By Fraser S.B. No. 442 77R1956 PB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment and operation of a task force to 1-3 examine issues regarding expansion of the provision of health 1-4 benefits to employees of small businesses. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-7 (1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of 1-8 insurance. 1-9 (2) "Department" means the Texas Department of 1-10 Insurance. 1-11 (3) "Small business" means a business entity that 1-12 employs at least two but fewer than 50 employees. 1-13 (4) "Task force" means the small business health 1-14 benefits task force established under this Act. 1-15 SECTION 2. TASK FORCE; MEMBERSHIP; QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The 1-16 small business health benefits task force is established to make 1-17 recommendations to the legislature with respect to improving the 1-18 availability of group and individual health benefits coverage to 1-19 employees of small businesses in this state. 1-20 (b) The task force is composed of: 1-21 (1) two members appointed by the governor; 1-22 (2) two members appointed by the speaker of the house 1-23 of representatives; and 1-24 (3) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor. 2-1 (c) Each member of the task force must have demonstrated 2-2 experience in the field of health insurance or managed care. 2-3 SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task 2-4 force shall examine state and federal laws and rules regarding the 2-5 provision of health benefits to employees and identify changes to 2-6 law that would result in the extension of health benefits to more 2-7 employees of small businesses in this state. In particular, the 2-8 task force shall examine the operation of: 2-9 (1) small employer health benefit plans established 2-10 under Chapter 26, Insurance Code; and 2-11 (2) the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool established 2-12 under Article 3.77, Insurance Code. 2-13 (b) The department shall provide administrative support and 2-14 services to the task force. 2-15 SECTION 4. REPORT. (a) Not later than September 1, 2002, 2-16 the task force shall recommend to the department the changes 2-17 identified under Section 3 of this Act. 2-18 (b) Not later than December 1, 2002, the commissioner shall 2-19 submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the 2-20 house of representatives a written report concerning the 2-21 recommendations of the task force. The report shall include: 2-22 (1) a plan for implementation of the recommendations 2-23 of the task force, if appropriate; 2-24 (2) recommendations for memorializing the Congress of 2-25 the United States to request changes to federal laws or 2-26 regulations; and 2-27 (3) recommendations for legislation that the task 3-1 force considers necessary to implement the recommendations of the 3-2 task force. 3-3 SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the task force 3-4 is abolished June 1, 2003.