Sec. 825.115. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAWS. (a) Except as provided by this section, the board of trustees is subject to the open meetings law, Chapter 551, and the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001.

(b) The board of trustees may in its sole discretion make a final decision on a contested case. Notwithstanding any other law, the board of trustees may in its sole discretion modify, refuse to accept, or delete any proposed finding of fact or conclusion of law contained in a proposal for decision submitted by an administrative law judge or other hearing examiner, or make alternative findings of fact and conclusions of law, in a proceeding considered to be a contested case under Chapter 2001. The board of trustees shall state in writing the specific reason for its determination and may adopt rules for the implementation of this subsection. The board of trustees may delegate its authority under this subsection to the executive director, and the executive director may delegate the authority to another employee of the retirement system.

(c) The executive director or the executive director's designee under Subsection (b) may refer an appeal relating to the pension plan to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for a hearing or may employ, select, or contract for the services of an administrative law judge or hearing examiner not affiliated with the State Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct a hearing. This subsection prevails over any other law to the extent of any conflict.

(d) The board of trustees or its audit committee may conduct a closed meeting in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 551, with the retirement system's internal or external auditors to discuss:

(1) governance, risk management or internal control weaknesses, known or suspected compliance violations or fraud, status of regulatory reviews or investigations, or identification of potential fraud risk areas and audits for the annual internal audit plan; or

(2) the auditors' ability to perform duties in accordance with the Internal Audit Charter, relevant auditing standards, and Chapter 2102.

(e) The board of trustees may conduct a closed meeting in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 551, to deliberate or confer with one or more employees, consultants, or legal counsel of the retirement system or a third party regarding a procurement to be awarded by the board of trustees if, before conducting the closed meeting, a majority of the trustees in an open meeting vote that deliberating or conferring in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the retirement system in negotiations with a third person. The board of trustees is required to vote or take final action on the procurement in an open meeting.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, Chapter 551 does not apply to an assembly of the board of trustees or one of the board's committees while attending a summit, conference, convention, workshop, or other event held for educational purposes if the assembly or committee does not deliberate, vote, or take action on a specific matter of public business or public policy over which the board of trustees or a committee of the board has supervision or control. This subsection does not apply to a regular, special, or emergency meeting of the board of trustees scheduled or called under the board's bylaws.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 38, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1691), Sec. 24, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1078 (H.B. 3357), Sec. 6, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1102 (H.B. 2974), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015.