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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring a contractor to provide health insurance to |
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its employees as a condition of eligibility for the award of certain |
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state contracts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2155.0771 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2155.0771. HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A |
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vendor may not be awarded a state contract for goods or services |
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that has a value greater than $1 million, including a contract for |
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which purchasing authority is delegated to a state agency, unless |
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the vendor provides health benefits coverage that is at least |
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equivalent to basic coverage provided under the state employees |
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group benefit program provided under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, |
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to each full-time employee and the employee's dependents. |
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(b) The vendor must pay 100 percent of the health insurance |
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premiums for each full-time employee who participates in the |
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insurance program and at least 50 percent of the health insurance |
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premiums for each dependent of a full-time employee whom the |
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employee elects to cover under the insurance program. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2155.0771, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a contract for the procurement of goods |
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and services for which the solicitation of bids or proposals or |
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similar expressions of interest is published on or after September |
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1, 2007. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |