83R10260 TJS-D
By: Lozano H.B. No. 2457
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the withdrawal of certain school districts from the
uniform group coverage program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 1579.156 to read as follows:
Sec. 1579.156. WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN
PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. (a) A participating entity, including a
school district required to participate under Section 1579.151,
that determines that its employees experience unreasonable
difficulty, delay, or inconvenience obtaining health care or
locating health care providers under a plan offered by the program
may apply to the trustee to withdraw from the program in the manner
provided by the trustee by rule.
(b) As soon as practicable, but not later than the 15th day
after the date an application described by Subsection (a) is
received, the trustee shall approve the application or set a date
for a hearing on reasonable notice to the participating entity. The
trustee shall approve or disapprove the application not later than
the 15th day after the date the hearing is concluded. If the
trustee disapproves the application, the trustee shall provide the
participating entity a written statement of the reasons for the
disapproval.
(c) The trustee may not unreasonably disapprove an
application under this section.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Section 1579.156, Insurance Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.