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