By Moreno of Harris H.B. No. 1217
76R1094 AJA-F
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. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-13 applies only to an insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-14 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-15 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
1-16 or after that date. An insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-17 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-18 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
1-19 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it
1-20 existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in
1-21 effect for that purpose.
1-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
2-3 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
2-4 Amend H.B. No. 1217 as follows:
2-5 (1) On page 1, between lines 11 and 12, insert the following
2-6 new section of the bill:
2-7 SECTION 2. Article 26.21(h), Insurance Code, is amended to
2-8 read as follows:
2-9 (h) The initial enrollment period for the employees and
2-10 their dependents must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day open
2-11 enrollment period provided annually. [Such enrollment period shall
2-12 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
2-13 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
2-14 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
2-15 (2) On page 1, line 12, strike "SECTION 2" and substitute
2-16 "SECTION 3".
2-17 (3) On page 1, line 22, strike "SECTION 3" and substitute
2-18 "SECTION 4".
2-19 Thompson