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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility of certain dependents for coverage under |
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the state employee group benefits program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1551.004(a), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) In this chapter, "dependent" with respect to an |
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individual eligible to participate in the group benefits program |
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means the individual's: |
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(1) spouse; |
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(2) unmarried child younger than 26 years of age; |
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(3) child of any age who the board of trustees |
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determines lives with or has the child's care provided by the |
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individual on a regular basis if[:
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[(A)] the child is mentally or physically |
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incapacitated to the extent that the child is dependent on the |
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individual for care or support, as determined by the board of |
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trustees; |
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[(B)
the child's coverage under this chapter has
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not lapsed; and
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[(C) the child is at least 26 years old and:
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[(i)
was enrolled as a participant in the
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health benefits coverage under the group benefits program on the
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date of the child's 26th birthday; or
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[(ii)
on the date the individual became
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eligible to participate in the group benefits program, was enrolled
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as the individual's dependent in health benefits coverage under
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Chapter 1575, 1579, or 1601 or in continuation of that dependent
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coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
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of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its subsequent amendments;] |
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(4) child of any age who is unmarried, for purposes of |
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health benefit coverage under this chapter, on expiration of the |
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child's continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus |
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Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its |
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subsequent amendments; and |
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(5) ward, as that term is defined by Section 601, Texas |
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Probate Code, who is 26 years of age or younger. |
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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, 2013. |