BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 755

By: Cook

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, switching to the Texas employees group benefits program from another of the state's employee group benefits programs makes certain dependents ineligible for coverage.

H.B. 755 allows a dependent child over the age of 25 to qualify for coverage if on the day the child's parent becomes eligible to participate in the Texas employees group benefits program, the dependent is enrolled as the parent's dependent in health benefits coverage under the Texas Public School Retired Employees Group Benefits Act, the Texas School Employees Uniform Group Health Coverage Act, or the State University Employees Uniform Insurance Benefits Act or is in continued coverage under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 and its subsequent amendments.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 755 amends the Insurance Code to include in the definition of "dependent," with respect to an individual eligible to participate in the state employee group benefits program, an individual's child who is at least 25 years old, who the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas determines lives with or has the child's care provided by the individual on a regular basis, and who, on the date the individual became eligible to participate in the group benefits program, was enrolled as the individual's dependent in health benefits coverage under the Texas Public School Retired Employees Group Benefits Act, the Texas School Employees Uniform Group Health Coverage Act, or the State University Employees Uniform Insurance Benefits Act or in continuation of that dependent coverage under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 and its subsequent amendments.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.