PRSRT STD HOUSTON POLICE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION US POSTAGE PAID P.O. BOX 130787, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77219 HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 9155 THE With Honor We Served . With Pride We Remember OFFICIALETI PUBLICATIONR OF THEED HOUSTON POLICE RETIREDADGE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION VOL.R XVII, NO. 6 B December 2018 - January 2019 Funeral Package Update and Long Term Care Info There is no contract available for this “no frills” benefit, By M. D. Beale, Jr. but it is available at the time it’s needed for all HPROA members and their spouse/significant other through the A while back we had an elderly officer die that was totally Joseph J. Earthman Generations funeral home. [This indigent. There’s been more than a few along through company is NOT affiliated the Earthman Funeral Home the years. I know it seems a bit hard to believe but it chain around the country who are now part of the Dignity happens more than you might realize. Those of us that franchise. The family sold out some years back and Mr. retired before the DROP/PROP programs started don’t Joseph Earthman now runs his own separate business.] have that cushion to fall back on. Those that retire in the future won’t either. The price of the package includes a One-Day Service at the church or other location of choice; professional Do not be hasty to judge. If an officer has to split his services fees; transfer to the Joseph J. Earthman location retirement check with a previous spouse/significant other within 50 miles; standard care of the deceased or it cuts everything at least in half, or if there’s more than embalming [not required]; dressing and repose to casket; that one to split with, it’s really easy to go through the flower utility vehicle; custom cap panel insert; framed “drag up” money and the monthly check. Throw in child lobby photo [16” x 24”]; online obituary; silver 20 gauge support, paying for uninsured medical expenses such as steel casket with white crepe interior; funeral coach for a parent in a facility, and a few bad investment ventures service; register book; and 10 death certificates. mixed with some plain bad luck along the way, and over the years you can wind up destitute pretty easily [even For those selecting cremation and wish to have a with DROP/PROP]. memorial service for display of the deceased, a temporary dark-stained poplar wood unit with a light The Department’s Family Support Group, The Burial Fund tan interior will be provided for. and the HPROA Family Assistance Committee were able to get the money together to give the elderly officer Upgrades are available at additional costs. Use of mentioned above a decent funeral through a lot of effort. the chapel is possible, if no church is available, for an additional $795 plus the required security and valet costs. Because of incidents like this, board members of the HPROA and the Burial Fund met with Mr. Joe Earthman and with The Burial Fund Board has asked that we mention that Stephanie Salcedo of Secure Your Legacy, who specializes although this low-cost funeral benefit matches the Burial in funeral plans, and developed a funeral service based Fund Payout, the Joseph Earthman Generations plan is only on the current Burial Fund benefit of $4,250. separate and apart from the Burial Fund, and it is their policy to not endorse this or any other funeral plan. This funeral package has been created especially for HPROA members and their spouse/significant other who have an immediate need and little or no money to deal with funeral expenses. Continues on Page 6 2 The Retired Badge December 2018 - January 2019 Edition FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BILL ELKIN Article 1 The one great problem in writing an As you will recall, the HPOPS Trustee election article for The Retired Badge newspaper was to be conducted by a new format, is the fact that it is only printed every two using either a paper ballot or by electronic months. This makes it difficult to write an ballot. You could not use both. This format article with timely and current information, will be used from this time forward. which all too often is outdated by the time our readers receive it. However, I will try On the Legislative scene, there to put into this missive some informative appears that many new elected and important information. officials will be in the next Session of the Texas Legislature. There will be a I hope that when you read this article you variety of fresh and new ideas of how and your family, and friends, will have to run the state government, and voted in several important elections. how local governments will continue First was the General Federal and State as such to its citizens. Since passage Election. Hopefully the electorate voted of the reformed HPOPS Pension Law to keep Texas a Red State by re-electing, last Session, the goal of the HPROA or electing, those candidates who more will be a wait and see attitude as to likely define the attitude of Texans. any attempt to change, diminish or Secondly, by voting in the trustee election eliminate the law. In other words, just for the HPOPS Board of Trustee election. to guard what we currently have,. Bill Elkin, Executive Director Both elections were very important in how our government is conducted and Now lastly, I have decided to step aside I will offer my service at the upcoming how your pension system is run. as the Executive Director of the HPROA on Session of the Texas Legislature, subject to December 31, 2018. I notified the HPROA approval by the Board. This has been a Board of my decision at the October meeting. 21 year experience for us all !. Article 2 For those of you who are not aware I am confident that a workable agreement I The Senate will now have a party line of my decision, which I announced at can be reached in that regards. problem when trying to pass certain party November’s General Meeting, I will step line legislation. i.e. Bathroom Bill. The aside and leave my current position as Now, with the most recent election first order in the House will be to elect a “ Executive Director” of the HPROA. This behind us, to many of us, there were new Speaker of the House. At this time difficult decision was made after much some startling results of the election. is appears the Representative Dennis thought and personal deliberation. There We saw Harris County’s Public Offices Bonnen, District 25 of Brazoria County, has comes a time when the “burnout” factor taken over by the Democratic Party enough pledges to be elected as Speaker. enters into the decision making process, candidates. All of the County’s District along with age. I felt that it was time for Court Republican Judges were voted I have been monitoring all pre-filed a younger person, but one who has the out and replaced by Democrats, was pieces of legislation that would impact dedication, energy and loyalty to the were the County Courts at Law. Only our pension law, both in the House and HPROA, to step in to the Director’s position. some JP Court Republicans survived Senate. Pre-filing of Legislation began on the “Blue Wave.” November 12th, and is allowed to sitting However, I have offered my assistance members of both Houses who were re- in the upcoming Legislative Session In the Texas Legislature, the Urban vote elected to office. As of November 21, in Austin. So, I will not be gone, but also created a change in both the House 20018, there have been 401 Bills filed in continue to be an active member of and the Senate. The 2019 Session will the House and 191 Bills filed in the Senate. the HPROA, with fewer responsibilities. have 83 Republicans and 67 Democrats There has been nothing filed that would Limited discussions have ensued about in the House of Representatives, and in directly impact our pension compromise Chairing the Legislative Committee, and the Senate there will be 19 Republicans at this time. The major deluge of monitoring any and all legislation affecting and 12 Democrats. legislation is yet to come January 8, 2019. the pension compromise law that was passed last session of the Texas Legislature. The Retired Badge December 2018 - January 2019 Edition 3 A Message from Stephen Rayne, President HPROA Some of you probably already heard We could change the Executive about this but for those who have Directors responsibilities to handling not this “could” benefit us all. U.S. Operations only and a Legislative Senator Ted Cruz has introduced in Committee Chairman could be the U.S. Senate the Equal Treatment appointed to handle all State and of Public Servants Act of 2018. In the City legislative issues. Or we could House. Texas Rep. Kevin Brady and abolish the Executive Directors Mass. Rep. Richard Neal introduced position and divide up the Executive companion legislation. These bills Directors duties among the HPROA would replace the current Windfall Board members. Bill has agreed to Elimination Provision with a fairer help us, as a consultant, through this formula to ensure that public servants transition even after January 1, 2019. receive the Social Security benefits The HPROA Board has not set a firm they deserve, based on their service deadline for our decision. We have to our communities. We will have set a deadline for applicants for the to wait and see if the bills pass and job to apply before December 1, what the final changes are.