By: Cole, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Blanco) H.B. No. 687
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 1, 2023;
  May 1, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 21, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         KolkhorstX
         PerryX
         BlancoX
         HallX
         HancockX
         HughesX
         LaMantiaX
         MilesX
         SparksX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain
  employer health benefit plans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 846.258(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Coverage of a newborn child of a participating employee
  under this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
  child's birth unless:
               (1)  children are eligible for coverage under the
  multiple employer welfare arrangement's plan document; and
               (2)  not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date
  of birth, the arrangement receives:
                     (A)  notice of the birth; and
                     (B)  any required additional premium.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1501.157(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under
  this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
  child's birth unless, not later than the 60th [31st] day after the
  date of birth, the small employer health benefit plan issuer
  receives:
               (1)  notice of the birth; and
               (2)  any required additional premium.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1501.607(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under
  this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
  child's birth unless:
               (1)  children are eligible for coverage under the large
  employer health benefit plan; and
               (2)  not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date
  of birth, the large employer health benefit plan issuer receives:
                     (A)  notice of the birth; and
                     (B)  any required additional premium.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
  renewed on or after January 1, 2024. A health benefit plan that is
  delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2024,
  is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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