HOUSE COMMITTEE'S PRE-K DAY
    State lawmakers were discussing six bills to bolster pre-kindergarten programs, including a funding plan for school districts that meet early education benchmarks.
    The House Public Education Committee also mulled  other proposals incentivizing school districts to offer innovative approaches, including full-day programs.
    But most likely to pass is Rep. Dan Huberty's bill pledging $100 million to districts that improve existing pre-kindergarten plans.
    Texas currently offers half-day pre-kindergarten to about 225,000 students, most from low-income families or needing extra English instruction.
    Gov. Greg Abbott is fast-tracking pre-kindergarten bills through the Legislature, but Huberty's is closest to what he campaigned on.
    Advocates would like higher pre-kindergarten standards and more full-day programs, but passing those looks tougher.
BIPARTISAN HOUSE PLAN MOVES TO
BOLSTER STATE PENSION FUND
    House leaders facing a $7.2 billion shortfall for state worker retirement pensions have unveiled a plan to increase what Texas pays but also upping employee contributions.
    At current funding levels, the Texas Employees Retirement System may be depleted by 2052.
    A bipartisan plan announced this week increases the state's contribution to pensions to 9.5 percent of an employee's pay, up from the current 7.5 percent. It also maintains state agency contributions at 0.5 percent.
    And the proposal increases to 9.5 percent for 2016 and 2017 employee contributions that are currently set for 7.2 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, those two years.
    To soften the blow, the plan includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for state employees taking effect next year.
    The pension system covers around 230,000 active state workers and retirees.
ON DECK
    The House and Senate are both back for floor sessions Wednesday, but once again the committee work should be more newsworthy. Angleton Republican Rep. Dennis Bonnen's sweeping, bipartisan plan to hire more Department of Public Safety troopers on the Texas-Mexico border is being heard by the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee beginning at 8 a.m. Meanwhile, the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee meets once the full chamber adjourns and will discuss a series of bills designed to overhaul how Texas tracks and punishes truant students.