AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

For adjunct faculty members at Texas's public colleges and universities, current law allows for participation in the group health insurance plans administered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, The University of Texas System, and the Texas A&M University System. However, such participation is severely limited by stringent eligibility guidelines. Furthermore, eligibility criteria is such that it excludes most adjunct librarians.

 

H.B. 2127 amends current law relating to the eligibility of certain employees of public institutions of higher education to participate in a state group benefits program.

 

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 Section 1551.1021, Insurance Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

 

(a) Provides that an adjunct faculty member at a public institution of higher education is eligible to participate in the group benefits program as an employee if the faculty member:

 

(1) Makes no change to this subdivision;

 

(2) was employed as a faculty member by the same public institution of higher education and taught at least one course in the regular fall and spring semester at the public institution of higher education in the preceding academic year, rather than has been employed as a faculty member by the same public institution of higher education and has taught at least one course in each regular fall and spring semester at the public institution of higher education in each of the preceding three academic years; and

 

(3) Makes no change to this subdivision.

 

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(a-1) Provides that an adjunct faculty member at a public institution of higher education who is a professional librarian, notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3) (relating to providing that an adjunct faculty member at a public institution of higher education is eligible to participate in the group benefits program as an employee under certain contractual circumstances), is eligible to participate in the group benefits program as an employee if the faculty member receives compensation for services rendered to a public institution of higher education as an adjunct faculty member.

 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas (board) to include coverage under Section 1551.1021 (Participation Eligibility: Certain Faculty of Institutions of Higher Education), Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2014.  Authorizes the board to include coverage under Section 1551.1021, Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or an evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2014, if the board determines that the coverage may reasonably be included.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2013.