The bill, S.B. No. 1115, 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 "custodial officer" and "juvenile correctional officer," clarifying that custodial officer service must be performed as a juvenile correctional officer or caseworker. The bill also specifies that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, along with other relevant agencies, will determine eligibility for credit as a custodial officer, and this determination cannot be appealed by employees.

Additionally, the bill outlines the implementation of these changes, stating that they will apply to members employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department on or after the effective date, regardless of their hire date. It also establishes that service credit earned before the effective date will be considered custodial officer service for benefits, but members retiring before September 1, 2027, will not receive benefits based on that credit. The bill mandates the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to certify relevant employee information to the Employees Retirement System and to begin collecting contributions for the law enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund starting with the first pay period after the effective date. 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 811, Government Code 242, Government Code 815)