This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.


                                                                                

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.