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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of certain employees, postdoctoral |
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fellows, and graduate students to participate in health benefit |
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programs at public institutions 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 C, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1551.1022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.1022. PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY: CERTAIN |
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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. (a) An individual is |
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eligible to participate in the group benefits program if the |
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individual, at an institution of higher education: |
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(1) holds a postdoctoral fellowship; or |
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(2) holds other graduate fellowships awarded to the |
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individual on a competitive basis that, either singly or in |
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combination, are valued at not less than $10,000. |
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(b) An institution of higher education at which an |
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individual holds a fellowship described by Subsection (a) is |
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responsible for payment of the contributions for the individual. |
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Each participant shall contribute that portion of the cost of the |
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group coverage selected by the individual that exceeds the amount |
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of contribution funded by the institution. All portions of the |
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contribution funded by the institution shall be made in proportion |
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to the source of funds from which the fellowship is paid, to the |
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extent allowed by the terms of the fellowship. |
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(c) An institution of higher education shall, at the time of |
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initial eligibility, notify each of the individuals eligible to |
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participate in the group benefits program under Subsection (a) of |
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the individual's eligibility to participate in the program. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1551.3111 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.3111. AMOUNT OF STATE CONTRIBUTION FOR CERTAIN |
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JUNIOR COLLEGE EMPLOYEES. (a) In determining the amount to be |
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certified under Section 1551.311, the board of trustees shall |
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include eligible public junior college employees. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, a public junior college |
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employee is eligible if the employee is: |
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(1) otherwise eligible to participate in the group |
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benefits program; and |
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(2) an instructional or administrative employee whose |
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salary may be fully paid from funds appropriated under the General |
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Appropriations Act, regardless of whether the salary is actually |
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paid from appropriated funds. |
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(c) In determining the amount described in Subsection (a), |
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the number of eligible employees included for each college in each |
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biennium shall be adjusted in proportion to the change in student |
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enrollment at each college during the reporting period, except that |
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a college that experiences a decline in student enrollment may |
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petition to maintain the number of eligible employees at the same |
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level as the prior biennium. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 1601, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1601.1021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1601.1021. PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY: CERTAIN |
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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. (a) An individual is |
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eligible to participate in the uniform program if the individual, |
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at an institution in a system: |
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(1) holds a postdoctoral fellowship; or |
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(2) holds other graduate fellowships awarded to the |
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individual on a competitive basis that, either singly or in |
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combination, are valued at not less than $10,000. |
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(b) An institution of higher education at which an |
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individual holds a fellowship described by Subsection (a) is |
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responsible for payment of the contributions for the individual. |
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Each participant shall contribute that portion of the cost of the |
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group coverage selected by the individual that exceeds the amount |
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of contribution funded by the institution. All portions of the |
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contribution funded by the institution shall be made in proportion |
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to the source of funds from which the fellowship is paid, to the |
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extent allowed by the terms of the fellowship. |
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(c) An institution of higher education shall, at the time of |
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initial eligibility, notify each of the individuals eligible to |
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participate in the group benefits program under Subsection (a) of |
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the individual's eligibility to participate in the program. |
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SECTION 4. Effective January 1, 2010, Section 1601.101(d), |
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Insurance Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. (a) The board of trustees of the Employees |
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Retirement System of Texas shall include coverage under Section |
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1551.1022, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, in an insurance |
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policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for |
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delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2010. The board of |
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trustees may include coverage under Section 1551.1022, Insurance |
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Code, as added by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or an |
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evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed |
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before January 1, 2010, if the board of trustees determines that the |
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coverage may reasonably be included. |
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(b) The governing board of The University of Texas System or |
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The Texas A&M University System, as applicable, shall include |
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coverage under Section 1601.1021, Insurance Code, as added by this |
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Act, in an insurance policy or contract or evidence of coverage |
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delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, |
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2010. The governing board of a system may include coverage under |
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Section 1601.1021, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, in an |
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insurance policy or contract or an evidence of coverage delivered, |
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issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2010, if the |
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governing board determines that the coverage may reasonably be |
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included. |
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SECTION 6. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect November 1, 2009. |