government Code, Chapter 824, §824.2045 is affected by this emergency adoption.

§29.70. Distribution .

(a)

The partial lump-sum option payment shall be made at the same time as the initial retirement annuity payment is made. For those retirees selecting two or three annual lump-sum payments, the second and third payment shall be made on the appropriate anniversary date of the due date of the initial lump-sum payment. No interest will be paid on any lump-sum amounts paid in the second year, third year, or at any other time.

(b)

A retiree who selected two or three annual lump-sum payments may receive all the money due at any time they elect in writing to do so.

(c)

A retiree will be permitted to roll-over any amounts to a qualified plan to the extent authorized by law.

(d)

In the event a retiree dies prior to receiving all payments due from the partial lump-sum option plan, the retirement system will pay any partial lump-sum benefits due in a single lump sum payment to the beneficiary named on retirement documents at the time of retirement or as that beneficiary may be changed from time to time.

(e)

A retiree also has the option of designating a beneficiary specifically for any unpaid lump-sum payments due under this section upon the death of the retiree. Any such designation must be done on a form provided by and filed with the retirement system. The designation would be superior to subsection (d) of this section and would control the payment of a single lump sum payment of any money due upon the death of the retiree under the partial lump-sum option plan. In the event that the designated beneficiary named under this subsection dies prior to distribution, TRS will pay the lump sum benefit under subsection (d) of this section.

§29.71. Tables.

(a)

Any eligible retiree who selects a partial lump-sum option will receive an actuarially reduced annuity to reflect the selection of the lump-sum option. TRS will use Factor Tables for Partial Lump-Sum Option Payments furnished by the TRS actuary of record.

Figure 1: 34 TAC 29.71(a)

Figure 2: 34 TAC 29.71(a)

(b)

The member's age in whole years will be used from column one and the percentage of standard annuity factor from column three, four, or five, depending on the number of months of lump-sum selected, will be used to determine the percentage of standard annuity that will be paid to a person who elects to participate in the partial lump-sum option plan.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State,on August 9, 1999.

TRD-9904953

Charles Dunlap

Executive Director

Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Effective date: August 9, 1999

Expiration date: December 7, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 391-2115


Chapter 31. Employment After Retirement

34 TAC §31.9

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) adopts on an emergency basis amendments to §31.9, concerning definitions used in rules relating to employment after retirement. The section is being amended to clarify that the 12 month separation from employment after retirement required in the law is a 12 consecutive month separation. There was testimony during the legislative hearings on the law regarding this need. In addition, the amendment makes it clear that teaching in an acute shortage area for at least one hour per day qualifies under the new law as employment in an acute shortage area as defined by the Commissioner of Education.

This amendment is adopted on an emergency basis to enable the system to administer the new law effective with the new school year. The agency finds that requirements of state law (specifically, those found in the 76th Legislature, 1999, Senate Bill 1128, §14) require the adoption of these amendments of this rule on fewer than 30 days notice. The amendments are simultaneously being proposed for permanent adoption.

The amendment is adopted on an emergency basis under the Government Code, Chapter 825, §825.102, which authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System to adopt rules for eligibility for membership and for the administration of the funds of the retirement system.

Government Code, § 824.602(a)(5), is affected by this emergency adoption.

§31.9.Definitions.

(a)

The definition of "public educational institution" is an educational institution in the State of Texas supported wholly or partly from public funds.

(b)

The definition of "school year" for purposes of employment after retirement is a 12-month period beginning on September 1 and ending on August 31 of the next calendar year.

(c)

For the teacher shortage area law, the 12 month separation period may be any 12 consecutive months following the month of retirement so long as the person is not employed in any position or capacity in a public school during any part of each of the 12 months.

(d)

A retiree who teaches at least one classroom hour per day in a shortage area will be considered as teaching in a shortage area.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State,on August 9, 1999.

TRD-9904955

Charles Dunlap

Executive Director

Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Effective date: August 9, 1999

Expiration date: December 7, 1999

For further information, please call: