LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 23, 2009 TO: Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1875 by Truitt (Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at certain public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would require students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and to submit proof of health insurance to the institution before the students can enroll in the institution. Under provisions of the bill, the institution may provide a health benefit plan to the student and impose a charge for providing that plan. The student may elect to be sponsored by the university or by a third party insurer. Upon a written request from the student, the institution must provide an estimate of the cost of the health benefit as a part of the educational cost and may cover all or part of the costs as part of the financial aid provided. The institution could provisionally enroll a student who is not covered under a health benefit plan for one semester to allow the student sufficient time to obtain coverage. The bill authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating board to establish rules including the minimum coverage standards. The changes apply beginning with the 2010 fall semester. Several institutions raised concerns that students would decide not to enroll in the institution in lieu of getting health coverage. Provisions of the bill would be absorbed within existing resources. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board LBB Staff: JOB, KK, RT, GO
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 23, 2009
TO: Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1875 by Truitt (Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at certain public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1875 by Truitt (Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at certain public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1875 by Truitt (Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at certain public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
HB1875 by Truitt (Relating to requiring a health benefit plan for enrollment at certain public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and to submit proof of health insurance to the institution before the students can enroll in the institution. Under provisions of the bill, the institution may provide a health benefit plan to the student and impose a charge for providing that plan. The student may elect to be sponsored by the university or by a third party insurer. Upon a written request from the student, the institution must provide an estimate of the cost of the health benefit as a part of the educational cost and may cover all or part of the costs as part of the financial aid provided. The institution could provisionally enroll a student who is not covered under a health benefit plan for one semester to allow the student sufficient time to obtain coverage. The bill authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating board to establish rules including the minimum coverage standards. The changes apply beginning with the 2010 fall semester. Several institutions raised concerns that students would decide not to enroll in the institution in lieu of getting health coverage. Provisions of the bill would be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would require students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and to submit proof of health insurance to the institution before the students can enroll in the institution. Under provisions of the bill, the institution may provide a health benefit plan to the student and impose a charge for providing that plan. The student may elect to be sponsored by the university or by a third party insurer. Upon a written request from the student, the institution must provide an estimate of the cost of the health benefit as a part of the educational cost and may cover all or part of the costs as part of the financial aid provided. The institution could provisionally enroll a student who is not covered under a health benefit plan for one semester to allow the student sufficient time to obtain coverage.
The bill authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating board to establish rules including the minimum coverage standards. The changes apply beginning with the 2010 fall semester. Several institutions raised concerns that students would decide not to enroll in the institution in lieu of getting health coverage. Provisions of the bill would be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff: JOB, KK, RT, GO
JOB, KK, RT, GO