SRC-TJG, MSY S.B. 959 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 959 By: Duncan State Affairs 8/19/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current Texas law allows surviving spouses of certain public safety employees of political subdivisions of the state to purchase continued health benefits from the political subdivision upon the employee's death. The current statute specifically includes a self-insured plan under this provision, but does not address fully insured plans. S.B. 959 specifically authorizes surviving spouses of certain high-risk employees to purchase continued health insurance coverage provided through a health insurance policy or health benefit plan written by a health insurer, in addition to self-insured health benefits plans. 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 (b), Section 615.073, Government Code, by creating Subdivision (1)(B) from existing text and adding new Subdivision (1)(A), to provide that an eligible surviving spouse of a certain deceased individual who was employed by a political subdivision of the state is entitled to purchase continued health insurance benefits from the political subdivision that employed the deceased individual, including health coverage provided by the political subdivision under a health insurance policy or health benefit plan written by a health insurer. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act is intended to clarify the law in effect and being administered immediately before this Act's effective date. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.