By Uher H.B. No. 1073 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1073: By Haggerty C.S.H.B. No. 1073 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to continuation of benefits for the surviving spouse of 1-3 deceased ranger and officer commissioned by the Public Safety 1-4 Commission and the Director of the Department of Public Safety. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Section 3B, Article 3.51-6, Insurance Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows: 1-8 (n) Notwithstanding Subsection (1) of this section, if a 1-9 person covered under a contract executed under the Texas Employees 1-10 Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's 1-11 Texas Insurance Code) and its subsequent amendments exercises the 1-12 continuation option under Subsection (b) of this section because of 1-13 the death of a member of the group who is a ranger and officer 1-14 commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the Director of 1-15 the Department of Public Safety and who has been commissioned by 1-16 the department for at least 10 years, coverage of that person 1-17 continues without interruption and may not be cancelled or 1-18 otherwise terminated until: 1-19 (1) the insured fails to make a premium payment in the 1-20 time required to make that payment; 1-21 (2) the insured becomes eligible for substantially 1-22 similar coverage under another health insurance policy, hospital or 1-23 medical service subscriber contract, medical practice or other 1-24 prepayment plan, or any other plan or program; or 2-1 (3) the insured is no longer eligible for coverage for 2-2 a reason other than the death of the member of the group. 2-3 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to health insurance 2-4 policies, as defined by Section 3B, Article 3.51-6, Insurance Code, 2-5 provided for employees under the Texas Employees Uniform Group 2-6 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance 2-7 Code) on or after September 1, 1993. Health insurance policies 2-8 provided for employees before September 1, 1993, are subject to the 2-9 law as it existed before September 1, 1993, and that law is 2-10 continued in effect for that purpose. 2-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-17 passage, and it is so enacted.