80R5360 JRJ-D
 
  By: Janek S.B. No. 479
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of a student health center at an
institution of higher education.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.953 to read as follows:
       Sec. 51.953.  STUDENT HEALTH CENTER. (a) In this section:
             (1)  "Health benefit plan" means any health benefit
plan regulated under the Insurance Code, including:
                   (A)  an individual or group health insurance
policy; or
                   (B)  an evidence of coverage issued by a health
maintenance organization.
             (2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
       (b)  The governing board of an institution of higher
education may require the institution's student health center to
assist a student or other person entitled to obtain health care
services from the health center in receiving benefits under a
health benefit plan by filing or having a claim filed with the
health benefit plan issuer on behalf of the student or other person.
       (c)  An institution of higher education on behalf of the
institution's student health center located within the geographic
service area of a health benefit plan may contract with the health
benefit plan issuer to provide health care services under the plan
to students or other persons entitled to obtain health care
services from the health center who are covered by the plan.
       (d)  Amounts received by an institution of higher education
from a health benefit plan issuer as a result of a claim filed with
the issuer by or on behalf of the institution's student health
center are institutional funds under Section 51.009 and may be used
only for the construction, improvement, operation, or maintenance
of the student health center or to increase or enhance the services
offered by the student health center.  It is the intent of the
legislature that those amounts be in addition to other amounts of
money allocated to the student health center and those other
amounts not be reduced.
       (e)  Not later than January 15 of each year, the governing
board of an institution of higher education shall report to the
legislature the amount of the following sources of income for
funding the institution's student health center:
             (1)  money received from student fees and charges;
             (2)  money received from the operation of the student
health center's pharmacy;
             (3)  money received as a result of a claim filed by or
on behalf of the institution's student health center under a health
benefit plan sponsored by or administered on behalf of the
institution; and
             (4)  money received as a result of a claim filed by or
on behalf of the institution's student health center under a health
benefit plan other than a plan sponsored by or administered on
behalf of the institution.
       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.