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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 20

By: Ashby

Appropriations

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties call for an appropriation of money from the economic stabilization fund to decrease costs for participants in the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program. C.S.H.B. 20 seeks to make this appropriation. 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 20 appropriates $212.7 million from the economic stabilization fund to the retired school employees group insurance fund for use by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to decrease the costs for the 2018 and 2019 plan years for participants in the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program. The bill limits the use of funds so appropriated to decreasing the premiums and deductibles that would otherwise be paid during the 2018 and 2019 plan years by participants in the group insurance program and reducing costs for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or a physical incapacity during those plan years. The bill takes effect only if it receives the vote necessary for an appropriation of money from the economic stabilization fund.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Except as otherwise provided, on passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 20 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  The amount of $150 million is appropriated from the economic stabilization fund to the retired school employees group insurance fund established under Section 1575.301, Insurance Code, for use by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to decrease the premiums and deductibles for the 2018 and 2019 plan years for enrollees in the high deductible health plan established under Section 1575.158, Insurance Code, as amended by H.B. 3976, 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

SECTION 1.  The amount of $212.7 million is appropriated from the economic stabilization fund to the retired school employees group insurance fund established under Section 1575.301, Insurance Code, for use by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to decrease the costs for the 2018 and 2019 plan years for participants in the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program authorized by Chapter 1575, Insurance Code.

 

SECTION 2.  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas may use funds appropriated by this Act only to decrease the premiums and deductibles for the 2018 and 2019 plan years that would otherwise be paid by enrollees in the high deductible health plan established under Section 1575.158, Insurance Code, as amended by H.B. 3976, 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

 

SECTION 2.  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas may use funds appropriated by this Act only to:

(1)  decrease the premiums and deductibles that would otherwise be paid during the 2018 and 2019 plan years by participants in the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program authorized by Chapter 1575, Insurance Code; and

(2)  reduce costs for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or a physical incapacity during the 2018 and 2019 plan years.

SECTION 3.  (a)  Subject to Subsection (b) of this section:

(1)  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; and

(2)  if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

(b)  This Act takes effect only if it receives a vote of two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article III, Texas Constitution.

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.