The bill, H.B. No. 4537, amends various sections of the Government Code to enhance service retirement benefits for certain law enforcement and custodial officers under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. Key changes include a redefinition of "custodial officer" to include those employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, as well as the establishment of standards for determining eligibility for service credit as a custodial officer. Additionally, the definition of "law enforcement officer" is expanded to include those commissioned by various state departments, such as the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The bill also outlines the eligibility criteria for retirement benefits, specifying that members must be at least 55 years old and have a minimum of 10 years of service credit as either a law enforcement or custodial officer. It mandates that the relevant governmental entities certify employment status and service credit to the retirement system. Importantly, the implementation of these changes is contingent upon the availability of sufficient funding from the 89th Legislature, and the bill 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 815, Government Code 814, Government Code 813)