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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prohibition of required health insurance coverage. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Texas Insurance Code is amended by adding a new, |
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appropriately numbered chapter to read as follows: |
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HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE NOT REQUIRED. |
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No resident of this state, regardless of whether he has or is |
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eligible for health insurance coverage under any policy or program |
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provided by or through his employer, or a plan sponsored by the |
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state or the federal government, shall be required to obtain or |
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maintain a policy of individual insurance coverage except as |
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required by a court or a governmental agency or department where an |
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individual is named a party in a judicial or administrative |
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proceeding. No provision of this title shall render a resident of |
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this state liable for any penalty, assessment, fee, or fine as a |
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result of his failure to procure or obtain health insurance |
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coverage. This section shall not apply to individuals voluntarily |
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applying for coverage under a state-administered program pursuant |
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to Title XIX or Title XXI of the Social Security Act. This section |
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shall not apply to students being required by an institution of |
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higher education to obtain and maintain health insurance as a |
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condition of enrollment. Nothing herein shall impair the rights of |
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persons to privately contract for health insurance for family |
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members or former family members. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |