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 for "custodial officer" and "juvenile correctional officer," clarifying that custodial officers can be employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as juvenile correctional officers or caseworkers. The bill also specifies that service performed as a juvenile correctional officer or caseworker will be creditable as custodial officer service, and it outlines the responsibilities of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in certifying employee information to the retirement system.

Additionally, the bill establishes that the changes will apply to members employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department on or after the effective date, September 1, 2025, and it allows for the recognition of prior service credit for those who were employed in these roles before the effective date. However, members who retire before September 1, 2027, will not be eligible for benefits based on this prior service credit. The bill mandates the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System to adopt necessary rules for implementation and requires the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to begin collecting contributions for the law enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund for eligible employees.

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