By Shapiro                                            S.B. No. 1194
         76R9146 PB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the payment of premiums for health care coverage by
 1-3     certain persons who have incurred a compensable injury.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter K, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Section 408.204 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 408.204.  PAYMENT FROM INCOME BENEFITS OF CERTAIN HEALTH
 1-8     INSURANCE PREMIUMS.  (a)  This section applies to an employee who
 1-9     has incurred a compensable injury and is receiving income benefits
1-10     under this subtitle.
1-11           (b)  Notwithstanding Section 408.203 or any other provision
1-12     of this subtitle, an employee to whom this section applies may
1-13     enter into a written agreement with the employer's workers'
1-14     compensation insurance carrier under which the employee portion of
1-15     contributions for premiums for health insurance provided to the
1-16     employee through the employer is deducted by the workers'
1-17     compensation insurance carrier from the employee's income benefits.
1-18     The workers' compensation insurance carrier shall:
1-19                 (1)  transmit the deducted amount to the employer to be
1-20     used to pay for the employee portion of the contributions for the
1-21     health insurance premiums; and
1-22                 (2)  deduct the amount periodically as necessary to
1-23     ensure that the contributions are made in a timely manner.
1-24           (c)  The commission by rule shall prescribe the requirements
 2-1     for an agreement under this section.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-3           (b)  The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt
 2-4     rules as required by Section 408.204, Labor Code, as added by this
 2-5     Act, not later than December 1, 1999.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.