Sec. 15. INCREASE IN BENEFITS. (a) In addition to the postretirement increases under Section 10(h) of this Act, the pension board may increase annuities payable under this Act by an amount that does not exceed the annual increase in the amount of premiums being paid under a group insurance program provided for retirees of the city.
(b) The pension board may distribute a supplemental payment to all retirees and eligible survivors who are receiving annuities as of January 1 of the year in which the supplemental payment is made. The supplemental payment shall be credited to DROP participants who are participating in DROP as of January 1 of the year in which the supplemental payment is made, if the pension board's actuary determines that as of the end of any fiscal year:
(1) the value of the pension system's assets exceeds the amount of the pension system's accrued liability;
(2) the pension system has met the actuarial investment assumption for the previous fiscal year; and
(3) the issuance of the supplemental check will not cause the city's contribution rate to increase.
(c) A person may not receive more than one supplemental payment as a result of the person's status as:
(1) a retiree and eligible survivor; or
(2) a DROP participant and eligible survivor.
(d) A pension benefit or allowance provided by this article may be increased if:
(1) a qualified actuary selected by the pension board determines that the increase cannot reasonably be considered to jeopardize the pension system's ability to pay any existing benefit;
(2) the increase is approved by the pension board and the city in a written agreement as provided by Section 3(n) of this article; and
(3) the increase does not deprive a member or retiree, without the written consent of the member or retiree, from receiving the immediate or deferred retirement benefit that the member or retiree was eligible to receive under this article before the increase.
Structure Texas Statutes
Article 6243h. Municipal Pension System in Cities of 1,500,000 or More
Section 1A. Interpretation of Act
Section 1C. Alternative Retirement Plans
Section 1D. Requirements for Certain Cash Balance Retirement Plans
Section 2A. Conflicts of Interest
Section 2B. Pension System Actuary; Actuarial Valuations
Section 2C. Qualifications of City Actuary
Section 2D. Report on Investments by Independent Investment Consultant
Section 3. Additional Powers of Pension Board
Section 4. Ineligible Individuals
Section 5. Individuals Eligible for Membership
Section 6. Group C Membership, Service Requirements, and Benefits
Section 7. Service; Credited Service
Section 8. Member Contributions
Section 8A. City Contributions
Section 8B. Risk Sharing Valuation Studies
Section 8C. Initial Risk Sharing Valuation Studies; Corridor Midpoint and City Contribution Amounts
Section 8D. Actuarial Experience Studies
Section 8H. Unilateral Decisions and Actions Prohibited
Section 8I. State Pension Review Board; Report
Section 9. Contribution Refunds
Section 10. Normal Retirement Pension
Section 10A. Group D Member Hybrid Component
Section 11. Option-Eligible Participants
Section 12. Deferred Retirement Option Plan
Section 13. Disability Pensions
Section 14. Surviving Spouse and Dependent Child Monthly Allowance
Section 15. Increase in Benefits
Section 16. Lump-Sum Benefit Payment
Section 17. Termination of Employment; Death; Reemployment
Section 20. Service for Formerly Ineligible Employees
Section 21. Reduction of Benefits; Dissolution of System
Section 22. Exemption From Execution, Attachment, or Other Writ
Section 24. Excess Benefit Plan
Section 25. Employees on Retirement When Act Takes Effect
Section 26. Confidential Information
Section 28. Proportionate Retirement Program With Participating Retirement Systems