78R6401 AJA-F


By:  McClendon                                                    H.B. No. 88 

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 88:                                     

By:  Martinez Fischer                                         C.S.H.B. No. 88 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to coverage for certain prescriptions to stop smoking 
under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Act.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1551.205, Insurance Code, as effective 
June 1, 2003, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1551.205.  LIMITATIONS.  The board of trustees may not 
contract for or provide a coverage plan that:
		(1)  excludes or limits coverage or services for 
acquired immune deficiency syndrome, as defined by the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health 
Service, or human immunodeficiency virus infection; [or]
		(2)  provides coverage for serious mental illness that 
is less extensive than the coverage provided for any physical 
illness; or
		(3)  provides coverage for prescription drugs to assist 
in stopping smoking at a lower benefit level than is provided for 
other prescription drugs.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to coverage contracted for or provided by the board of trustees 
established under Chapter 815, Government Code, to administer the 
Employees Retirement System of Texas on or after September 1, 2004.  
Coverage contracted for or provided by the board of trustees before 
September 1, 2004, is governed by the law in effect immediately 
before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.