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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of certain adjunct faculty members of |
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public institutions of higher education to participate in a state |
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group benefits program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1551.1021(a), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) An adjunct faculty member at a public institution of |
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higher education is eligible to participate in the group benefits |
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program as an employee if the faculty member: |
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(1) receives compensation for services rendered to a |
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public institution of higher education as an adjunct faculty |
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member; |
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(2) has been employed as a faculty member by the same |
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public institution of higher education and has taught at least one |
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course in each regular fall and spring semester at the public |
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institution of higher education in [each of] the preceding [three] |
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academic year [years]; and |
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(3) is under contract or is scheduled to teach at least |
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nine [12] semester credit hours in the academic year of coverage or, |
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if the person is also employed by the public institution of higher |
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education to perform nonteaching duties, is under contract or is |
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scheduled to teach at least six semester credit hours in the |
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academic year of coverage and has been approved by the public |
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institution of higher education to participate in the group |
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benefits program. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to coverage for an academic year that begins on or after |
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December 1, 2007. |
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(b) The board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System |
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of Texas shall include coverage under Section 1551.1021, Insurance |
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Code, as amended by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or |
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in an evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or |
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renewed on or after January 1, 2008. The board of trustees may |
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include coverage under Section 1551.1021, Insurance Code, as |
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amended by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or in an |
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evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed |
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before January 1, 2008, if the board of trustees determines that |
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coverage may be reasonably included. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |