SRC-TBR S.B. 1181 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1181
77R5515 MXM-DBy: Shapleigh
Business & Commerce
4/1/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law does not require the employees of health insurance
companies and related entities to disclose their identity when requested by
a person insured by the company.  As proposed, S.B. 1181 requires the
employee of a health benefit plan to disclose their full name, job title
and business address upon oral or written request. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 21C, Insurance Code, by adding Article 21.24-3
as follows: 

Art. 21.24-3.  IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR RELATED ENTITY

Sec. 1.  DEFINITION.  Provides that in this article, "health benefit plan"
means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses
incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness,
including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or
insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or
group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is offered by
certain entities. 

Sec. 2.  DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.  Requires an employee of the issuer of a
health benefit plan after an oral or written request for the information,
to disclose certain information about any person employed by the issuer. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.