BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1342
87R16182 MEW-D	By: Leach (Perry)
	Education
	5/11/2021
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Certain independent school districts participating in TRS-ActiveCare that desire to solicit bids for new health insurance providers have reported having a hard time obtaining accurate cost comparisons due to a lack of available information from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).

 

H.B. 1342 seeks to remedy this issue by requiring TRS to provide any de-identified health information, enrollment information, or other available relevant information on request in connection with a search for alternative health benefit plan coverage.

 

H.B. 1342 amends current law relating to the provision of certain health information and other information to school districts and other participating entities in the Texas school employees uniform group health coverage program.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, by adding Section 1579.010, as follows:

 

Sec. 1579.010. PARTICIPATING ENTITY REQUEST FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) Requires the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to Subsection (b), to provide to a participating entity any de-identified health information, enrollment information, or other relevant information available to TRS as requested by the entity in connection with a search for alternative health benefit plan coverage for the entity's employees and the employees' dependents.

 

(b) Prohibits the information provided by TRS under this section from including any personally identifying information of a covered individual that would be prohibited from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191) and regulations adopted under that Act.

 

(c) Requires TRS to provide the information requested under this section at no cost to the requesting participating entity, in accordance with the procedures developed by TRS for that purpose.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.