Limits retirement benefits so they do not exceed the Section 415 cap, and bars employers from providing extra defined-benefit retirement benefits if that would cause the retirement system to fail Section 415 requirements.
Sec. 844.008. LIMITATION ON PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the benefit payable to a retiree of the retirement system may not exceed the maximum benefit permitted under Section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as adjusted in accordance with Section 415(d) of that code. Any adjustments are applicable to the postretirement benefits of retirees as well as to the benefits of retiring members. For the purpose of determining whether the benefit of a retiring member or retiree exceeds the limitations provided in this section, all defined benefit plans of the employer and of entities required to be aggregated with the employer for purposes of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are to be treated as one defined benefit plan for purposes of Section 415 of that code. The limitation year for determining maximum benefits is the calendar year. (b) An employer may not provide employee retirement benefits under a defined benefit plan other than the retirement system to the extent that the provision of the benefits, when considered together with the benefits provided under the retirement system, would result in the failure of the retirement system to meet any of the limitation requirements of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the benefits of the other plan will automatically be reduced, eliminated, or adjusted to the extent necessary to prevent the failure. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 175, Sec. 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1994. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 245, Sec. 12 to 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 309, Sec. 9, eff. Dec. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 300 (H.B. 407), Sec. 18, eff. January 1, 2010.