General Information
ERS is a trust fund established by the Texas Constitution and is described in Article XVI, Section 67, Texas Constitution. ERS is also organized pursuant to Subtitle B, Title 8, Tex. Gov’t Code, as well as Title 34 of the Tex. Admin. Code, Sections 61.1, et seq.
ERS administers defined benefit pension plans for:
- State Agency employees,
- law enforcement and custodial officers,
- elected State officials and
- judges.
ERS invests State and member contributions in the retirement trust funds and administers the trust funds with a fiduciary obligation to the members and retirees of ERS who are its beneficiaries. ERS also administers the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP), which consists of health benefits, life insurance and other optional benefits for participating individuals eligible to receive those benefits under applicable law.
ERS manages retirement trust assets of approximately $35 billion on behalf of state employees and retirees, who are the beneficiaries of the trust. ERS invests on a long-term basis with the goal of earning risk-adjusted investment returns at reasonable costs to help provide retirement benefits guaranteed for the lifetime of State of Texas retirees. Visit our Investment Service Provider page for more information.
ERS buys goods and services from qualified vendors including accounting and financial services, computer hardware and maintenance, computer software and maintenance, information technology services, furniture, office equipment and supplies, printing services, professional services, recycled products, security systems and maintenance, telecommunications equipment and temporary personnel services. Vendors wishing to do business with ERS for these products or services should register with the State of Texas.
If you are interested in providing state employees, retirees, and their dependents competitive benefits at a reasonable cost, you have come to the right place. Learn more about the Benefits Program Administrators information.