Retired public school teachers, administrators, and staff would get a 13th check this year under a bill approved unanimously by the Senate Finance Committee last week.
SB 7, by Sen. Joan Huffman, would send all retired members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas a bonus check equal to their monthly annuity or $2,400, whichever is less. This bonus would cost the state just over $700 million in general revenue.
“Remember that we are not just talking about teachers, TRS also serves our librarians, our school nurses, counselors, custodial and support staff, bus drivers among other public education positions, all important people in the public education process,” Huffman said. “We are so grateful for the work that they do for us and the children of this state.”
This legislation comes two years after the Legislature passed sweeping reforms to the system, the sixth largest pension fund in the U.S., and one that serves almost half a million retired public school employees in Texas.
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