79R3341 AJA-D
By: Gallego H.B. No. 1975
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility for participation in the group benefits
program established under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1551.101(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An elected or appointed officer or employee who performs
service, other than as an independent contractor, for this state,
including an institution of higher education, and who is described
by this section is eligible to participate in the group benefits
program as an employee [on the date specified by Section
1551.1055].
SECTION 2. Section 1551.102(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An individual who has at least 10 years of service
credit, as determined by the board of trustees, for which the
individual was eligible to participate in the group benefits
program under Section 1551.101 or who has at least five years of
membership and five years of military service credited in the
Employees Retirement System of Texas and who retires in a manner
described by this section is eligible[, subject to Section
1551.1055,] to participate as an annuitant in the group benefits
program.
SECTION 3. Section 1551.111(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Participation is limited to:
(1) an officer or employee of either system who has
been an officer or employee of either system [following completion
of the waiting period described by Section 1551.1055];
(2) an eligible dependent of an officer or employee of
either system described by Subdivision (1);
(3) an individual who:
(A) was an officer or employee of either system;
(B) has retired from either system[, subject to
Section 1551.1055];
(C) receives or is eligible to receive an annuity
from either system or under Chapter 803, Government Code, based on
at least 10 years of service credit and is at least 65 years of age;
and
(D) has at least 10 years of service credit with a
state agency whose employees are authorized to participate in the
group benefits program; and
(4) an eligible dependent of a retired officer or
employee described by Subdivision (3).
SECTION 4. Section 1551.112(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An individual may participate in the group benefits
program as an annuitant[, subject to Section 1551.1055,] and may
obtain coverage for the individual's dependents as any other
participating annuitant if the individual:
(1) began employment with, or became an officer of,
the Texas Turnpike Authority within the three-year period preceding
August 31, 1997;
(2) was an officer or employee of the Texas Turnpike
Authority on August 31, 1997;
(3) became an officer or employee of the North Texas
Tollway Authority on September 1, 1997; and
(4) retires or is eligible to retire with at least 10
years of service credit under the proportionate retirement program
established by Chapter 803, Government Code, or under a public
retirement system to which Chapter 803 applies and is at least 65
years of age.
SECTION 5. Section 1551.1055, Insurance Code, is repealed.
SECTION 6. A person who, immediately before the effective
date of this Act, would be eligible to participate in the group
benefits program established under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code,
except that the person's eligibility has not begun under Section
1551.1055, Insurance Code, as that section existed immediately
before repeal by this Act, becomes eligible on the effective date of
this Act if the person is otherwise eligible to participate in the
group benefits plan under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, as that
chapter exists on the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.