Amend CSSB 10 (house committee printing) by inserting the 
following new SECTION to the bill, appropriately numbered, and 
renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
	SECTION ____.  (a) In this section:                                            
		(1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services 
Commission.           
		(2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of 
Insurance.                  
	(b)  The department and the commission shall jointly study a 
small employer premium assistance program to provide financial 
assistance for the purchase of small employer health benefit plans 
by small employers.
	(c)  The study conducted under this section must address:                      
		(1)  options for program funding, including use of 
money in the Texas health opportunity pool trust fund as described 
by Section 531.507, Government Code;
		(2)  coordination with any other premium assistance 
effort operated, under development, or under consideration by 
either agency; and
		(3)  recommended program design, including:                                   
			(A)  the manner of targeting small employers;                                
			(B)  provisions to discourage employers and 
others from electing to discontinue other private coverage for 
employees;
			(C)  a minimum premium, or percentage of premium, 
that a small employer must pay for each eligible employee's 
coverage;
			(D)  eligibility requirements for enrollees for 
whom financial assistance is provided to individuals;
			(E)  allocation of opportunities for enrollment 
in the program;            
			(F)  the duration of enrollment in the program and 
requirements for renewal; and
			(G)  verification that small employers 
participating in the program use premium assistance to purchase and 
maintain a small employer health benefit plan.
	(d)  In conducting the study, the department and the 
commission may consider   programs and efforts undertaken by other 
states to provide premium assistance to small employers.
	(e)  Not later than November 1, 2008, the department and the 
commission shall jointly submit a report to the 81st Legislature. 
The report must summarize the results of the study conducted under 
this section and the recommendations of the department and 
commission and may include recommendations for proposed 
legislation to implement a small employer premium assistance 
program as described by Subsection (b) of this section.