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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to health benefits coverage for certain elected officials. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1551.2075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.2075. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN FOR CERTAIN ELECTED |
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OFFICIALS. (a) In this section, "elected official" means a person |
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who is eligible to participate in the group benefits program under |
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Section 1551.101 or 1551.102 based on service performed as |
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governor, lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature. |
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(b) The board of trustees shall make available: |
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(1) for elected officials while in office, health |
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benefit plans that are reasonably comparable to coverage plans of |
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each tier of coverage offered under Chapter 1579; and |
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(2) subject to Subsection (d), for elected officials |
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receiving or eligible to receive a service retirement annuity, |
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health benefit plans that are reasonably comparable to a basic plan |
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offered under Chapter 1575 and the Medicare Advantage and Medicare |
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prescription drug plans offered under that chapter. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other law, an elected official is |
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not eligible to enroll in a health benefit plan offered under this |
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chapter other than a health benefit plan offered under this section |
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as provided by Subsection (b). |
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(d) An elected official who is eligible to enroll in |
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Medicare is eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a |
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Medicare prescription drug plan under this section but is not |
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eligible to enroll in another health benefit plan under this |
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section. |
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(e) The board of trustees shall ensure an elected official |
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is subject to comparable premiums, deductibles, copayments, |
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coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket expenses as a person enrolled |
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in a comparable health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1575 or |
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1579, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1551.2075, Insurance Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to group coverage provided under Chapter |
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1551, Insurance Code, for a plan year beginning on or after |
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September 1, 2020. A plan year that begins before that date is |
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governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |