By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 496 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a study of barriers to providing binational health 1-3 benefit plan coverage. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. (a) The Texas Department of Insurance and the 1-6 Texas Department of Health shall jointly study the provision in 1-7 this state of health benefit plan coverage to individuals who are 1-8 not residents of this state or another state of the United States. 1-9 The study must: 1-10 (1) identify legal and practical impediments to 1-11 providing binational health benefit plan coverage; and 1-12 (2) include recommendations to facilitate provision of 1-13 binational health benefit plan coverage. 1-14 (b) The Commissioner of Insurance and the Texas Board of 1-15 Health may jointly appoint an advisory committee under Chapter 1-16 2110, Government Code, to assist the departments in conducting the 1-17 study required by this Act. 1-18 (c) Not later than November 1, 2002, the Texas Department 1-19 of Health and the Texas Department of Insurance shall jointly issue 1-20 a report describing the departments' recommendations, including 1-21 proposals for legislation. The departments shall file the report 1-22 with the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the 1-23 house of representatives. 1-24 SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2002. 1-25 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-1 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-2 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-3 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-4 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.