By: Bell of Montgomery, Bailes, Toth H.B. No. 3849
(Senate Sponsor - Creighton)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
May 4, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Local
Government; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of certain retired firefighters, police
officers, and emergency medical services providers to purchase
continued health benefits coverage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 175.001, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 175.001. APPLICABILITY. (a) In this section,
"township" means a special district with territory that only
includes a census designated place, as designated by the United
States Bureau of the Census.
(b) This chapter applies to a person who:
(1) retires from:
(A) county employment in a county with a
population of 75,000 or more;
(B) employment by an appraisal district in a
county with a population of 75,000 or more;
(C) municipal employment in a municipality with a
population of 25,000 or more; [or]
(D) employment as a firefighter or emergency
medical services provider by an emergency services district located
wholly or partly in a county with a population of 150,000 or more;
or
(E) employment as a firefighter, police officer,
or emergency medical services provider by a township with a
population of 110,000 or more; and
(2) is entitled to receive retirement benefits from a
county, appraisal district, or municipal retirement plan, [or]
emergency services district, or township.
SECTION 2. (a) Chapter 175, Local Government Code, as
amended by this Act, applies according to its terms to all eligible
persons who leave employment with a township on or after January 1,
2024.
(b) A township that is required by Chapter 175, Local
Government Code, as amended by this Act, to provide continued
health benefits coverage but that is not allowed to provide the
coverage under the terms of the township's existing group health
plan shall ensure that the required continued health benefits
coverage is provided for in any new plan that is adopted by the
township on or after January 1, 2024, unless the township is
exempted under Section 175.007, Local Government Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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