H.B. No. 2155
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility of certain dependents for coverage under
  the state employee group benefits program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1551.004(a), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  In this chapter, "dependent" with respect to an
  individual eligible to participate in the group benefits program
  means the individual's:
               (1)  spouse;
               (2)  unmarried child younger than 26 years of age;
               (3)  child of any age who the board of trustees
  determines lives with or has the child's care provided by the
  individual on a regular basis if[:
                     [(A)]  the child is mentally or physically
  incapacitated to the extent that the child is dependent on the
  individual for care or support, as determined by the board of
  trustees;
                     [(B)     the child's coverage under this chapter has
  not lapsed; and
                     [(C)  the child is at least 26 years old and:
                           [(i)     was enrolled as a participant in the
  health benefits coverage under the group benefits program on the
  date of the child's 26th birthday; or
                           [(ii)     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
  Chapter 1575, 1579, or 1601 or in continuation of that dependent
  coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
  of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its subsequent amendments;]
               (4)  child of any age who is unmarried, for purposes of
  health benefit coverage under this chapter, on expiration of the
  child's continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus
  Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its
  subsequent amendments; and
               (5)  ward, as that term is defined by Section 601, Texas
  Probate Code, who is 26 years of age or younger.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2155 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2155 was passed by the Senate on May
  20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor