1-1 By: Harris S.B. No. 771 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 19, 2001; February 20, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce; 1-4 April 26, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, 1-5 Nays 0; April 26, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to a consumers' guide for employers regarding health 1-9 benefit plans. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 26, Insurance Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Article 26.10 to read as follows: 1-13 Art. 26.10. CONSUMERS' GUIDE TO EMPLOYER HEALTH BENEFIT 1-14 PLANS. (a) The department, in consultation with the office of 1-15 public insurance counsel, shall annually prepare a consumers' guide 1-16 designed to assist employers in comparing premium rates for, and 1-17 coverage and benefits provided or offered under, the different 1-18 types of employer health benefit plans available in this state. 1-19 (b) The guide must describe the different types of plans 1-20 available and allow a person to compare the coverage and benefits 1-21 provided or offered under each type of plan in relation to the 1-22 premium rates typically charged for each type of plan. The guide 1-23 may contain any other information the commissioner determines will 1-24 assist employers in assessing employer health benefit plans. 1-25 (c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to 1-26 implement this article. 1-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-28 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-29 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-30 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-31 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-32 * * * * *