TESRS

Completed forms can be faxed to (512) 936-3480-or mailed to P.O. BOX 12577 AUSTIN TEXAS 78711-2577. On-line access is also available.

TESRS encourages all participating departments to immediately enroll members into TESRS and ensure each active department member is covered by TESRS death and disability benefits. Keep in mind that the department has the option to delay the TESRS enrollment of new members for a period not to exceed six-months from the date they joined the department.

Each department member needs to complete and sign Form 502. It is important that TESRS receives the completed, signed form. This form provides TESRS with the member’s contact information and designated beneficiaries for payment of death benefits provided by TESRS. A spouse’s signature is required if the member is married and designates someone other than their spouse as a beneficiary.

The Chief terminates a member’s TESRS enrollment by completing and signing a Form 504 indicating the member’s TESRS termination date and qualified service for the calendar year.

TESRS will keep the Local Board in the loop about the TESRS enrollment activities of the Chief by emailing periodic TESRS roster updates to the Local Board Chair.

City Council or ESD – Designating an Alternate

The governing body of a participating department may formally designate someone other than the Chief to enroll and terminate members in TESRS by completing and submitting a Form 610 – Designation of Alternative Participating Department Head.

TESRS Reduced Unnecessary Meetings of Local Board

TESRS Local Boards no longer need to meet and consider routine matters, such as new TESRS membership enrollment and approval of retirement applications that are not contested by the applicant.

The Local Board will retain responsibility for making sure the department enrolls eligible members into TESRS and for the annual reporting of qualified service. Most importantly, the Local Board will continue to review and approve claims for line-of-duty death benefits, off-duty death benefits, temporary disability benefits, and contested retirement applications.

Local Boards are required to meet only twice each year (each February and August) to complete the review and certification of the Membership Reconciliation Report (MRR). During the February meeting, the Local Board will review and award qualified service (Annual Report), elect officers, review TESRS Confidentiality Policy and approve at least two people to have access to the TESRS Online System (TOL).

 

Streamlined Retirement Application Process

Local Boards no longer need to meet and approve uncontested retirement applications with an effective retirement date after September 1, 2019. 

Members will continue to apply for retirement by submitting a retirement application to TESRS in Austin. TESRS will prepare and send a Service Retirement Certificate (SRC) to the applicant which details the member’s qualified service and retirement benefit amount. If the member accepts and signs the SRC, the Executive Director will approve and process the application.

Process for Applicants Contesting Proposed Retirement Benefit

TESRS retirement applicants seeking to protest their qualified service or benefit amount must submit a written statement to the Executive Director explaining their concerns. 

The Executive Director will review TESRS’s records. If the applicant’s concern was the result of incorrect data entry, TESRS will send a corrected SRC to the applicant. Otherwise, the Executive Director will forward the protest to the Local Board Chair. 

To correct simple administrative errors, the Local Board Chair must submit a Form 200-D (Correction of Errors) to the Executive Director and correct the member’s qualified service history. Upon receipt and acceptance of the Form 200-D, the Executive Director will process the change and send a corrected SRC to the applicant for approval.

If the protest cannot be resolved administratively, the Local Board must hold a public meeting and consider the complaint of the applicant. The applicant has the opportunity to appeal the Local Board’s decision to the TESRS State Board.

Immunity from Liability

Government Code 861.008 extends state sovereign immunity to Local Board members and participating department heads. This provides the same legal protections to Local Board members and participating department heads as provided to the TESRS State Board and staff.

Annual Report Deadline Moved to February 28th

Local Boards are responsible for the annual reporting of qualified service for TESRS members. The deadline for submitting the TESRS Annual Report has been moved to February 28th. (Local Boards will review and approve the TESRS Annual Report and the MRR during their February meeting.)

Enrollment of Paid Employees into TESRS – Delayed Until September 1, 2020

The TESRS State Board intends to adopt rules related to the participation of employees of participating departments in TESRS on or before September 1, 2020, to the extent such participation is consistent with TESRS’s plan qualification requirements under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Any employee of a participating department who is enrolled as a member of TESRS before September 1, 2019 shall continue to be a member of TESRS until otherwise provided.

Withdrawal of Departments

During the first quarter of 2020, after the completion of an actuarial analysis and legal review of the impact of the proposed rules, the TESRS State Board will consider and propose rules to allow participating departments to withdraw from TESRS participation. Any rules adopted by the TESRS State Board allowing a department to revoke participation must maintain the actuarial soundness of the retirement system and not violate TESRS’s plan qualification under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.