1-1     By:  Averitt (Senate Sponsor - Sibley)                H.B. No. 1211
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999;
 1-3     May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
 1-4     Development; May 13, 1999, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to health maintenance organization plans for small
 1-9     employers.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Article 26.48(a), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-12     read as follows:
1-13           (a)  A [Instead of the small employer health benefit plans
1-14     described by this subchapter, a] health maintenance organization
1-15     may offer:
1-16                 (1)  a state-approved health benefit plan that complies
1-17     with this chapter, the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
1-18     (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), [the requirements of]
1-19     Title XIII, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300e et
1-20     seq.), and its subsequent amendments, and rules adopted under these
1-21     laws [that  Act];
1-22                 (2)  a plan developed by the commissioner under Article
1-23     26.44A of this code and additional benefit riders to the plan; or
1-24                 (3)  a point-of-service contract in connection with an
1-25     insurance carrier that includes optional coverage for out-of-area
1-26     services, emergency care, or out-of-network care.
1-27           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-28           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-29     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-30     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-31     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-32     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-33                                  * * * * *