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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to education employees uniform group health coverage. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.260(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a |
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school district or participating charter school may use the sum of |
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the following amounts of funds only to pay contributions under a |
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group health coverage plan for district or school employees: |
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(1) the amount determined by multiplying the amount |
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described by Section 1579.251(a), Insurance Code, [of $900 or the
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amount specified in the General Appropriations Act for that year] |
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for purposes of the state contribution under that section [Section
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1579.251, Insurance Code], by the number of district or school |
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employees who participate in a group health coverage plan provided |
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by or through the district or school; and |
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(2) the difference between the amount necessary for |
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the district or school to comply with Section 1581.052, Insurance |
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Code, for the school year and the amount the district or school is |
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required to use to provide health coverage under Section 1581.051, |
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Insurance Code, for that year. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1579.103 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1579.103. PRIMARY CARE COVERAGE PLAN. The coverage |
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provided under the primary care coverage plan must be comparable in |
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scope and, to the greatest extent possible, in cost to the basic |
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health coverage provided under Chapter 1551. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1579.251, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1579.251. STATE ASSISTANCE. (a) The state shall |
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assist employees of participating school districts and charter |
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schools in the purchase of group health coverage under this chapter |
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by providing for each covered employee the amount that, when added |
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to the minimum required contribution under Section 1581.052 by a |
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participating entity, equals 100 percent of the amount of premium |
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required for employee-only coverage under the primary care coverage |
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plan [of $900 each state fiscal year or a greater amount as provided
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by the General Appropriations Act]. The state contribution shall |
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be distributed through the school finance formulas under Chapters |
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41 and 42, Education Code, and used by school districts and charter |
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schools as provided by Section 42.260, Education Code. |
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(b) The state shall assist employees of participating |
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regional education service centers and educational districts |
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described by Section 1579.002(5)(B) in the purchase of group health |
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coverage under this chapter by providing to the employing service |
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center or educational district, for each covered employee, the |
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amount that, when added to the minimum required contribution under |
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Section 1581.052 by a participating entity, equals 100 percent of |
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the amount of premium required for employee-only coverage under the |
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primary care coverage plan [of $900 each state fiscal year or a
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greater amount as provided by the General Appropriations Act]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1581.052(a), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A school district, other educational district, |
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participating charter school, or regional education service center |
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shall, for each fiscal year, use to provide health coverage an |
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amount equal to the number of participating employees of the |
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district, school, or service center multiplied by $2,400 [$1,800]. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |