H.B. No. 2123
AN ACT
relating to participation of the state military forces in the state
group benefits program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 437.212, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (f) and (g) and adding Subsection (f-1) to
read as follows:
(f) A member of the state military forces [volunteer in the
Texas State Guard] who is not a full-time or part-time state
employee and who has been on state active duty or on state training
or other duty for more than 60 [90] days is, notwithstanding Section
1551.1055, Insurance Code, eligible to participate in the state
group benefits program under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, and is
considered to be a full-time state employee for the purposes of that
chapter, including the receipt of a full state contribution for [to
purchase health or dental] insurance coverage, subject to
Subsection (f-1) and the following requirements:
(1) the participant must be a member of the state
military forces [Texas State Guard] at the time of enrollment in the
group benefits program; and
(2) [the participant must pay the full cost of health
or dental insurance coverage under the group benefits program and
may not receive a state contribution for premiums; and
[(3)] an application under this subsection for [group
benefit health or dental] insurance coverage must be submitted in
accordance with procedures established by the Employees Retirement
System of Texas.
(f-1) The department shall require payment of the cost
associated with paying the state contribution of a member of the
state military forces who elects to participate in the state group
benefits program under Subsection (f) by the person responsible for
paying for the mission for which the member is on state active duty
or state training and other duty. On receipt of payment, the
department shall reimburse the board of trustees of the Employees
Retirement System of Texas for that cost.
(g) The adjutant general and the Employees Retirement
System of Texas shall coordinate and consult to implement the
benefits program provided by Subsection (f) and shall adopt a
memorandum of understanding to establish:
(1) the procedures that a member of the state military
forces [Texas State Guard] may use to elect to participate in the
state group benefits program; [and]
(2) an appropriate method to annually confirm
continuing eligibility to participate in the group benefits
program; and
(3) an appropriate method of administering the
reimbursement of the state contribution as required by Subsection
(f-1).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2123 was passed by the House on May 7,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2123 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 6,
3 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2123 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 25, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor