81R797 PB-D
 
  By: Miklos H.B. No. 3645
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of certain postdoctoral fellows and
  graduate students to participate in health benefit programs at
  public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1551.1022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1551.1022.  PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY: CERTAIN
  POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. An individual is
  eligible to participate in the group benefits program as if the
  individual were an employee, regardless of whether the individual
  actually serves as an employee, if the individual, at an
  institution of higher education:
               (1)  holds a postdoctoral fellowship; or
               (2)  holds other fellowships awarded to the individual
  on a competitive basis that, either singly or in combination, are
  valued at not less than $10,000.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1601, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1601.1021 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1601.1021.  PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY: CERTAIN
  POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. An individual is
  eligible to participate in the uniform program as if the individual
  were an employee, regardless of whether the individual actually
  serves as an employee, if the individual, at an institution in a
  system:
               (1)  holds a postdoctoral fellowship; or
               (2)  holds other fellowships awarded to the individual
  on a competitive basis that, either singly or in combination, are
  valued at not less than $10,000.
         SECTION 3.  Effective January 1, 2010, Section 1601.101(d),
  Insurance Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  (a) The board of trustees of the Employees
  Retirement System of Texas shall include coverage under Section
  1551.1022, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, in an insurance
  policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for
  delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2010. The board of
  trustees may include coverage under Section 1551.1022, Insurance
  Code, as added by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or an
  evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
  before January 1, 2010, if the board of trustees determines that the
  coverage may reasonably be included.
         (b)  The governing board of The University of Texas System or
  The Texas A&M University System, as applicable, shall include
  coverage under Section 1601.1021, Insurance Code, as added by this
  Act, in an insurance policy or contract or evidence of coverage
  delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1,
  2010. The governing board of a system may include coverage under
  Section 1601.1021, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, in an
  insurance policy or contract or an evidence of coverage delivered,
  issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2010, if the
  governing board determines that the coverage may reasonably be
  included.
         SECTION 5.  Except as provided by this Act, this Act takes
  effect September 1, 2009.