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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of a student health center at an |
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institution of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.953 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.953. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Health benefit plan" means any health benefit |
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plan regulated under the Insurance Code, including: |
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(A) an individual or group health insurance |
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policy; or |
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(B) an evidence of coverage issued by a health |
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maintenance organization. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The governing board of an institution of higher |
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education may require the institution's student health center to |
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assist a student or other person entitled to obtain health care |
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services from the health center in receiving benefits under a |
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health benefit plan by filing or having a claim filed with the |
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health benefit plan issuer on behalf of the student or other person. |
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(c) An institution of higher education on behalf of the |
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institution's student health center located within the geographic |
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service area of a health benefit plan may contract with the health |
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benefit plan issuer to provide health care services under the plan |
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to students or other persons entitled to obtain health care |
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services from the health center who are covered by the plan. |
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(d) Amounts received by an institution of higher education |
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from a health benefit plan issuer as a result of a claim filed with |
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the issuer by or on behalf of the institution's student health |
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center are institutional funds under Section 51.009 and may be used |
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only for the construction, improvement, operation, or maintenance |
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of the student health center or to increase or enhance the services |
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offered by the student health center. It is the intent of the |
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legislature that those amounts be in addition to other amounts of |
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money allocated to the student health center and those other |
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amounts not be reduced. |
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(e) Not later than January 15 of each year, the governing |
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board of an institution of higher education shall report to the |
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legislature the amount of the following sources of income for |
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funding the institution's student health center: |
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(1) money received from student fees and charges; |
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(2) money received from the operation of the student |
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health center's pharmacy; |
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(3) money received as a result of a claim filed by or |
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on behalf of the institution's student health center under a health |
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benefit plan sponsored by or administered on behalf of the |
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institution; and |
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(4) money received as a result of a claim filed by or |
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on behalf of the institution's student health center under a health |
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benefit plan other than a plan sponsored by or administered on |
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behalf of the institution. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |