TPEA’s 3 for 20 New Member Recruitment Program

Recruit 3 new members, and you’ll earn a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card*!

TPEA invites you to participate in 3 for 20, our 2018-2019 member recruitment program. It’s easy to participate: For every three new members you recruit, you’ll receive a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card.* Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and can be redeemed toward millions of items at www.amazon.com. PLUS: For every new member you recruit, you’ll receive one entry in monthly drawings for a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card. There’s no limit on the number of Gift Cards/prize entries you can earn. We’ll send out the $20 Amazon.com Gift Cards once a month, and we’ll conduct the monthly drawings on the 1st Monday of each month. To receive credit for the members you recruit, ask each new member to write your name on their paper membership application or to list you in the “Sponsor” field on the online membership application. Download printable applications at www.tpea.org/3for20 , or direct potential members to the TPEA website. Questions? Call (888) FOR-TPEA (367-8732) or email membership@tpea.org.

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The Texas House passed its version of SB 500 (capitol.texas.gov/billlookup/text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB500), the supplemental appropriations bill. Thanks to the efforts of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, House Appropriations Committee Chair John Zerwas (R-Houston), and the members of the Appropriations Committee, the bill went to the House floor with $150 million to reduce the unfunded liability in the ERS Trust Fund. This additional funding received a unanimous vote in the Texas House.

SB 500 now goes back to the Senate and then in all likelihood to a conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions. Please take time to call or email Speaker Bonnen, Chairman Zerwas, and the House member who represents you to tell them how much you appreciate their vote for state employees.

Contact House Speaker Dennis Bonnen: house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=25
Contact House Appropriations Committee Chair John Zerwas: house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=28
Contact the Texas House member who represents you: wrm.capitol.texas.gov

State Employee and Retiree Survey for the 86th Legislative Session The survey is now closed. Newsletter subscribers, expect to receive a recap and analysis of the responses soon!

The State Auditor's Office has issued its summary report, "Full-Time Equivalent State Employees for Fiscal Year 2018." The purpose of the report is to provide updated information to the Legislature and public about FTE numbers in state agencies and institutions of higher education, as well as to track historical trends concerning management-to-staff ratios.

The report found that the number of FTEs in state agency employment declined by 3.1% from FY2017 levels. This represents a loss of 4,613.4 FTES, reducing the current total FTE count to 144,905.9. The number of FTEs does not equate to the actual employee headcount, but reflects a ratio that reflects the number of hours that an employee works compared to 40 hours a week (e.g., two employees working 20 hours a week equals one FTE). The report also found that the number of FTEs complied with average management-to-staff ratio mandated by statute (1 manager or supervisor per 11 FTEs).

The report is available here.

2019 Election of Directors for the State Board

The board currently consists of 14 Directors who serve at-large. 
The following director positions have terms ending on 8-31-19:

Julia Johnson - Retiree - Austin - Not eligible for a 2^nd term
Rusty Smith - TxDOT - Lubbock - Not eligible for a 2^nd term
Shirley Reynolds - Retiree - Lufkin - Eligible for a 2^nd term           

Important 2019 Election Dates

04-29-2019	Nominating Committee must submit its nominations to the board.
06-29-2019	Active Members of the Association shall elect Directors at the Annual Meeting.

Read more about the announcement here.

Texas Workforce by the Numbers

2018 Scholarship Recipient

The Liberty Mutual Insurance/TPEA Scholarship ($500) is awarded based on special skills, scholarship abilities, community service and future employment needs. Members of TPEA, their spouses and their dependents are eligible for the award. The 2018 recipient is Joseph Luis Micus, who will be studying Medical Engineering at Texas Tech Honors College in Lubbock.