TITLE 34.PUBLIC FINANCE

Part 5. TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Chapter 101. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE REGARDING CLAIMS

34 TAC §§101.1, 101.3 - 101.5, 101.7, 101.8, 101.12 - 101.23, 101.25

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts amendments to §§101.1; 101.3 - 101.5; 101.7; 101.8; 101.12 - 101.23; and 101.25 of Chapter 101 concerning Practice and Procedure Regarding Claims without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 12, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9955).

These rules govern the procedure for the institution, conduct, and determination of all claims arising under the Texas County And District Retirement System Act (Texas Government Code, Title 8, Subtitle F). The rules as originally promulgated in 1976, provided for a claim to be heard by the director of the system, or a hearings examiner appointed by the director. In 1991, the 72nd Texas Legislature created the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), as an independent agency, to conduct hearings in contested cases for state agencies that did not employ persons whose only duty was to preside over contested cases before the agency. Since 1991, the system has used the services of the SOAH to conduct hearings of the system's contested cases and the rules concerning the practice and procedure regarding the determination of claims now reflect this current practice. The amendments to §§101.14 - 101.19 and 101.23 set out procedures for the conduct of contested cases before the SOAH, and the final determination of the matter by the board of trustees. The amendments to §§101.1; 101.3; and 101.8 incorporate references to the SOAH hearing procedure. The amendment to §101.25 provides greater specificity with respect to the system's procedure for the review, suspension, or revocation of disability benefits. The amendments to §§101.4; 101.5; 101.7; 101.12; 101.13; and 101.20 - 101.22 make minor grammatical and stylistic changes to improve clarity and eliminate gender bias in the language of the rules.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of these amendments.

The amendments are 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.

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 January 7, 2000.

TRD-200000098

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: January 27, 2000

Proposal publication date: November 12, 1999

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


Chapter 103. CALCULATIONS OR TYPES OF BENEFITS

34 TAC §103.10

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts new §103.10 concerning the final allocation of interest to the account of a member whose membership terminated as a result of absence from service without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 12, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9959).

Under the rule, a member whose membership has terminated as a result of absence from service shall be considered to have made written application for withdrawal from membership on the date of membership termination. The rule clarifies that partial year interest is to be allocated to the account of a member whose membership terminated as a result of absence from service in the same manner that partial year interest is allocated to the account of a member whose membership terminated by death or voluntary withdrawal from membership. The rule defines the date of membership termination and describes the procedure for computing the amount of partial year interest to be allocated to the account.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of the rule.

The rule is adopted pursuant to 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.

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 January 7, 2000.

TRD-200000099

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: January 27, 2000

Proposal publication date: November 12, 1999

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


34 TAC §103.11

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts new §103.11 concerning extended supplemental death benefit coverage without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 12, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9959).

The rule is necessary to implement and administer the statutory changes made by Section 40, Senate Bill 1129, 76th Legislature (1999) to the supplemental death benefit program administered by the system. The changes eliminated the requirement that the member make application for the extended coverage and reduced the maximum period of coverage to two years following the last month for which the member was required to make a contribution. New §103.11 sets out the eligibility requirements for extended coverage; requires that a claim for payment of a supplemental death benefit based on extended coverage be filed with the system before the second anniversary of the member's death; clarifies that the claimant bears the burden of establishing the decedent's eligibility; and lists examples of documents that may assist the claimant in meeting this burden.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of the rule.

The rule is adopted pursuant to 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.

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 January 7, 2000.

TRD-200000100

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: January 27, 2000

Proposal publication date: November 12, 1999

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


Chapter 105. CREDITABLE SERVICE

34 TAC §105.4

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts an amendment to §105.4 concerning credited service under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 12, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9960).

The amendment is necessary to reflect the statutory changes made by §19 and §64, Senate Bill 1129, 76th Legislature (1999) to the military service provisions administered by the retirement system. §843.603 of the Government Code is referenced in the current rule; however, this section of the Government Code was repealed by §64 of Senate Bill 1129, and generally consolidated into §843.601 by §19 of the bill. The amendment deletes the references to the repealed statute and clarifies that service which is credited under §843.601 may not be credited under another provision of this retirement system.

The rule sets forth the procedures and limitations regarding the crediting of service under the USERRA.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of this amendment.

The amendment is adopted pursuant to 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.

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 January 7, 2000.

TRD-200000101

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: January 27, 2000

Proposal publication date: November 12, 1999

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