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 officer service credit can be earned by those working in these roles. The bill also stipulates that service performed as a juvenile correctional officer or caseworker will be considered creditable under the retirement system, and it outlines the responsibilities of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in certifying employee information to the retirement system.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the changes apply to members employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department on or after the effective date, with certain provisions for service credit established prior to that date. It includes a provision that members who retire before September 1, 2027, will not receive benefits based on pre-effective date 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 supplemental retirement fund for eligible employees. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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