By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 493
         76R2509 DLF-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to health benefit plan coverage for the children of
 1-3     certain state employees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  The Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance
 1-6     Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 19A to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 19A.  COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF CERTAIN
 1-9     EMPLOYEES.  (a)  In lieu of coverage available under Section 19 of
1-10     this Act, an employee may elect coverage under this section for an
1-11     unmarried child who:
1-12                 (1)  is a dependent of the employee;
1-13                 (2)  is younger than 19 years of age; and
1-14                 (3)  would be eligible, if the child were not the
1-15     dependent of the employee, for benefits under the program
1-16     established by this state to implement Title XXI of the Social
1-17     Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended.
1-18           (b)  The trustee shall develop and implement a program to
1-19     provide health benefits plan coverage for children described by
1-20     Subsection (a)  of this section. To the extent possible, the
1-21     program must provide benefits comparable to the benefits provided
1-22     under the program established by this state to implement Title XXI
1-23     of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.  Section 1397aa et seq.), as
1-24     amended.
 2-1           (c)  Except as required by the trustee, health benefits plan
 2-2     coverage offered under this section is not subject to a law that
 2-3     requires coverage or the offer of coverage of a health care service
 2-4     or benefit.
 2-5           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2000, the board of
 2-7     trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall
 2-8     establish and implement the health benefits coverage program
 2-9     required by Section 19A, Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance
2-10     Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), as
2-11     added by this Act.
2-12           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.