|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to participation of the state military forces in the state |
|
group benefits program. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 437.212, Government Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsections (f) and (g) and adding Subsection (f-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(f) A member of the state military forces [volunteer in the
|
|
Texas State Guard] who is not a full-time or part-time state |
|
employee and who has been on state active duty or on state training |
|
or other duty for more than 60 [90] days is, notwithstanding Section |
|
1551.1055, Insurance Code, eligible to participate in the state |
|
group benefits program under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, and is |
|
considered to be a full-time state employee for the purposes of that |
|
chapter, including the receipt of a full state contribution for [to
|
|
purchase health or dental] insurance coverage, subject to |
|
Subsection (f-1) and the following requirements: |
|
(1) the participant must be a member of the state |
|
military forces [Texas State Guard] at the time of enrollment in the |
|
group benefits program; and |
|
(2) [the participant must pay the full cost of health
|
|
or dental insurance coverage under the group benefits program and
|
|
may not receive a state contribution for premiums; and
|
|
[(3)] an application under this subsection for [group
|
|
benefit health or dental] insurance coverage must be submitted in |
|
accordance with procedures established by the Employees Retirement |
|
System of Texas. |
|
(f-1) The department may require payment of the cost |
|
associated with paying the state contribution of a service member |
|
who elects to participate in the state group benefits program under |
|
Subsection (f) by the person responsible for paying for the mission |
|
for which the service member is on state active duty or state |
|
training and other duty. The department shall reimburse the board |
|
of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas for that |
|
cost. |
|
(g) The adjutant general and the Employees Retirement |
|
System of Texas shall coordinate and consult to implement the |
|
benefits program provided by Subsection (f) and shall adopt a |
|
memorandum of understanding to establish: |
|
(1) the procedures that a member of the state military |
|
forces [Texas State Guard] may use to elect to participate in the |
|
state group benefits program; [and] |
|
(2) an appropriate method to annually confirm |
|
continuing eligibility to participate in the group benefits |
|
program; and |
|
(3) an appropriate method of administering the |
|
reimbursement of the state contribution as required by Subsection |
|
(f-1). |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016. |