S.B. No. 1737 aims to amend the Employees Retirement System of Texas to enhance service retirement benefits for certain law enforcement and custodial officers. Key changes include the definition of "custodial officer," which now encompasses members employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and those certified in specific roles related to custodial supervision. Additionally, the bill introduces new eligibility standards for service credit as a custodial officer, emphasizing the need to encourage early retirement for individuals in hazardous positions. The bill also revises the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include a broader range of agencies and clarifies the requirements for retirement eligibility.

The bill mandates that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the comptroller, and the attorney general certify the names and service credits of employees in these roles to the Employees Retirement System. It stipulates that the changes will apply to members employed on or after the effective date of the Act, with specific provisions for those employed before that date. The implementation of these changes is contingent upon the availability of sufficient funding from the 89th Legislature, and the Act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 811.001, Government Code 813.506, Government Code 814.104, Government Code 815.505 (Government Code 811, Government Code 813, Government Code 815, Government Code 814)