88R5606 MZM-D
By: AnchÃa H.B. No. 1455
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to health care benefits of persons wrongfully imprisoned.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(d) Subject to this section, a person entitled to
compensation under Subsection (a) is also eligible to obtain group
health benefit plan coverage through the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice as if the person were an employee of the
department. The [This subsection does not entitle the] person's
spouse and dependents may be included in the person's [or other
dependent or family member to group health benefit plan] coverage
as if the person were an employee of the department. Coverage may
be obtained under this subsection for a period of time equal to the
total period the claimant served for the crime for which the
claimant was wrongfully imprisoned, including any period during
which the claimant was released on parole or to mandatory
supervision or required to register under Chapter 62, Code of
Criminal Procedure. A person who elects to obtain coverage under
this subsection shall pay a monthly contribution equal to the total
amount of the monthly contributions for that coverage for an
employee of the department.
SECTION 2. A person who, before the effective date of this
Act, obtained group health benefit plan coverage under Section
103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as the law existed
before the effective date of this Act, may elect to include the
person's spouse and dependents in the person's coverage as provided
by Section 103.001(d), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended
by this Act. An election under this section must be made:
(1) not later than March 1, 2024; or
(2) during any subsequent open enrollment period
applicable to employees of the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.