Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3178 amends the Texas State College and University Employees Uniform Insurance Benefits Act to modify the definitions of "employee" and "retired employee" to include stricter requirements relating to duration and terms of employment to qualify for coverage under that Act.

            House Bill 3178 also deletes references to certain institutions that previously had elected to withdraw from the insurance programs provided under the Act, removes certain restrictions on the selection of health maintenance organizations, specifically provides that a self-insurance plan is not governed by state insurance laws, and removes certain restrictions on the development of cafeteria plans. The act authorizes an institution to provide members and retirees with a plan description as an alternative to providing a certificate of insurance, allows employees to provide electronic authorizations for certain payroll deductions, and authorizes certain surviving spouses to elect to retain their coverage, as well as coverage for dependents, at the group rate for employees.