H.B. No. 3470
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the program of supplemental health coverage for
  individuals eligible under the TRICARE military health system
  offered through the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1551.221, Insurance Code, as added by
  Chapter 178, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
  is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1)
  to read as follows:
         (d)  The board of trustees may:
               (1)  purchase the supplemental health coverage in
  accordance with Sections 1551.213-1551.216;
               (2)  offer the coverage through an entity that is not an
  eligible carrier but that is authorized to offer health insurance;
  or
               (3)  [, or,] if the board of trustees determines that it
  would be cost-effective, [may] provide the supplemental health
  coverage directly from the employees life, accident, and health
  insurance benefits fund in accordance with Sections
  1551.208-1551.212.
         (d-1)  If the board of trustees enters into a contract under
  Subsection (d), the board may determine that the Employees
  Retirement System of Texas or any other entity may be named
  policyholder.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1551.221, Insurance Code, as added by
  Chapter 899, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
  is repealed.
         SECTION 3.  In implementing the voluntary supplemental
  health coverage program under Section 1551.221, Insurance Code, as
  amended by this Act, the board of trustees of the Employees
  Retirement System of Texas may enter into a contract based on a
  request for proposal before the effective date of this Act.  An
  entity seeking to contract with the system under the program is not
  required to resubmit a proposal if the entity submitted a proposal
  before the effective date of this Act in response to the request for
  proposal by the board of trustees.  This section expires September
  1, 2008.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3470 was passed by the House on May
  10, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3470 was passed by the Senate on May
  23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor