Primary Department: Human Resources and Talent
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Andrea Coughlin Rowley, Chief People Officer
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by Human Resources and Talent of the proposed framework for the Harris County Benefits Advisory Council, developed in coordination with the Boards & Commissions Office in response to Commissioners Court direction on July 9, 2026.
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Background and Discussion:
On July 9, 2026, Commissioners Court directed Human Resources & Talent (HRT), in coordination with the Harris County Boards & Commissions Office, to establish a retiree advisory council to serve as a structured forum for retiree feedback and recommendations.
Following Court direction, HRT worked with the Boards & Commissions Office to develop a proposed framework for the advisory body, including its purpose, membership, governance, scope of work, operating structure, and implementation timeline. HRT also reviewed approaches used by other public-sector organizations and considered how an advisory body could most effectively support the County’s broader benefits planning and member engagement efforts.
Through this planning process, HRT recommends establishing a Harris County Benefits Advisory Council (BAC) that includes equal representation from active employees and retirees. While the original Court direction focused on retirees, expanding the Council to include employees provides a more comprehensive perspective from participants on County-sponsored benefits. Active employees comprise the majority of the County’s covered health plan population, and recent Commissioners Court discussions have also emphasized the importance of employee awareness, engagement, and opportunities for feedback regarding benefits and potential changes. A combined Council provides a single, structured forum for both populations while preserving a strong and equal retiree voice.
The proposed BAC would consist of 10 voting members, with each member of Commissioners Court appointing one active Harris County employee and one Harris County retiree. The Council would operate initially as a two-year pilot beginning in January 2027. HRT Benefits & Wellness would chair and provide administrative support to the Council, with the appointed members electing a Vice Chair from among the membership.
The BAC would serve in an advisory capacity to HRT and provide structured input regarding member experience, benefits communications and education, annual and long-term benefits planning, benefit program and vendor experience, and applicable future benefits procurements. The Council would not have authority to approve benefit plan designs, premiums, contracts, procurements, or other matters reserved for Commissioners Court or County departments.
The attached Proposed Harris County Benefits Advisory Council framework is transmitted for Commissioners Court's awareness and provides additional detail regarding membership eligibility and selection, Council governance, proposed scope of work, annual priorities, member expectations, administrative and legal considerations, implementation, and measures of success.
Expected Impact:
Establishing the Harris County Benefits Advisory Council creates a formal, ongoing mechanism to incorporate employee and retiree perspectives into the County’s benefits planning and administration.
The Council is intended to strengthen two-way communication between HRT and benefit participants, identify recurring member experience issues, improve benefits education and communication, and provide participants' perspectives as HRT evaluates future benefit strategies and initiatives.
The two-year pilot would also allow HRT and Commissioners Court to evaluate the effectiveness and value of the advisory model before determining whether the Council should be continued, modified, or established on a longer-term basis.
Alternative Options:
N/A - This item is a transmittal providing Commissioners Court with the proposed Benefits Advisory Council framework in response to prior Court direction. No action is requested.
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
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7/9/2026 |
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Directed HRT and the Boards & Commissions Office to launch a retiree advisory council as soon as possible to serve as a structured forum for retiree feedback and recommendations and to provide Commissioners Court with an update on those efforts. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/15/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Sarah Acosta, Director, Benefits & Wellness, Human Resources and Talent
Attachments (if applicable): Harris County Benefits Advisory Council Proposal