Group Benefits Advisory Committee
The Group Benefits Advisory Committee (GBAC) advises the ERS Board of Trustees in planning and developing 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. The goal is 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 is diverse, representing 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
- Sandra White, Department of Criminal Justice
- 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
- Megan LaVoie, Office of Court Administration
- Small state agency representative:
- Teresa Nelson, Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
Term expires December 31, 2022
- Teresa Nelson, Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
- Four-year institution of higher education representative:
- Janet Bezner, Texas State University
Term expires December 31, 2021
- Janet Bezner, Texas State University
- Two-year institution of higher education representative:
- Missy Kittner, McLennan Community College
Term expires December 31, 2022
- Missy Kittner, McLennan Community College
- Retiree representatives:
- James Dobbins, Garland
Term expires December 31, 2023 - Gary White, Austin
Term expires December 31, 2021
- James Dobbins, Garland
- Health-related institution representative:
- Barbara Cherry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Term expires December 31, 2023
- Barbara Cherry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Insurance or benefit design consultant representative:
- Jennifer Cawley, Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers
Term expires December 31, 2022
- Jennifer Cawley, Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers