HBA-MPM H.B. 2321 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2321
By: Cuellar
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, school districts are not entitled to an annual allotment for
employee health care benefits of a specific amount provided by
appropriation for each student in average daily attendance.  H.B. 2321
entitles a school district to an annual allotment for employee health care
benefits of a specific amount provided by appropriation for each student in
average daily attendance and authorizes the district to use funds allocated
only to increase the financial contribution made to provide health
insurance coverage or other health care benefits for employees.  The bill
also authorizes a district to use the funds to pay costs supplementary to
its regular health insurance program for employees, and authorizes a
home-rule district or an open-enrollment charter school to use funds to
provide health insurance coverage or other health care benefits for
employees. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Education Code, by adding
Section 42.158, as follows: 

Sec. 42.158.  EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS ALLOTMENT.  (a) Entitles a
school district (district) to an annual allotment for employee health care
benefits of $______ or a greater amount provided by appropriation for each
student in average daily attendance. 

(b)  Authorizes a district, other than a home-rule district, to use funds
allocated under this section only to increase the financial contribution
the district makes to provide health insurance coverage or other health
care benefits for employees.  Authorizes a district to use the funds to pay
costs supplementary to its regular health insurance program for employees. 

(c)  Authorizes a home-rule district or an open-enrollment charter school
to use funds allocated under this section only to provide health insurance
coverage or other health care benefits for employees. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 21.402(b), Education Code, to require the
commissioner to exclude from the determination of the amount appropriated
for purposes of Chapter 42 (Foundation School Program), Education Code,
amounts designated as the health care benefits allotment under Section
42.158, Education Code, in addition to other specified amounts. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 42.302(a), Education Code, to include health
care benefits, in addition to any allotment to the district for
transportation that is subtracted from a district's allotments under
Subchapters B and C (Basic Entitlement and Special Allotments,
respectively), Chapter 42, Education Code, in calculating the weighted
average daily attendance. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.