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.