80R7247 PB-D
 
  By: Lucio III H.B. No. 3626
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the date on which eligibility for benefits begins under
certain programs for governmental employees and retirees.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 1551.1055, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 1551.1055.  DATE ELIGIBILITY BEGINS[; WAITING PERIOD].
(a)  Notwithstanding any other law [Except as provided by
Subsection (c) or (d)], eligibility under Section 1551.101 begins
on the first day that [of the calendar month that begins after the
90th day after the date] the employee performs services for a state
agency or is qualified for and begins to hold elected or appointed
office.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law [Except as provided by
Subsection (c)], eligibility under Section 1551.102, for an
individual who does not retire at the end of the last month for
which the individual is on the payroll of a state agency before
retirement, begins on the first day of the calendar month that
begins after [the 90th day after] the date the individual retires.
       [(c)  The waiting period established by Subsections (a) and
(b) applies only to the determination of initial eligibility to
participate in the group benefits program and does not apply to the
determination of initial eligibility to participate in optional and
voluntary insurance coverages under the group benefits program.
       [(d)  This subsection applies only to an employee of an
institution of higher education or a dependent of the employee.
Notwithstanding Subsection (a), eligibility under Section 1551.101
may not begin earlier than the first day that an employee performs
services for an institution of higher education if any amount paid
for premium incurred before the date specified under Subsection (a)
for the employee and any dependents of the employee is paid from
money not appropriated from the general revenue fund, in accordance
with policies and procedures established by the governing body of
the institution of higher education.]
       SECTION 2.  Section 1601.1045, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 1601.1045.  DATE ELIGIBILITY BEGINS[; WAITING PERIOD].
(a)  Notwithstanding any other law [Except as provided by
Subsection (c) or (d)], eligibility under Section 1601.101 begins
on the first day that [of the calendar month that begins after the
90th day after the date] the employee performs services for a
system.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law [Except as provided by
Subsection (c)], eligibility under Section 1601.102, for an
individual who does not retire at the end of the last month for
which the individual is on the payroll of a system before
retirement, begins on the first day of the calendar month that
begins [after the 90th day] after the date the individual retires.
       [(c)  The waiting period established by Subsections (a) and
(b) applies only to the determination of initial eligibility to
participate in the group health benefits program and does not apply
to the determination of initial eligibility to participate in
optional coverages under the uniform program.
       [(d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), eligibility under
Section 1601.101 may not begin earlier than the first day that an
employee performs services for a system if any amount paid for
premium incurred before the date specified under Subsection (a) for
the employee and any dependents of the employee is paid from money
not appropriated from the general revenue fund, in accordance with
policies and procedures established by the system.]
       SECTION 3.  A waiting period that, immediately before the
effective date of this Act, is applicable to an individual under
Section 1551.1055 or 1601.1045, Insurance Code, as those sections
existed before amendment by this Act, terminates on the effective
date of this Act.
       SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.