Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas State Representative Gene Wus (D-Houston) bipartisan Teacher Retirement System (TRS) benefit protection bill HB 2227 received overwhelming support from the Texas House this afternoon in its passage from the House.
Following adjournment Representative Wu made the following statement:
Our retired teachers have dedicated their careers to the children of Texas. Often after retirement many teachers are forced to return to work-part time to supplement their pensions.
TRS has strict rules and penalties regarding retired teachers ability to return to work during the first 12 months of retirement. Unfortunately most teachers are unaware of these strict rules and are also unaware when they are in violation. The passage of HB 2227 ensures that our retired teachers are given proper notice and time to correct their actions before a harsh penalty is handed down often the loss of months of their pension.
I am proud to have authored this important piece of legislation for our retired teachers and I am thankful to the House Pensions Investment and Financial Services Committee and my fellow bill authors Landgraf Craddick Capriglione and White for all of their work in passing this bill.
We must do more to protect our retired educators who have sacrificed so much to serve our state.
HB 2227 now advances to the Senate for approval in the upper chamber.
State Representative Gene Wu is serving his fourth term in the Texas House of Representatives. He represents House District 137 which includes the southwestern portions of the City of Houston.
