79R7236 KCR-F

By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 3330



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the school employee health 
insurance advisory committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H.  SCHOOL EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
	Sec. 1579.351.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "advisory 
committee" means the school employee health insurance advisory 
committee.
	Sec. 1579.352.  APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS.  (a)  The 
school employee health insurance advisory committee is composed of 
the following nine members appointed by the trustee:
		(1)  two members who are active school administrators;                 
		(2)  four members who are active teachers; and                         
		(3)  three members who are active members of the 
auxiliary personnel of a school district.
	(b)  At least one member appointed under Subsection (a)(1), 
one member appointed under Subsection (a)(2), and one member 
appointed under Subsection (a)(3) must, at the time of appointment, 
be employed by a school district that is not participating in the 
uniform group coverage program established under this chapter.
	(c)  A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of 
the advisory committee if the person is required to register as a 
lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code.
	Sec. 1579.353.  TERMS.  (a)  Members of the advisory 
committee serve staggered four-year terms.
	(b)  Five members' terms, including the terms of one active 
school administrator, two active teachers, and two active members 
of the auxiliary personnel, expire February 1, 2006, and every 
fourth year after that date.
	(c)  The remaining members' terms expire February 1, 2008, 
and every fourth year after that date.
	Sec. 1579.354.  VACANCY.  The trustee shall fill a vacancy 
on the advisory committee by appointing a person who meets the 
qualifications applicable to the vacated position.
	Sec. 1579.355.  MEETINGS.  (a)  The advisory committee 
shall meet:    
		(1)  at least twice each year; and                                     
		(2)  at the call of the trustee.                                       
	(b)  If there is an emergency, the committee may meet at the 
call of a majority of the members of the advisory committee.
	Sec. 1579.356.  DUTIES.  The advisory committee shall:                  
		(1)  hold public hearings on group coverage issues;                    
		(2)  recommend to the trustee minimum standards and 
features of a plan under the program that the advisory committee 
considers appropriate; and
		(3)  recommend to the trustee desirable changes in 
rules and legislation affecting the program.
	Sec. 1579.357.  PROCEDURAL RULES.  The trustee shall adopt 
procedural rules for the advisory committee to follow in 
implementing its powers and duties under this subchapter.
	Sec. 1579.358.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR ACTUAL AND REASONABLE 
EXPENSES.  An advisory committee member is entitled to 
reimbursement for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in 
performing functions as an advisory committee member.
	Sec. 1579.359.  OTHER LAW.  Chapter 2110, Government Code, 
does not apply to the advisory committee.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall 
make the appointments required under Section 1579.352, Insurance 
Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 61st day after the 
effective date of this Act.
	(b)  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall adopt the 
procedural rules required under Section 1579.357, Insurance Code, 
as added by this Act, as soon as practicable 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.