79R4767 AJA-F

By:  Flores                                                       H.B. No. 1150



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reimbursement of certain group life insurance premiums 
paid by certain members of the Texas National Guard.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 431, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 431.0822 to read as follows:
	Sec. 431.0822.  PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN GROUP LIFE 
INSURANCE.  (a)  A member of the Texas National Guard deployed to a 
hostile fire zone, as designated by the United States secretary of 
defense, is entitled to reimbursement of premiums paid by the 
member for benefits under the servicemembers' group life insurance 
program under 38 U.S.C. Section 1965 et seq.:
		(1)  on or after the date on which the member is 
activated under an order issued under Title 10 of the United States 
Code; and
		(2)  before the date on which the member is 
demobilized.             
	(b)  The comptroller shall establish the Texas National 
Guard members' life insurance reimbursement account in the general 
revenue fund.  Money in the account may only be appropriated for the 
purposes of implementing this section.  The comptroller, governor, 
or adjutant general may accept gifts and grants for deposit to the 
credit of the account.  The legislature may transfer money into the 
account or may appropriate money to implement this section that the 
comptroller shall credit to the account.
	(c)  The adjutant general shall adopt rules as necessary to 
implement this section.
	(d)  The comptroller, in consultation with the adjutant 
general, shall adopt rules as necessary to govern the manner and 
method of providing reimbursement under this section.
	(e)  This section does not affect a person's eligibility for 
or the applicability of the servicemembers' group life insurance 
program established by 38 U.S.C. Section 1965 et seq. or any rights, 
responsibilities, or benefits under that program.
	SECTION 2.  Section 431.0822, Government Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to reimbursement of insurance premiums paid 
by a member of the Texas National Guard on or after the effective 
date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.