The ERS Board of Trustees comprises six members. Together, they make key decisions about:
- benefits for employees and retirees of Texas agencies and certain higher education institutions, such as choosing insurers and third-party administrators of benefits plans;
- what the medical and pharmacy benefits plans cover, and what participants pay in premiums and out-of-pocket costs;
- new benefits programs; and
- the budget for ERS operations.
They also oversee certain aspects of the State of Texas Retirement plan and the Texa$averSM 401(k) / 457 Program. Board members serve as trustees for the ERS Retirement Trust Fund, which pays retirees’ annuities from employee and state contributions and investment earnings.
Three trustees are appointed — one each by the Governor, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court — and confirmed by the Texas Senate. ERS members and retirees elect the other three. Both appointed and elected trustees serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of one appointee expiring on August 31 of each even-numbered year and the term of one elected trustee on August 31 of each odd-numbered year. More information is available in the Texas Administrative Code.
First appointed in 2005
Craig.Hester@ers.texas.gov
Elected in 2017
Catherine.Melvin@ers.texas.gov
Elected in 2019
Brian.Barth@ers.texas.gov
Elected in 2015
Ilesa.Daniels@ers.texas.gov
First appointed in 2018
Jim.Kee@ers.texas.gov