[Vpaaetal] Insurance Merger with ERS

[vpaaetal@TAMU-Commerce.edu]

The Texas A&M Universi~ System
October 29,2004

Ms. Ann Schwartz Fuelberg
Executive Director
Employees Retirement System of Texas
P. O. Box 13207
Austin, TX 78711-3207

RE: The Texas A&M University System's Decision Regarding Participation in the
Employees Retirement System's Group Benefit Plans

Dear Ms. Fuelberg:

The decision regarding whether The Texas A&M University System (A&M System)
should merge its group insurance plans with the Employees Retirement System
(ERS) Group
Benefit Plans has critical long term financial and employee relations
implications for the A&M
System. Unfortunately, this decision comes at an extremely difficult time
as the leadership of the
A&M System is in transition. The A&M System wishes to preserve its option
to join the ERS
under the current window of opportunity by conditionally electing to join
ERS, pending further
internal review and an approval by the A&M System Board of Regents,
incumbent Chancellor
and component Chief Executive Officers. In addition, our joining the ERS
insurance plan
depends on legislative approval of the terms of the transfer.
This conditional election to merge The Texas A&M University System insurance
program with the ERS Group Benefit Plans is being made at this time in
order to comply with the
letter of the law as prescribed in Section 1551.006 (c) of the Texas
Insurance Code.
Thank you for your own and your staff's cooperation, assistance and
understanding as we
deal with this critical issue.
Sincerely,
U-f...pL Benton Cocanougher
Interim Chancellor
cc: Senator Steve Ogden, Texas State Senate
Dr. Stanton Calvert, Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
Mr. James Fletcher, Vice Chancellor for Administration
Mr. Torn Kale, Vice Chancellor for Business Services
Unlvenltles
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The T- A&M Ikriwmty System HeaIt!I ScIence Center
Office of the Chancellor
A&M System Building, Suite 2043 . 200 Technology Way' College Station,
Texas 77845-3424
Phone (979) 458-6000 . Fax (979) 458-6044 . http:ffsago.tamu.edu

Scott Downing, Interlibrary Loan/Distance Education Librarian
Texas A&M University-Commerce
ph  903 886-5741
fax 903 886-5723
scott_downing at tamu-commerce.edu