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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to employer contributions under small employer health |
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benefit plans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1501.153, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a small employer |
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health benefit plan issuer may offer a small employer the option of |
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a small employer health benefit plan for which the employer is |
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required to contribute 100 percent of the premium paid. A plan |
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offered under this subsection may be offered in addition to a plan |
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offered by the issuer in accordance with Subsection (a) that |
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requires a lower percentage of the premium paid to be contributed by |
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the employer. A plan issued under this subsection must require the |
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employer to contribute 100 percent of the premium paid for each |
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eligible participating employee. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a small employer health |
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benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after |
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January 1, 2010. A small employer health benefit plan delivered, |
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issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2010, is governed |
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by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of |
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this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |