By: Janek, Hegar S.B. No. 479

(In the Senate - Filed February 6, 2007; February 21, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; May 21, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute from Committee on Education by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 479 By: Janek

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. CERTAIN REVENUE RECEIVED FROM STUDENT HEALTH CENTER SERVICES. (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) 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.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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