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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to coverage for bariatric surgical procedures for certain |
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state employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 672 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 672. BARIATRIC SURGERY BENEFITS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES |
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Sec. 672.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency" |
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means a department, institution, commission, or other agency of the |
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state. |
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Sec. 672.002. PROVISION OF BENEFIT. (a) In this section, |
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"service" means personal service to the state creditable in |
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accordance with rules adopted by the board of trustees of the |
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Employees Retirement System of Texas. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a state agency may |
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use available public funds to provide to an employee of the state |
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agency with at least five years of service coverage for the expenses |
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of bariatric surgical procedures. |
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(c) Coverage may not be provided to an employee under this |
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section to the extent that coverage is available to the employee |
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under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code. |
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SECTION 2. (a) An interim committee is created to study |
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the cost that the state would be expected to incur and the benefits |
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the state would be expected to realize by providing coverage for |
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bariatric surgical procedures for state employees. The committee |
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shall also study the short-term and long-term risks and benefits to |
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overweight or obese individuals of weight loss accomplished through |
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bariatric surgical procedures or other methods, in terms of the |
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individuals' health, well-being, and productivity. The committee's |
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study must include, to the extent feasible, a study of the costs |
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incurred and benefits realized by any agency or political |
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subdivision of the state that has provided benefits for bariatric |
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surgical procedures to the employees of the agency or political |
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subdivision and the outcomes realized by those employees. An |
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agency or political subdivision that provides a benefit described |
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by this subsection shall provide the committee with any information |
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related to the provision of those benefits, other than information |
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that would identify the recipient of the benefit. |
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(b) The committee consists of the following five members: |
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(1) two senators appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(2) two representatives appointed by the speaker of |
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the house of representatives; and |
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(3) one member appointed by the governor, who shall |
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serve as the committee's presiding officer. |
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(c) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(d) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and |
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house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government |
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Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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(e) From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the |
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contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally, |
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the members of the committee are entitled to reimbursement for |
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expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section in |
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accordance with the rules of the senate and house of |
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representatives and the policies of the senate and house committees |
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on administration. |
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(f) Not later than January 15, 2009, the committee shall |
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report the committee's findings and recommendations to the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the governor. The committee shall include in its |
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recommendations specific statutory changes that appear necessary |
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or advisable from the results of the committee's study under |
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Subsection (a) of this section, including changes to Chapter 1551, |
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Insurance Code. |
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(g) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of |
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this Act, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the governor shall appoint the members of the |
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interim committee created under this section. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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