Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 2053 amends provisions of the Local Government Code relating to group health benefits for certain persons whose salaries are paid from the funds of either the county, a flood control district located entirely in the county, or another governmental entity for which the county is obligated to provide benefits. The bill authorizes the county commissioners court to provide group health and related benefits through insurance or self-insurance or through a contract with a county-operated hospital, a hospital operated jointly by a municipality and county, or a private hospital.

            House Bill 2053 authorizes a county providing coverage to reinsure its potential liability or buy stop-loss coverage for any amount of potential liability in excess of projected paid losses. The bill requires the commissioners court to provide a notice of a hearing before adopting any rule and to include the rule in a covered employee's employment contract or other written communication. The bill authorizes the commissioners court to require persons participating in the plan to contribute toward the payment of the plan and to establish a fund to pay for the group health and related benefits.