By: Eissler (Senate Sponsor - Averitt) H.B. No. 973

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; April 25, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 25, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain educational employees to participate or be enrolled in certain group health benefit programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 22.004, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows:

(k) Notwithstanding any other law, an employee of a district participating in the uniform group coverage program under Subsection (a) or providing group health coverage under Subsection (b) whose resignation is effective after the last day of an instructional year is entitled to participate or be enrolled in the uniform group coverage plan or the group health coverage through the first anniversary of the date participation in or coverage under the uniform group coverage plan or the group health coverage was first made available to district employees for the last instructional year in which the employee was employed by the district.

(l) If an employee's resignation is effective after the last day of an instructional year, the district may not diminish or eliminate the amount of a contribution available to the employee under Chapter 1581, Insurance Code, before the last date on which the employee is entitled to participation or enrollment under Subsection (k).

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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