86R11141 MEW-D
By: Hughes S.B. No. 1654
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to studies concerning public school employee and retiree
health coverage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. SCHOOL EMPLOYEE AND RETIRED EMPLOYEE HEALTH
COVERAGE STUDIES. (a) Each regional education service center
established under Chapter 8, Education Code, shall study the health
coverage provided to:
(1) the employees of school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools located in the region served by the
regional education service center; and
(2) the retired employees of school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools located in the region served by the
regional education service center.
(b) Each study must:
(1) address whether, in lieu of the health coverage
provided by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas under Chapters
1575 and 1579, Insurance Code, as applicable, it would be feasible
and advisable to provide health coverage in another manner;
(2) consider the feasibility and advisability of a
variety of options for providing alternative health coverage,
including coverage offered:
(A) by the regional education service center for
all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools located in
the region;
(B) jointly by groups of school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools located in the region for each
district and school participating in a group;
(C) by individual school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools in the region for the districts'
and schools' employees or retired employees, as applicable; and
(D) in a combination of the options described by
Paragraphs (A)-(C) of this subdivision;
(3) address whether alternative health coverage could
be provided at a cost savings to school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools, employees or retired employees,
as applicable, and the state;
(4) separately address issues relating to alternative
health coverage for districts' and schools' employees or retired
employees; and
(5) identify possible barriers to implementation of an
alternative health coverage program.
(c) The Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall study the
transfer of health coverage from the group programs under Chapters
1575 and 1579, Insurance Code, as applicable, to alternative health
coverage as described by Subsection (b) of this section. In
conducting the study, the retirement system shall address the same
matters as are addressed by each regional education service center.
SECTION 2. REPORTS. Not later than January 31, 2020, each
regional education service center and the Teacher Retirement System
of Texas shall submit a report of the results of the studies
conducted under this Act, together with any recommendations
resulting from the studies, to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
standing committees of the house and senate with jurisdiction over
insurance and education.
SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.