By: Taylor, West  S.B. No. 1444
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2021; March 24, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 3, 2021,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 3, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1444 By:  Taylor
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to participation in the uniform group coverage program for
  active school employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1579.1045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1579.1045.  ALTERNATIVE GROUP HEALTH COVERAGE
  PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other law, a participating entity
  may not offer or make available to the entity's employees or their
  dependents group health coverage not provided under the program.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1579.155 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1579.155.  PROGRAM PARTICIPATION: ELECTION. (a)
  Effective September 1, 2022, a participating entity may elect to
  discontinue the entity's participation in the program by providing
  written notice to the trustee not later than December 31 of the year
  preceding the first day of the plan year in which the election will
  be effective.
         (b)  A participating entity that elects to discontinue
  participation in the program under Subsection (a) may not elect to:
               (1)  participate in the program until the fifth
  anniversary of the effective date of the entity's election to
  discontinue participation; or
               (2)  discontinue the entity's participation after an
  election described by Subdivision (1) until the fifth anniversary
  of the effective date of that election.
         (c)  Effective September 1, 2022, an entity that elects to
  participate in the program shall provide written notice to the
  trustee not later than December 31 of the year preceding the first
  day of the plan year in which the election will be effective. The
  entity may not elect to discontinue the entity's participation
  until the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the entity's
  election to participate.
         (d)  The trustee by rule shall prescribe the time and manner
  for making an election under this section and may adopt rules
  necessary to administer this section.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 1579.1045 and 1579.155, Insurance Code,
  as added by this Act, apply only to group coverage provided for a
  plan year beginning on or after September 1, 2022. A plan year that
  begins before that date is governed by the law as it existed
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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