77R11237 DLF-D
By Maxey H.B. No. 1853
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1853:
By Tillery C.S.H.B. No. 1853
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to coverage for certain dependent children under the Texas
1-3 Employees Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 14A, Texas Employees Uniform Group
1-6 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
1-7 Code), is amended by amending Subsections (a), (e), and (f) and
1-8 adding Subsections (h), (i), and (j) to read as follows:
1-9 (a) Subject to any applicable limit in the General
1-10 Appropriations Act, the trustee shall use money appropriated for
1-11 employer contributions to fund [80 percent of] the total cost of
1-12 basic coverage for a child who:
1-13 (1) is a dependent of an employee;
1-14 (2) would be eligible, if the child were not the
1-15 dependent of the employee, for benefits under the program
1-16 established by this state to implement Title XXI of the Social
1-17 Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended; and
1-18 (3) is not eligible for the state Medicaid program.
1-19 (e) An employee shall apply for coverage for a dependent
1-20 child under this section on a form developed under Subsection (j)
1-21 of this section. The trustee may require an employee to re-apply
1-22 for dependent child coverage under this section during each annual
1-23 open enrollment period applicable to the employee's coverage. The
1-24 trustee and the Texas Department of Human Services or other agency
2-1 designated by the Health and Human Services Commission to perform
2-2 eligibility screening under this section shall cooperate to develop
2-3 a cost-effective method for annual re-evaluation of eligibility
2-4 determinations for dependent child coverage under this section.
2-5 (f) The amount of the premiums and any copayment or other
2-6 cost-sharing provision required for dependent child coverage
2-7 provided under this section may not exceed the amount of any
2-8 similar payment required under the program established under
2-9 Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code. [Notwithstanding Subsection
2-10 (a) of this section, the trustee may pay a higher percentage of the
2-11 cost of basic coverage for a child described by Subsection (a) of
2-12 this section if money becomes available for that purpose.]
2-13 (h) Each department shall provide to each employee of the
2-14 department a brochure that relates to:
2-15 (1) the program to provide coverage to dependent
2-16 children under this section; and
2-17 (2) the Medicaid program for children.
2-18 (i) The information required to be provided under Subsection
2-19 (h) of this section must be provided at least annually, during the
2-20 open enrollment period applicable to the department, and must be
2-21 provided to each new employee at the time the employee is employed.
2-22 (j) The Health and Human Services Commission shall develop
2-23 an application to be used under Subsection (e) of this section that
2-24 permits a state employee to apply for coverage under this section
2-25 or for benefits under the Medicaid program for children and shall
2-26 develop a brochure for departments to use to satisfy the
2-27 requirements of Subsection (h) of this section. The commission
3-1 shall develop these documents in collaboration with the trustee and
3-2 the divisions or departments of the commission responsible for the
3-3 state child health insurance program and Medicaid. The brochure
3-4 must include an eligibility chart, pricing information, and a
3-5 telephone number of the commission or trustee that a person may
3-6 call to obtain additional information. The application and
3-7 brochure must be easily reproducible by the departments and must be
3-8 made available on the commission's website to download from the
3-9 Internet.
3-10 SECTION 2. The heading to Section 14A, Texas Employees
3-11 Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's
3-12 Texas Insurance Code), is amended to read as follows:
3-13 Sec. 14A. COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF CERTAIN
3-14 EMPLOYEES; INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES.
3-15 SECTION 3. Section 14A(a), Texas Employees Uniform Group
3-16 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
3-17 Code), as amended by this Act, applies to the purchase of basic
3-18 coverage for a dependent child by the trustee of the group benefits
3-19 program established under the Texas Employees Uniform Group
3-20 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
3-21 Code), beginning September 1, 2001.
3-22 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-23 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-24 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-25 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-26 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.