BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 374
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The federal servicemembers' group life insurance program offers service members on active duty a life insurance policy up to $400,000 for a monthly premium. Since September 11, 2001, an estimated 15,000 Texas National Guardsmen have been deployed in armed conflicts. Currently, no law exists that reimburses Texas National Guard members for the servicemembers' group life insurance payments.
As proposed, S.B. 374 entitles Texas National Guard members who are deployed to a hostile fire zone to reimbursements for the premiums on their servicemembers' group life insurance.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 431, Government Code, by adding Section 431.0822, as follows:
Sec. 431.0822. PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. (a) Provides that a member of the Texas National Guard deployed to a hostile fire zone, as designated by the United States secretary of defense, is entitled to reimbursement of premiums paid by the member for benefits under the servicemember's group life insurance program under 38 U.S.C. Section 1965 et. seq. on or after the date on which the member is activated under an order issued under Title 10 of the United States Code and before the date the member is demobilized.
(b) Requires the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to establish the Texas National Guard members' life insurance reimbursement account in the general revenue fund. Authorizes money in the account to only be appropriated for the purposes of implementing this section. Authorizes the comptroller, governor, or adjutant general to accept gifts and grants for deposit to the credit of the account. Authorizes the legislature to transfer money into the account or to appropriate money to implement this section that the comptroller is required to credit to the account.
(c) Requires the adjutant general to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
(d) Requires the comptroller, in consultation with the adjutant general, to adopt rules as necessary to govern the manner and method of providing reimbursements under this section.
(e) Provides that this section does not affect a person's eligibility for or the applicability of the servicemembers' group life insurance program established by 38 U.S.C. Section 1965 et. seq. or any rights, responsibilities, or benefits under that program.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.