By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 2772



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to health savings accounts and high deductible health 
plans within the group benefits program of the Employees Retirement 
System of Texas.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The Employees Retirement System of Texas 
shall evaluate the long-term impact of implementation of health 
savings accounts and high deductible health plans within the group 
benefits program on:
		(1)  future costs and benefits of all health care plans 
included in the group benefits program;
		(2)  participant access to quality health care;                               
		(3)  provider availability; and                                               
		(4)  such other issues as the system may determine to be 
pertinent to the continued stable and efficient operation of the 
group benefits program, taking into consideration the demographic, 
geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics of the participants.
	(b)  The system shall send a report in connection with the 
evaluation, including findings and recommendations, to the 
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of 
representatives not later than December 31, 2006.
	SECTION 2.  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.