83R1157 TJS-D
By: Ellis S.B. No. 1290
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to group health benefits coverage for dependents and
family members of persons wrongfully imprisoned.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(d) Subject to this section, a person entitled to
compensation under Subsection (a), or the person's spouse or other
dependent or family member, is [also] eligible to obtain group
health benefit plan coverage through the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice as if the person were an employee of the
department, or the spouse or other dependent or family member of an
employee, as applicable. [This subsection does not entitle the
person's spouse or other dependent or family member to group health
benefit plan coverage.] Coverage may be obtained under this
subsection for a period of time equal to the total period the
claimant served for the crime for which the claimant was wrongfully
imprisoned, including any period during which the claimant was
released on parole or to mandatory supervision or required to
register under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. A person who
elects to obtain coverage under this subsection shall pay a monthly
contribution equal to the total amount of the monthly contributions
for that coverage for an employee of the department, or the spouse
or other dependent or family member of an employee, as applicable.
SECTION 2. Section 1551.115, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1551.115. PARTICIPATION BY WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED
PERSONS. Subject to Section 103.001, Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, a person who is entitled to compensation under Chapter 103,
Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is eligible to obtain health
benefit plan coverage under the group benefits program in the
manner and to the extent that an employee of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice would be entitled to coverage, including coverage
for [except that this section does not entitle] the person's spouse
or other dependent or family member [to coverage].
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
person the comptroller of public accounts has determined to be
eligible for compensation as provided by Section 103.051(b), Civil
Practice and Remedies Code, regardless of whether the eligibility
determination is made before, on, or after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.