Bills of the 87th Texas Legislative Session

THE GOOD:

  • HB917 by Rep Ana Hernandez and Sen Eddie Lucio II
    Allows a Retiree to run for the ERS Boad-
    Status: Signed by Governor! MAJOR TSEU Victory
  • HB 1076 by Rep Terry Meza
    Studies the long term effect of tuition regulation
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in Higher Ed
  • HB1376/SB1410 Rep Toni Rose/Sen Roland Gutierrez
    Would provide high injury risk pay to SSLC/SH employees
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in House Human Services or Senate State Affairs
  • HB2063 Rep Ordaz Perez
    Establishes a state employee family leave pool-
    Status: Received hearing in Senate State Affairs – Passed
  • HB264/SB1302 Rep Phillip Cortez/Sen Cesar Blanco
    Restores grievance procedure for HHSC and DFPS
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in House Human
    Services or Senate Human Services
  • HB 3307 Re Ana Hernandez
    Establishes a $15hr minimum wage for SSLC employees Status: Bill died, No hearing given
  • HB3393 Rep Terry Meza
    Includes TJJD officers in LECOSRF 20yr retirement plan
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in House Pensions
  • HB3427/SB2056 Rep Ryan Guillen/Sen Jose Menendez- Creates a salary career ladder for all state employees- Status: Bill died, No hearing given in House State Affairs
  • SB2138 Sen Cesar Blanco
    Removes disability parking fees from state universities
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in Senate Higher Ed
  • HB815 Rep Vikki Goodwin
    Increases longevity pay
    Status: Bill died, No hearing given in House State Affairs
  • SB44/HB1345 Sen Judith Zaffirini/Rep Jeff Leach
    Provides leave for State employees that volunteer for disaster relief
    Status: Sent to Governor!

THE BAD:

  • HB1437 Rep Gary Gates
    Converts ERS to a Hybrid retirement plan
    Status: Bill died, No hearing in House Pensions
  • HB1438 Rep Gary Gates
    Converts ERs to a Cash Balance plan- Status: Bill died, No Hearing in House Pensions
  • HB1028 Rep Gary Gates
    Converts ERS to a defined contribution plan- Status: Bill died, No hearing in House Pensions
  • HB4534 Rep Gary Gates
    Studies ERS to determine alternative plans- Status: Passed house, pending in senate- Dead in Senate
  • HB 1516/SB 657 Rep Tan Parker Sen Drew Springer
    Performs an efficiency Audit on TANF program including outsourcing as an option- Status: Passed house, pending in Senate- PASSED
  • HB577 Rep Phil Stephenson
    Studies using life insurance to generate alternative revenue for TRS-
    Status: Bill died, No hearing in House Pensions
  • HB571 Rep Gary Gates
    Bundles health care and directs State Employees to lowest cost surgery centers-
    Status: Bill died, Did not pass house by deadline
  • HB2374/SB1577 Rep Sanford Sen Lois Kolkhorst
    Performs an efficiency Audit on DFPS program including outsourcing as an option- Status: Passed house and Senate- Sent to Gov
  • HB1/SB1 Rep Greg Bonnen/Sen Joan Huffman
    The State Budget- will not include an across the board pay raise for state employees.

THE UGLY:

  • SB321 Sen Joan Huffman Rep Greg Bonnen
    Converts the ERS defined benefit plan to a Cash Balance plan, includes $510 mil a year to pay off ERS unfunded liability in 34 years
    Status: Passed Senate, Passed 80-66 by House floor vote
  • HB3691 Rep James Frank
    Expands community based care privatization of DFPS statewide
    Status: Passed House, pending in Senate- DEAD?
  • SB1896 Sen Lois Kolkhorst Rep James Frank
    Expands community based care privatization of DFPS statewide – Status: with major differences between House and Senate, will need CC
  • SB1660 Sen Paul Bettencourt
    Removes the ability of public sector unions to collect dues by payroll deductions
    Status: Bill died, No hearing in Senate State Affairs.

For more in-depth analysis of any bill (either pending, passed, or dead/blocked) and how we can work to ensure state employee issues get in front of those making the decisions, you are encouraged to attend a TSEU COPE (Committee on Political Education) meeting. Contact TSEU for more information.