TITLE 34.PUBLIC FINANCE

Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Chapter 1. CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter C. ADVISORY COMMITTEES

34 TAC §1.301

The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts new §1.301, concerning the duties and responsibilities of the " e- Texas" Citizens' Commission, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 31, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 12013).

The new section is in Subchapter C which has been renamed Advisory Committees, under Title 34, Part 1.

The new section is proposed pursuant to Government Code, §403.011(a)(18), which allows the comptroller to suggest plans for the improvement and management of the general revenue, and §403.022, which allows the comptroller to review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the policies, management, fiscal affairs, and operations of state agencies.

Section 1.301 states that the purpose of e- Texas is to compile information and recommend improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state government. The section establishes a date on which the citizens' commission will automatically be abolished. The section outlines the membership and supervision and control of the citizens' commission. The section also outlines the procedures for handling any donations to the state for the operation of e- Texas.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the new section.

This new section is adopted under the Government Code, §2110.005 and §2110.008 which requires a state agency to adopt rules regarding the purposes, duties, and duration of advisory committees.

The new section implements the Government Code, §403.022 and §403.011.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 22, 2000.

TRD-200002093

Martin Cherry

Special Counsel

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Effective date: April 11, 2000

Proposal publication date: December 31, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4062


Part 5. TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Chapter 105. CREDITABLE SERVICE

34 TAC §105.3

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts new §105.3, concerning the crediting of service in the retirement system for qualifying service performed in the military. The rule is adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the February 18, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 1255).

The rule is necessary to implement and administer the statutory changes made by Sections 19 and 64, Senate Bill 1129, 76th Legislature (1999) to the provisions of the Texas County and District Retirement System Act relating to the optional authorization allowing credited service in the retirement system for qualified military service.

The rule describes the eligibility requirements for establishing credited service for qualified military service, and the manner of calculating the amount of service that is to be credited to an eligible member based on the type of military duty. An eligible member may receive up to 60 months of credited service at the rate of 1 month of credited service for each month of qualified military service performed on active duty, and 1 month of credited service for each 12 months of qualified military service performed on inactive duty, but dual credit may not be received for any month. In addition, the rule describes the eligibility requirements of an authorization reducing the eligibility period from 10 years to 8 years, and provides that the effective date of the authorization will be January 1 of the year following the year in which the reduction is authorized.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of the rule.

The rule is adopted under the Government Code, §845.102 which provides the board of trustees of the Texas County and District Retirement System with the authority to adopt rules necessary or desirable for the efficient administration of the system.

§105.3.Credited Service for Qualified Military Service.

(a)

In this section:

(1)

The term "Act" means the Texas Government Code, Title 8, Subtitle F as amended. Unless otherwise indicated, all section numbers refer to sections of the Act.

(2)

The term "credited service" means membership service for determining retirement eligibility only. Member contributions and monetary credits are not required or permitted with respect to credited service for qualified military service established after December 31, 1999.

(3)

The term "eligible member" means a member of an eligible subdivision who has performed, as an employee, at least 10 years of service credited in the retirement system; who does not receive and is not eligible to receive federal retirement payments based on 20 years or more of active federal military duty or its equivalent; who has performed qualified military service; and who has been released from military duty under honorable conditions.

(4)

The term "eligible subdivision" means a subdivision whose governing board has adopted the optional authorization for the establishment of credited service in the retirement system for qualified military service under Section 843.601(c).

(5)

The term "qualified military service" means service in the uniformed services as defined in 38 U.S.C. Section 4303(13). It excludes that service which was performed in a month for which the member has received credited service in this retirement system under any other provision of the Act, and that service which is credited by another retirement system or program established or governed by state law. A member may not receive more than one month of credited service for any month.

(b)

An eligible member may receive one month of credited service in the retirement system for each month of qualified military service performed while on active duty. A member may receive one month of credited service in the retirement system for each 12 months or fraction of months of qualified military service performed while on inactive duty. An eligible member may not accumulate more than a combined total of 60 months of credited service in the retirement system for qualified military service under Section 843.601 and for membership credited service under Section 842.109(b).

(c)

The governing body of an eligible subdivision that has adopted the Optional Benefit Eligibility Plan Two described by Section 844.210 may authorize a reduction in the minimum credited service requirement for eligibility to establish credit under Section 843.601(c) from 10 to 8 years. The reduction may not take effect until January 1 of the year following the year in which the authorization was adopted except that a reduction authorized by an eligible subdivision that begins participation after December 31, 1999 may take effect on the date the subdivision begins participation.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 20, 2000.

TRD-200002041

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: April 9, 2000

Proposal publication date: February 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 328-8889


Chapter 107. MISCELLANEOUS RULES

34 TAC §107.8, §107.9

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts the amendments to §107.8 concerning the electronic transfer of funds, and §107.9 concerning the electronic filing of documents, without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 18, 2000 issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 1256).

The amendment of §107.8 is necessary to clarify that a reversal of an ACH Debit by a subdivision constitutes non-payment of the required contributions with respect to the monthly report and will be treated in the same manner as an ACH Debit that fails because of insufficient funds in the transferee's account. The amendment to §107.9 expands the definition of documents that can be electronically filed and clarifies that documents filed electronically by a subdivision will be considered to have been certified by the subdivision, and that documents electronically filed by a member, beneficiary or annuitant will be considered to have been certified by the filer if certifying language appears on the document.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of these amendments.

The amendments are adopted under the general provisions of Government Code, §845.102, which provides the board of trustees of the Texas County and District Retirement System with the authority to adopt rules necessary or desirable for efficient administration of the system; and under the specific provisions of Government Code, §845.116(b) which authorizes the board of trustees to adopt rules and procedures relating to the electronic transfer of funds and the electronic filing of documents.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 20, 2000.

TRD-200002042

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: April 9, 2000

Proposal publication date: February 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 328-8889