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.