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Amend CSHB 2292 (Senate committee printing), in ARTICLE 2 of
the bill, by inserting appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read as
follows and renumber existing SECTIONS accordingly:
SECTION 2.____. (a) Section 1551.002, Insurance Code, as
effective June 1, 2003, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1551.002. PURPOSES. The purposes of this chapter are
to:
(1) provide uniformity in life, accident, and health
benefit coverages for all state officers and employees and their
dependents;
(2) enable the state to attract and retain competent
and able employees by providing employees and their dependents with
life, accident, and health benefit coverages at least equal to
those commonly provided in private industry;
(3) foster, promote, and encourage employment by and
service to the state as a career profession for individuals of high
standards of competence and ability;
(4) recognize and protect the state's investment in
each permanent employee by promoting and preserving economic
security and good health among employees and their dependents;
(5) foster and develop high standards of
employer-employee relationships between the state and its
employees; [and]
(6) recognize the long and faithful service and
dedication of state officers and employees and encourage them to
remain in state service until eligible for retirement by providing
health benefits for them and their dependents; and
(7) recognize the service to the state by employees of
community centers by extending to them and their dependents the
same life, health, and accident benefit coverages as those provided
under this chapter to state employees, retired state employees, and
their dependents.
(b) Subchapter C, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, as
effective June 1, 2003, is amended by adding Section 1551.115 to
read as follows:
Sec. 1551.115. PARTICIPATION BY COMMUNITY CENTERS. (a) A
community center established under Subchapter A, Chapter 534,
Health and Safety Code, may participate in the group insurance
program administered by the board of trustees under this chapter.
Participation under this section is limited to the active employees
of the community center and the eligible dependents of the active
employees of the community center.
(b) Each full-time active employee of a participating
community center is automatically covered by the basic coverage for
employees unless the employee specifically waives coverage or
unless the employee is expelled from the program. Each part-time
active employee of a participating community center is eligible to
participate in the group insurance program on application in the
manner provided by the board of trustees, unless the employee has
been expelled from the program. A participating community center
shall notify each of its part-time employees of the employee's
eligibility for participation.
(c) An employee described by this section is not eligible to
receive a state contribution for premiums. The board of trustees of
the participating community center is responsible for payment of
the contributions and any administrative fees that the state would
make or pay if the community center employees were state employees.
Each covered employee shall pay that portion of the cost of group
coverages selected by the employee that exceeds the amount of board
of trustees contributions. The participating community center is
also responsible for payment of all administrative costs associated
with the center's employees.
(d) All contributions received under this section from
community centers and active employees of community centers for
basic, optional, and voluntary coverages under the group insurance
program, including contributions for administrative fees and
costs, shall be paid into the employees life, accident, and health
insurance and benefits fund and shall be used by the board of
trustees to provide those coverages as provided by this chapter.
(e) A community center that elects to participate in the
group insurance program must notify the board of trustees not later
than December 31 of each year and shall transfer records relating to
the employees benefit program described by Section 534.011, Health
and Safety Code, as required by the board of trustees.
SECTION 2.____. (a) The heading to Section 534.011, Health
and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 534.011. PERSONNEL; BENEFITS.
(b) Section 534.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b)-(d) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
follows:
(b) The board of trustees shall provide employees of the
community center with appropriate rights and [,] privileges[, and
benefits].
(c) The board of trustees may provide appropriate benefits,
including group benefits described by Subsection (g), to employees
of the community center. The board of trustees may provide workers'
compensation benefits.
(d) The board of trustees shall prescribe the number of
employees and their salaries. The board of trustees may choose to
set salaries and benefits, other than group benefits described by
Subsection (g), in compliance with a market analysis or internal
salary study. If an internal salary study is used, the board of
trustees shall conduct the study in accordance with the guidelines
established by the commissioner.
(g) Active employees of a community center are eligible to
participate in the group insurance program under Chapter 1551,
Insurance Code, as provided by Section 1551.115, Insurance Code.
SECTION 2.____. (a) During the 2003-2004 state fiscal
year, the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall develop a plan
for the extension of benefits under the group insurance program to
persons eligible for those benefits under Section 1551.115,
Insurance Code, as added by this article. The system may employ
persons as necessary to implement this subsection.
(b) Coverage under Section 1551.115, Insurance Code, as
added by this article, shall begin with the 2004-2005 state fiscal
year, but not later than September 1, 2004.
SECTION 2.____. (a) Section 1551.002, Insurance Code, as
amended by this article, and Section 1551.115, Insurance Code, as
added by this article, take effect September 1, 2003. Section
534.011, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this article, takes
effect September 1, 2004.
(b) The Employees Retirement System of Texas shall adopt
rules as necessary to implement Section 1551.115, Insurance Code,
as added by this article, not later than December 31, 2003.