The Commissioner's mission is to provide effective and sound benefits to volunteer departments under Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS)
(Title 8 Government Code, Subtitle H) and to volunteer and paid departments under Texas Local Fire Fighters' Retirement Act (TLFFRA), Article 6243e V.T.C.S.
TESRS:
The agency administers the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System. The Fund provides a cost-effective means for small volunteer departments to belong to a
professionally managed fund for the benefit of their local volunteer fire and EMS personnel. As the administrator of the fund, the FFPC collects contributions of
participating department members, invests the proceeds, calculates benefits, and issues payments to retirees and their beneficiaries.
TLFFRA:
The agency's staff provides investment and legal guidance for local boards; provides opinions; hears appeals of local board decisions; maintains all personnel
records for fire fighter members and departments; classifies and coordinates annual reports; verifies all benefit amounts; provides education and training seminars;
and assists in providing guidance in the professional management of the local funds.
About the Commissioner
Sherri Walker was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to be Commissioner of the Fire Fighters’ Pension Commission in November 2010 and reappointed July 1, 2011. The Commissioner is charged with the responsibility of administering the pension fund for the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) and providing oversight, education, appeals, and administrative support for the Texas Local Fire Fighters’ Retirement Act (TLFFRA) pension systems.
Commissioner Walker comes to this office with an extensive legislative background, having served as Chief Clerk to 10 different committees with the Texas House of Representatives and having worked in the Texas Senate. She was appointed by Speaker Gib Lewis to serve as House Liaison to the Punishment Standards Commission which was charged with rewriting the Texas Penal Code to create “truth in sentencing.” She ran the House Pensions & Investments Committee for six years (during 74th, 75th & 78th Legislative Sessions) giving her a strong relationship and understanding of the pension funds in Texas. Walker’s legislative experience and work within the pension community makes her a valuable asset to the Fire Fighters’ Pension Commission.
Along with her political career, Walker is also a professional musician, having begun at an early age. She worked in Nashville with Grand Ole Opry members, Jim & Jesse, and is now a member of multi-Grammy winner, Floyd Domino’s, All-Star Western Swing Band as lead singer. She has recorded and performed across the country with many well-known artists.
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Texas Local Fire Fighters' Retirement Act 2011 Annual Report
This report will provide to the reader a clear picture of the systems under the statutory authority of the Office of the Fire Fighters' Pension
Commissioner specifically focusing on the forty-one fully paid and the eighty volunteer firefighter systems operating under the Texas Local Fire Fighters’ Retirement Act.
TESRS Board of Trustee Meeting Agenda
The Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) Board of Trustees meeting will be held on February 21, 2012 at 9 a.m., at the
Hilton Garden Inn (500 North IH 35, Austin, TX 78701) in the Sabine conference room
Sunset Information For Public Input
The mission and performance of the Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner are currently being reviewed
by the Legislature as required under the Texas Sunset Act. The Act provides that the Sunset Commission,
composed of legislators and public members, periodically evaluate a state agency to determine if the
agency is still needed, and what improvements are needed to ensure that state funds are well spent.
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