1-1 By: Moreno of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Jackson) H.B. No. 1217
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 1999;
1-3 April 26, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Economic Development; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the
1-5 following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to enrollment periods for employer health benefit plans.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Article 26.83(f), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-11 read as follows:
1-12 (f) The initial enrollment period for employees meeting the
1-13 participation criteria must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day
1-14 annual open enrollment period. [Such enrollment period shall
1-15 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-16 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-17 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-18 SECTION 2. Article 26.21(h), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-19 read as follows:
1-20 (h) The initial enrollment period for the employees and
1-21 their dependents must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day open
1-22 enrollment period provided annually. [Such enrollment period shall
1-23 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-24 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-25 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-26 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-27 applies only to an insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-28 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-29 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
1-30 or after that date. An insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-31 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-32 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
1-33 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it
1-34 existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in
1-35 effect for that purpose.
1-36 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-37 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-38 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-39 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-40 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-41 * * * * *