By Barrientos S.B. No. 257 76R3395 GCH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to dependent coverage under the state employees uniform 1-3 group insurance program. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 19(b), Texas Employees Uniform Group 1-6 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance 1-7 Code), is amended to read as follows: 1-8 (b) A surviving spouse of an employee or a retiree who is 1-9 entitled to monthly benefits paid by a retirement system named in 1-10 this Act may, following the death of the employee or retiree, elect 1-11 to retain the spouse's authorized coverages and also retain 1-12 authorized coverages for any dependent of the spouse, at the group 1-13 rate for employees, provided such coverage was previously secured 1-14 by the employee or retiree for the spouse or dependent, and the 1-15 spouse directs the applicable retirement system to deduct required 1-16 contributions from the monthly benefits paid the surviving spouse 1-17 by the retirement system. A surviving dependent of a retiree who 1-18 was receiving monthly benefits paid by a retirement system named in 1-19 this Act may, after the death of the retiree and if the retiree 1-20 leaves no surviving spouse, elect to retain any coverage previously 1-21 secured by the retiree, at the group rate for employees, until the 1-22 dependent becomes ineligible for coverage for a reason other than 1-23 the death of the member of the group. A dependent who makes an 1-24 election under this subsection and who is entitled to monthly 2-1 benefits from a retirement system named in this Act based on the 2-2 service of the deceased retiree must direct the applicable 2-3 retirement system to deduct required contributions for the coverage 2-4 from the monthly benefits paid the surviving dependent by the 2-5 retirement system. If funds are specifically appropriated for the 2-6 purpose, the state shall pay the same portion of the cost of the 2-7 required contributions for a deceased retiree's surviving spouse or 2-8 other surviving dependent who elects to retain coverage under this 2-9 subsection as it pays for similar dependent coverage for an 2-10 employee or retiree participating in the program. 2-11 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.