BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1179
81R4718 JRJ-D By: Patrick, Dan
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas currently leads the nation in the percentage of people without health insurance. National studies reveal that the age group with the highest risk of being uninsured is the college-age group, ages 18 to 24 years. Of college students in Texas, 36 percent of students at public colleges are uninsured and 23 percent of students at private colleges are uninsured. Studies show that when students are given the option to select or reject coverage, enrollment in health insurance increases by almost 300 percent.
Currently, Texas allows health-related institutions to require students to have some form of health insurance, but there are no requirements for public general academic institutions or community colleges to require or offer health insurance.
As proposed, S.B. 1179 requires public colleges and universities to offer or sponsor one or more health benefit plans for students at registration and requires that at least one plan offered be a high-deductible plan.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 51.952, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 51.952. STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AT MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNITS.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9521, as follows:
Sec. 51.9521. STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a) Defines "health benefit plan," "high deductible health plan," "general academic teaching institution," and "university system."
(b) Requires a general academic teaching institution to offer or sponsor, directly or through the university system, if any, of which the institution is a component, one or more health benefit plans for the students of the institution. Requires that at least one health benefit plan offered under this section be a high deductible health plan.
(c) Requires the institution to provide each student the option to enroll in a health benefit plan offered under this section at the time of the student's registration and pay the premium or other charges for coverage under the plan in the same payment that includes the student's tuition and fees.
SECTION 3. Provides that Section 51.9521, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning of the 2010 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.