By Moreno of Harris H.B. No. 1217
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to enrollment periods for employer health benefit plans.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Article 26.83(f), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 (f) The initial enrollment period for employees meeting the
1-7 participation criteria must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day
1-8 annual open enrollment period. [Such enrollment period shall
1-9 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-10 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-11 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-12 SECTION 2. Article 26.21(h), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-13 read as follows:
1-14 (h) The initial enrollment period for the employees and
1-15 their dependents must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day open
1-16 enrollment period provided annually. [Such enrollment period shall
1-17 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-18 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-19 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-20 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-21 applies only to an insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-22 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-23 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
1-24 or after that date. An insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
2-1 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
2-2 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
2-3 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it
2-4 existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in
2-5 effect for that purpose.
2-6 SECTION 4. 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.