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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to participation in the uniform group coverage program for |
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active school employees and additional state aid for public schools |
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that do not participate in that program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1579.155, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a [A] |
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participating entity that elects to discontinue participation in |
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the program under Subsection (a) may not elect to: |
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(1) participate in the program until the fifth |
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anniversary of the effective date of the entity's election to |
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discontinue participation; or |
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(2) discontinue the entity's participation after an |
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election described by Subdivision (1) until the fifth anniversary |
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of the effective date of that election. |
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(b-1) A participating entity that elected to discontinue |
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participation in the program between September 1, 2021, and |
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September 1, 2023, may elect to participate in the program before |
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the fifth anniversary of the effective date of that election. This |
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subsection expires September 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 2. Effective September 1, 2027, Subchapter F, |
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Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 48.276 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.276. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTAIN GROUP HEALTH |
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COVERAGE. (a) This section applies only to a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school that does not participate in the |
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uniform group coverage program established under Chapter 1579, |
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Insurance Code. |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school to |
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which this section applies is entitled to additional state aid in an |
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amount equal to the product of: |
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(1) the quotient of: |
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(A) the amount appropriated in the General |
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Appropriations Act to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for |
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purposes of health care for public education active employees; and |
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(B) the total number of employees employed by |
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districts and schools to which this section applies; and |
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(2) the number of employees employed by the district |
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or school. |
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(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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use money provided under this section only to pay contributions |
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under a group health coverage plan for district or school |
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employees. |
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SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |