| 1 | 1 | | 86R13471 LED-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 3544 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to participation in and rates for coverage provided under |
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| 8 | 8 | | the uniform group coverage program for active school employees. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 1579.056 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 1579.056. REGIONAL RATING AUTHORIZED. |
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| 13 | 13 | | Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the trustee by |
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| 14 | 14 | | rule may establish a regional rating method for determining |
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| 15 | 15 | | premiums charged in different regions of the state for the benefits |
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| 16 | 16 | | provided under a plan of group coverage established under the |
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| 17 | 17 | | program. |
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| 18 | 18 | | SECTION 2. Section 1579.152, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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| 19 | 19 | | read as follows: |
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| 20 | 20 | | Sec. 1579.152. PARTICIPATION OF [OTHER] SCHOOL DISTRICTS |
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| 21 | 21 | | AND CERTAIN RISK POOLS. Effective September 1, 2019 [2005], a |
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| 22 | 22 | | school district or a risk pool established under Chapter 172, Local |
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| 23 | 23 | | Government Code, as provided by Section 22.004, Education Code, |
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| 24 | 24 | | that is in existence on January 1, 2019, and whose members are |
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| 25 | 25 | | school districts [with more than 500 employees] may elect to |
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| 26 | 26 | | participate in the program. A school district or risk pool that |
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| 27 | 27 | | elects to participate under this section shall apply for |
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| 28 | 28 | | participation in the manner prescribed by the trustee by rule. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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| 30 | 30 | | amended by adding Section 1579.155 to read as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | Sec. 1579.155. ELECTION NOT TO PARTICIPATE. A school |
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| 32 | 32 | | district or risk pool established under Chapter 172, Local |
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| 33 | 33 | | Government Code, as provided by Section 22.004, Education Code, may |
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| 34 | 34 | | elect not to participate in the program, notwithstanding any |
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| 35 | 35 | | previous election or requirement to participate. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 4. Sections 1579.151 and 1579.153, Insurance Code, |
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| 37 | 37 | | are repealed. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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