83R7233 TJS-F
By: Howard H.B. No. 2127
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of certain employees of public
institutions of higher education to participate in a state group
benefits program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1551.1021, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) An adjunct faculty member at a public institution of
higher education is eligible to participate in the group benefits
program as an employee if the faculty member:
(1) receives compensation for services rendered to a
public institution of higher education as an adjunct faculty
member; and
(2) [has been employed as a faculty member by the same
public institution of higher education and has taught at least one
course in each regular fall and spring semester at the public
institution of higher education in each of the preceding three
academic years; and
[(3)] is under contract or is scheduled to teach at
least nine [12] semester credit hours in the academic year of
coverage or, if the person is also employed by the public
institution of higher education to perform nonteaching duties, is
under contract or is scheduled to teach at least six semester credit
hours in the academic year of coverage and has been approved by the
public institution of higher education to participate in the group
benefits program.
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), an adjunct faculty
member at a public institution of higher education who is a
professional librarian is eligible to participate in the group
benefits program as an employee if the faculty member receives
compensation for services rendered to a public institution of
higher education as an adjunct faculty member.
SECTION 2. The board of trustees of the Employees
Retirement System of Texas shall include coverage under Section
1551.1021, Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, in an insurance
policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2014. The board of
trustees may include coverage under Section 1551.1021, Insurance
Code, as amended by this Act, in an insurance policy or contract or
an evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
before January 1, 2014, if the board of trustees determines that the
coverage may reasonably be included.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.