The bill amends the Government Code to expand eligibility for custodial officer service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas to include certain juvenile correctional officers and caseworkers employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Specifically, it introduces new definitions and criteria for what constitutes a "custodial officer," which now includes those employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as juvenile correctional officers or caseworkers. The bill also clarifies that service performed in these roles will be credited as custodial officer service, and it establishes that eligibility for this credit will be determined by the relevant departments, including the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for certifying employment and service credit for these officers, requiring the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to provide necessary information to the Employees Retirement System of Texas. It specifies that the changes will apply to members employed on or after the effective date of the Act, with certain provisions for service credit earned prior to that date. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and mandates the adoption of rules by the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 811.001, Government Code 242.009, Government Code 815.505 (Government Code 242, Government Code 815, Government Code 811)