The Group Benefits Advisory Committee (GBAC) was created to advise the ERS Board of Trustees in the planning and development of employee benefits programs under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP). The committee provides the Board with input from ERS participants, benefit experts and professionals to ensure that state benefit offerings provide value to participants and employers and remain competitive at a reasonable cost to members, retirees and their dependents.

Composed of no more than 11 members appointed by the Board, the committee reflects a diverse cross-section of GBP-participating entities and stakeholder groups, including:

• state agencies
• public institutions of higher education
• retirees
• health-related institutions and
• insurance or benefit design consultants and professionals

The committee meets at least twice each year and provides reports and feedback to the ERS Board of Trustees.

Governance Charter

The ERS Board of Trustees adopted the current version of the GBAC Governance Charter in August 2020.

Members

• Large state agency representatives:​
  • ​Sandra White, Department of Criminal Justice
    Term expires December 31, 2022
  • Matthew Miller, Department of Motor Vehicles
    Term expires December 31, 2022
• Mid-sized state agency representatives:
  • ​Megan LaVoie, Office of Court Administration
    Term expires December 31, 2023
  • Jan Thomas, Lottery Commission
    Term expires December 31, 2022
• Small state agency representative:
  • ​Teresa Nelson, Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
    Term expires December 31, 2022
• Four-year institution of higher education representative:
  • Janet Bezner, Texas State University
    Term expires December 31, 2021
• Two-year institution of higher education representative:
  • Missy Kittner, McLennan Community College
    Term expires December 31, 2022
• Retiree representatives:
  • James Dobbins, Garland
    Term expires December 31, 2023
  • Gary White, Austin
    Term expires December 31, 2021
• Health-related institution representative:
  • Barbara Cherry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    Term expires December 31, 2023
• Insurance or benefit design consultant representative:
  • ​Jennifer Cawley, Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers
    Term expires December 31, 2022