By Greenberg                                           H.B. No. 606
         76R2887 DLF-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain children of
 1-3     state employees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 109, Health and Safety
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 109.0665 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 109.0665.  COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN STATE
 1-8     EMPLOYEES.  (a) A child of a state employee is eligible to
 1-9     participate in the program if the child:
1-10                 (1)  is younger than 18 years of age;
1-11                 (2)  is a dependent for purposes of the Texas Employees
1-12     Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's
1-13     Texas Insurance Code);
1-14                 (3)  is not covered by insurance or another type of
1-15     health benefit plan; and
1-16                 (4)  has a family income of less than 200 percent of
1-17     poverty level according to the poverty index prepared by the
1-18     federal Office of Management and Budget.
1-19           (b)  The Employees Retirement System of Texas may use
1-20     appropriated funds, in accordance with the General Appropriations
1-21     Act, to purchase coverage under a health benefit plan provided
1-22     through the program for a child described by Subsection (a).
1-23           (c)  The corporation may not provide premium assistance for
1-24     children for whom coverage is purchased under this section.
 2-1           (d)  The corporation and the Employees Retirement System of
 2-2     Texas shall cooperate as necessary to implement this section.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
 2-4     applies only to the purchase of health benefit plan coverage for
 2-5     children of state employees on and after January 1, 2000.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.