Honorable Leonard Prewitt Executive Secretary Teacher Retirement System of Texas 1001 Trinity Street Austin, Texas 78701
Re: Whether local school districts are permitted to pay the required employee contribution to the Teacher Retirement System.
Dear Mr. Prewitt:
You have requested our opinion regarding whether a local school district may pay the required employee contribution to the Teacher Retirement System. You state that a recent ruling indicates the intention of the Internal Revenue Service to exclude from gross income any portion of a teacher's contribution to a state pension plan which is `picked up' by the school district.
Section 3.57(b) of the Education Code requires that every employer
shall deduct from the salary of each member [of the Teacher Retirement System] 6.65 percent of his compensation for each payroll period.
In our opinion, this provision clearly means that the member is liable for payment of his own contribution. Other portions of section 3.57 support this view:
(c) These deductions shall be made although they reduce a member's minimum compensation provided by law. Every member shall be deemed to consent to the deductions made and the payment of his compensation, less said deductions, shall constitute a complete release of all claims, except for benefits provided under this chapter for service rendered by him during the payment period.
. . . . (g) If deductions which should have been made from any member's salary were not in fact made, the member must pay these deductions, plus a five percent per annum fee on the unpaid amount from the end of the school year such deductions were due until the date of payment, on terms prescribed by the State Board of Trustees. . . .
The Legislature has unequivocally expressed its intent that the member himself make the required contribution. As a result, we do not believe the statute can be construed to permit an employer to assume that burden. We express no opinion as to the validity or effect under the tax ruling of a proposal by which a district would reimburse an employee for the deduction required by section 3.57(b).
SUMMARY A local school district may not pay the required employee contribution to the Teacher Retirement System.
Very truly yours,
John L. Hill Attorney General of Texas
APPROVED:
David M. Kendall First Assistant
C. Robert Heath Chairman Opinion Committee