BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 479
80R5360 JRJ-D By: Janek
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
University student health centers only have two ways of generating money--student fees and payment for services. Most students have insurance coverage through their parents that would cover the cost of treatment. However, most student health centers do not accept private insurance. The purpose of this legislation is to protect appropriations to student health centers. Current law does allow this but states that it is the legislative intent that the money collected from an insurance company stay within the student health center.
As proposed, S.B. 479 requires that if a university takes measures to collect payment for services from a student's insurance company that payment stays within the student health center. This legislation also calls for the governing board of each university to report to the legislature not later than January 15th of each the amount of income for the student health center received from certain sources.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.953, as follows:
Sec. 51.953. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER. (a) Defines "health benefit plan" and "institution of higher education."
(b) Authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education (institution) to require the institution's student health center (center) to assist persons entitled to obtain health care services from the center to receive benefits under a health benefit plan (plan) by filing or having a claim filed with the health benefit plan issuer (issuer) on behalf of the person.
(c) Authorizes an institution on behalf of the center located within the geographic service area of a plan to contract with an issuer to provide health care services under the plan to persons covered by the plan and entitled to obtain health care services from the center.
(d) Provides that the money an institution receives from an issuer as the result of a claim filed with the issuer by or on behalf of the institution's center are institutional funds under Section 51.009. Authorizes these funds to be used solely for the construction, improvement, operation, or maintenance of the center or to enhance services offered by the center. Provides that the intent of the legislature is for these to be additional funds provided to the center and that other funds allocated to the center should not be reduced.
(e) Requires the governing board of an institution to report the amount of certain sources of income used for funding the center to the legislature annually by January 15.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.