1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring health insurers and related entities to
 1-3     disclose certain information.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Article 21.24-3 to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 21.24-3.  IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR
 1-8     RELATED ENTITY
 1-9           Sec. 1.  DEFINITION.  In this article, "health benefit plan"
1-10     means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical
1-11     expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or
1-12     sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise
1-13     insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service
1-14     contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar
1-15     coverage document that is offered by:
1-16                 (1)  an insurance company;
1-17                 (2)  a group hospital service corporation operating
1-18     under Chapter 20 of this code;
1-19                 (3)  a fraternal benefit society operating under
1-20     Chapter 10 of this code;
1-21                 (4)  a stipulated premium insurance company operating
1-22     under Chapter 22 of this code;
1-23                 (5)  a reciprocal exchange operating under Chapter 19
1-24     of this code;
1-25                 (6)  a health maintenance organization operating under
 2-1     the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A,
 2-2     Vernon's Texas Insurance Code);
 2-3                 (7)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
 2-4     a certificate of authority under Article 3.95-2 of this code; or
 2-5                 (8)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
 2-6     holds a certificate of authority under Article 21.52F of this code.
 2-7           Sec. 2.  DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.  After an oral or written
 2-8     request by an insured or enrollee of a health benefit plan for the
 2-9     information, the issuer of the health benefit plan shall provide to
2-10     the insured or enrollee the name or employee identifier, mailing
2-11     address, business city and state location, and job title of the
2-12     employee of the issuer of the health benefit plan who is available
2-13     to the enrollee or insured to respond to communications and
2-14     questions from the insured or enrollee relating to coverage and
2-15     benefits provided by the health benefit plan to the insured or
2-16     enrollee.
2-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1181 passed the Senate on
         April 20, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
         amendment on May 26, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0,
         one present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1181 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor