1-1 By: Smithee (Senate Sponsor - Sibley) H.B. No. 2748
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 1999;
1-3 May 7, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
1-4 Development; May 13, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable
1-5 Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
1-6 May 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2748 By: Sibley
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to coverage for certain care for children provided through
1-11 certain health benefit plans.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 SECTION 1. The Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
1-14 (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) is amended by adding
1-15 Section 9E to read as follows:
1-16 Sec. 9E. WELL-CHILD CARE FROM BIRTH. (a) In this Act,
1-17 "well-child care from birth" has the meaning used under Section
1-18 1302, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300e-1), and its
1-19 subsequent amendments, and includes newborn screening required by
1-20 the Texas Department of Health.
1-21 (b) Each health maintenance organization shall ensure that
1-22 each health care plan provided by the organization includes
1-23 well-child care from birth that complies with the federal
1-24 requirements adopted under Chapter XI, Public Health Service Act
1-25 (42 U.S.C. Section 300e et seq.), and its subsequent amendments,
1-26 and the rules adopted by the Texas Department of Health to
1-27 implement those requirements.
1-28 SECTION 2. Section 3(a), Article 21.53F, Insurance Code, as
1-29 added by Chapter 683, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular
1-30 Session, 1997, is amended to read as follows:
1-31 (a) A health benefit plan that provides benefits for a
1-32 family member of the insured shall provide coverage for each
1-33 covered child described by Subsection (b) of this section, from
1-34 birth through the date the child is six years of age, for:
1-35 (1) immunization against:
1-36 (A) diphtheria;
1-37 (B) haemophilus influenzae type b;
1-38 (C) hepatitis B;
1-39 (D) measles;
1-40 (E) mumps;
1-41 (F) pertussis;
1-42 (G) polio;
1-43 (H) rubella;
1-44 (I) tetanus; [and]
1-45 (J) varicella; and
1-46 (K) rotavirus; and
1-47 (2) any other immunization that is required by statute
1-48 or rule [law] for the child.
1-49 SECTION 3. Except as provided by Section 4 of this Act, this
1-50 Act takes effect immediately.
1-51 SECTION 4. Section 2 of this Act takes effect September 1,
1-52 1999, and applies only to an insurance policy, contract, or
1-53 evidence of coverage that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
1-54 renewed on or after January 1, 2000. A policy, contract, or
1-55 evidence of coverage that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
1-56 renewed before January 1, 2000 is governed by the law as it existed
1-57 on the date the policy, contract, or evidence of coverage was
1-58 delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed, and that law is
1-59 continued in effect for that purpose.
1-60 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
1-61 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-62 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-63 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-64 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
2-2 terms, and it is so enacted.
2-3 * * * * *