By:  Giddings                                          H.B. No. 258
       73R1712 DLF-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to benefits for immunization of certain children under
    1-3  group health insurance policies.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
    1-6  amended by adding Article 21.53B to read as follows:
    1-7        Art. 21.53B.  BENEFITS FOR IMMUNIZATION OF CERTAIN CHILDREN
    1-8  UNDER GROUP POLICIES.  (a)  In this article "group health insurance
    1-9  policy" means a group insurance policy, group hospital service
   1-10  contract, or group contract issued by a health maintenance
   1-11  organization that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in
   1-12  this state and that provides benefits for medical or surgical
   1-13  expenses incurred as a result of accident or sickness.
   1-14        (b)  A group health insurance policy must provide coverage
   1-15  for a child covered by the policy who is 18 months of age or
   1-16  younger, in accordance with medically accepted practices, for:
   1-17              (1)  immunization for diphtheria, pertussis, and
   1-18  tetanus;
   1-19              (2)  immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella;
   1-20              (3)  oral polio or intramuscular polio vaccination;
   1-21              (4)  hemophilus influenzae type b conjugate
   1-22  vaccination; and
   1-23              (5)  pneumococcal vaccination.
   1-24        (c)  The coverage required under this article may not be
    2-1  subject to a deductible, coinsurance, or a copayment.
    2-2        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993, and
    2-3  applies only to a group health insurance policy that is delivered,
    2-4  issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 1994.  A
    2-5  policy that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before
    2-6  January 1, 1994, is governed by the law as it existed immediately
    2-7  before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
    2-8  effect for that purpose.
    2-9        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-10  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-11  emergency   and   an   imperative   public   necessity   that   the
   2-12  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-13  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.