USE OF ALTERNATIVE RULEMAKING AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

(a) The board of trustees shall develop a policy to encourage the use of: (1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 for the adoption of the retirement system's rules; and (2) appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009 to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the retirement system's jurisdiction. (b) The retirement system's procedures relating to alternative dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state agencies. (c) The retirement system shall: (1) coordinate the implementation of the policy adopted under Subsection (a); (2) provide training as needed to implement the procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute resolution; and (3) collect data concerning the effectiveness of those procedures. (d) The board of trustees shall ensure that the implementation of this section and the negotiated rulemaking procedures and alternative dispute resolution procedures adopted under this section are consistent with the fiduciary responsibility imposed on the board by law.