87R2998 BRG-D
 
  By: Anchia, Parker, et al. H.B. No. 1045
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to health care benefits of persons wrongfully imprisoned.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Subject to this section, a person entitled to
  compensation under Subsection (a) is also eligible to obtain group
  health benefit plan coverage through the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice as if the person were an employee of the
  department.  The [This subsection does not entitle the] person's
  spouse and dependents may be included in the person's [or other
  dependent or family member to group health benefit plan] coverage
  as if the person were an employee of the department.  Coverage may
  be obtained under this subsection for a period of time equal to the
  total period the claimant served for the crime for which the
  claimant was wrongfully imprisoned, including any period during
  which the claimant was released on parole or to mandatory
  supervision or required to register under Chapter 62, Code of
  Criminal Procedure.  A person who elects to obtain coverage under
  this subsection shall pay a monthly contribution equal to the total
  amount of the monthly contributions for that coverage for an
  employee of the department.
         SECTION 2.  A person who, before the effective date of this
  Act, obtained group health benefit plan coverage under Section
  103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as the law existed
  before the effective date of this Act, may elect to include the
  person's spouse and dependents in the person's coverage as provided
  by Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended
  by this Act.  An election under this section must be made:
               (1)  not later than March 1, 2022; or
               (2)  during any subsequent open enrollment period
  applicable to employees of the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.