1-1     By:  Kitchen, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief)       H.B. No. 835
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 2001;
 1-3     April 24, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Business and Commerce; April 30, 2001, rereferred to Committee on
 1-5     Health and Human Services; May 8, 2001, reported adversely, with
 1-6     favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays
 1-7     0; May 8, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-8     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 835                 By:  Moncrief
 1-9                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-10                                   AN ACT
1-11     relating to the study of a buy-in option for the state child health
1-12     plan.
1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-14           SECTION 1.  (a)  In this section, "commission" means the
1-15     Health and Human Services Commission.
1-16           (b)  The commission shall conduct a study to determine the
1-17     feasibility of a buy-in option to allow families without access to
1-18     health benefits coverage to purchase health benefits coverage for
1-19     all family members under the state child health plan under Chapter
1-20     62, Health and Safety Code.
1-21           (c)  To determine the feasibility of the buy-in option, the
1-22     commission shall examine:
1-23                 (1)  the fiscal impact on the state of a buy-in option;
1-24                 (2)  the fiscal impact on families that would choose to
1-25     participate in the plan through a buy-in option;
1-26                 (3)  the cost of a comparable health benefits plan in
1-27     the current market;
1-28                 (4)  the need for a buy-in option, by determining:
1-29                       (A)  the number of families that would likely
1-30     choose to participate in the plan through a buy-in option; and
1-31                       (B)  whether families that are not covered by a
1-32     health benefits plan and that would participate in the program
1-33     through a buy-in option could be covered in the private market;
1-34                 (5)  the role of private insurance agents in enrollment
1-35     in the plan through the buy-in option;
1-36                 (6)  the possible effects that a buy-in option to the
1-37     plan would have on the private market for health benefits plan
1-38     coverage;
1-39                 (7)  the options for the system of delivery for plan
1-40     benefits; and
1-41                 (8)  the options for obtaining federal matching funds
1-42     for the program, including the use of local government funds.
1-43           (d)  In conducting the study the commission shall consult
1-44     consumer groups interested in the private market for health
1-45     benefits plan coverage and members of the issuers of health
1-46     benefits plan coverage in the private market, including agents and
1-47     actuaries.  The commission may consult other groups in conducting
1-48     the study and may consult with other agencies of this state to
1-49     obtain necessary data.
1-50           (e)  Not later than November 1, 2002, the commission shall
1-51     submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
1-52     house of representatives a written report containing the findings
1-53     of the study.
1-54           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-55     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-56     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-57     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-58     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-59                                  * * * * *