Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 90	House Author:  Patterson et al.
Effective:  9-1-23	Senate Sponsor:  Huffman et al.

            House Bill 90, the Bishop Evans Act, amends the Code of Criminal Procedure, Government Code, and Labor Code to expand the benefits available for applicable members of the Texas military forces and survivors of members of the Texas military forces. Among other provisions, the bill does the following:

·        requires the attorney general to award a lump sum payment to certain surviving claimants on behalf of a member who dies while on active duty if the death is in connection with operations initiated to address criminal activity in the border region;

·        extends to the qualifying survivors of a member who died while on state active duty the eligibility for financial assistance from the state on certification of the applicable circumstances to the Employees Retirement System of Texas by the Texas Military Department;

·        makes post traumatic stress disorder a compensable injury for members on state active duty under prescribed circumstances; and

·        requires an insurance carrier to accelerate and give priority to a claim for medical benefits by a member who sustains a serious bodily injury while on state active duty.