SRC-JEC C.S.H.B. 1446 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1446
78R15109 DLF-DBy: Brown, Betty (Averitt)
State Affairs
5/20/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current state law sets forth requirements for health benefit plans that
condition coverage for a child up to 25 years of age on the child 's being
a full-time student at an educational institution.  However, current state
law also prohibits a health benefit plan from conditioning coverage for a
child younger than 25 years of age on the child's being enrolled at an
educational institution.  C.S.H.B. 1446 amends the Insurance Code to make
provisions conditioning coverage for certain age groups on enrollment at
an educational institution consistent..  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subsection (M)(3), Section 2, Article 3.70-2, Insurance
Code, to authorize other policy provisions relating to maximum limiting
attained age and enrollment in school to be used to establish continued
eligibility for coverage of a child 25 years of age or older, rather than
less than 25 years of age. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 3(a), Article 21.24-2, Insurance Code, to make
a conforming change. 

SECTION 2.   Effective date:  September 1, 2003.
  Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 2004.