By: Huffman S.B. No. 1940
(Flynn, Alonzo, Paul, Hernandez, Stephenson)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to undertake a
study of health benefit plans administered by the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. CREATION OF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE. (a) A
joint interim committee is created to study and review the health
benefit plans, including TRS-Care and TRS-ActiveCare, operated
under Chapters 1575 and 1579, Insurance Code, and propose reforms
to address issues described by Section 2 of this Act.
(b) The joint interim committee shall be composed of three
senators appointed by the lieutenant governor and three members of
the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives.
(c) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the
joint interim committee members.
(d) The joint interim committee shall convene at the joint
call of the co-chairs.
(e) The joint interim committee has all other powers and
duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the
senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees
on administration.
SECTION 2. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING CERTAIN HEALTH BENEFIT
PLANS. The joint interim committee created by Section 1 of this Act
shall study the health benefit plans, including TRS-Care and
TRS-ActiveCare, operated under Chapters 1575 and 1579, Insurance
Code, to examine and assess the following issues:
(1) the financial soundness of the plans;
(2) the cost and affordability of plan coverage to
persons eligible for coverage under the plans; and
(3) the sufficiency of access to physicians and health
care providers under the plans.
SECTION 3. COMMITTEE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) Not later than January 15, 2017, the joint interim committee
shall report the committee's findings and recommendations to the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the governor. The joint interim committee shall include in its
recommendations specific statutory and regulatory changes that
appear necessary from the results of the committee's study under
Section 2 of this Act.
(b) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of
this Act, the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
representatives shall appoint the members of the joint interim
committee created under Section 1 of this Act in accordance with
that section.
SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim
committee created by this Act is abolished and this Act expires
January 20, 2017.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.