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.