By: Jackson S.B. No. 881
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to enrollment periods for employer health benefit plans.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Subsection (f), Article 26.83, Insurance Code, is
1-4 amended to read as follows:
1-5 (f) The initial enrollment period for employees meeting the
1-6 participation criteria must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day
1-7 annual open enrollment period. [Such enrollment period shall
1-8 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-9 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-10 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-11 SECTION 2. Subsection (h), Article 26.21, Insurance Code, is
1-12 amended to read as follows:
1-13 (h) The initial enrollment period for the employees and
1-14 their dependents must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day open
1-15 enrollment period provided annually. [Such enrollment period shall
1-16 consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of
1-17 the month and ending on the last day of the month. If the month is
1-18 February, the period shall last through March 2.]
1-19 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-20 applies only to an insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-21 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
1-22 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
1-23 or after that date. An insurance policy, evidence of coverage,
1-24 contract, or other document establishing coverage under a health
2-1 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
2-2 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it
2-3 existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in
2-4 effect for that purpose.
2-5 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.