TX
Texas House Bill HB4078

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4078 Compare Versions

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1-87R21081 JES-D
1+87R11944 JES-D
22 By: Bonnen H.B. No. 4078
3- Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4078:
4- By: Muñoz, Jr. C.S.H.B. No. 4078
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64
75 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
86 AN ACT
9- relating to participation in the uniform group coverage program for
10- active school employees.
7+ relating to participation in and rates for coverage provided under
8+ the uniform group coverage program for active school employees.
119 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12- SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
13- amended by adding Section 1579.1045 to read as follows:
14- Sec. 1579.1045. ALTERNATIVE GROUP HEALTH COVERAGE
15- PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other law, a participating entity
16- may not offer or make available to the entity's employees or their
17- dependents group health coverage not provided under the program.
18- SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
10+ SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
11+ amended by adding Section 1579.056 to read as follows:
12+ Sec. 1579.056. REGIONAL RATING AUTHORIZED.
13+ Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the trustee by
14+ rule may establish a regional rating method for determining
15+ premiums charged in different regions of the state for the benefits
16+ provided under a plan of group coverage established under the
17+ program.
18+ SECTION 2. Section 1579.152, Insurance Code, is amended to
19+ read as follows:
20+ Sec. 1579.152. PARTICIPATION OF [OTHER] SCHOOL DISTRICTS
21+ AND CERTAIN RISK POOLS. Effective September 1, 2021 [2005], a
22+ school district or a risk pool established under Chapter 172, Local
23+ Government Code, as provided by Section 22.004, Education Code,
24+ that is in existence on January 1, 2021, and whose members are
25+ school districts [with more than 500 employees] may elect to
26+ participate in the program. A school district or risk pool that
27+ elects to participate under this section shall apply for
28+ participation in the manner prescribed by the trustee by rule.
29+ SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
1930 amended by adding Section 1579.155 to read as follows:
20- Sec. 1579.155. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION: ELECTION. (a)
21- Effective September 1, 2022, a participating entity may elect to
22- discontinue the entity's participation in the program by providing
23- written notice to the trustee not later than December 31st of the
24- year preceding the first day of the plan year in which the election
25- will be effective.
26- (b) A participating entity that elects to discontinue
27- participation in the program under Subsection (a) may not elect to:
28- (1) participate in the program until the fifth
29- anniversary of the effective date of the entity's election to
30- discontinue participation; or
31- (2) discontinue the entity's participation after an
32- election described by Subdivision (1) until the fifth anniversary
33- of the effective date of that election.
34- (c) Effective September 1, 2022, an entity that elects to
35- participate in the program shall provide written notice to the
36- trustee not later than December 31 of the year preceding the first
37- day of the plan year in which the election will be effective. The
38- entity may not elect to discontinue the entity's participation
39- until the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the entity's
40- election to participate.
41- (d) The trustee by rule shall prescribe the time and manner
42- for making an election under this section and may adopt rules
43- necessary to administer this section.
44- SECTION 3. Sections 1579.1045 and 1579.155, Insurance Code,
45- as added by this Act, apply only to group coverage provided for a
46- plan year beginning on or after September 1, 2022. A plan year that
47- begins before that date is governed by the law as it existed
48- immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
49- continued in effect for that purpose.
50- SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
31+ Sec. 1579.155. ELECTION NOT TO PARTICIPATE. A school
32+ district or risk pool established under Chapter 172, Local
33+ Government Code, as provided by Section 22.004, Education Code, may
34+ elect not to participate in the program, notwithstanding any
35+ previous election or requirement to participate.
36+ SECTION 4. Sections 1579.151 and 1579.153, Insurance Code,
37+ are repealed.
38+ SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.