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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to group health benefits coverage for dependents of |
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persons wrongfully imprisoned. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) Subject to this section, a person entitled to |
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compensation under Subsection (a), or the person's spouse or other |
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dependent, is [also] eligible to obtain group health benefit plan |
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coverage through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as if the |
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person were an employee of the department, or the spouse or other |
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dependent of an employee, as applicable. [This subsection does not
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entitle the person's spouse or other dependent or family member to
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group health benefit plan coverage.] Coverage may be obtained under |
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this subsection for a period of time equal to the total period the |
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claimant served for the crime for which the claimant was wrongfully |
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imprisoned, including any period during which the claimant was |
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released on parole or to mandatory supervision or required to |
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register under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. A person who |
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elects to obtain coverage under this subsection shall pay a monthly |
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contribution equal to the total amount of the monthly contributions |
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for that coverage for an employee of the department, or the spouse |
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or other dependent of an employee, as applicable. In this |
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subsection, "dependent" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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1551.004, Insurance Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1551.115, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.115. PARTICIPATION BY WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED |
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PERSONS. Subject to Section 103.001, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, a person who is entitled to compensation under Chapter 103, |
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Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is eligible to obtain health |
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benefit plan coverage under the group benefits program in the |
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manner and to the extent that an employee of the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice would be entitled to coverage, including coverage |
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for [except that this section does not entitle] the person's spouse |
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or other dependent [or family member to coverage]. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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person the comptroller of public accounts has determined to be |
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eligible for compensation as provided by Section 103.051(b), Civil |
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Practice and Remedies Code, regardless of whether the eligibility |
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determination is made before, on, or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |