89R6080 MEW-F
By: Frank H.B. No. 2911
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to participation in the uniform group coverage program for
active school employees and additional state aid for public schools
that do not participate in that program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1579.155, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a [A]
participating entity that elects to discontinue participation in
the program under Subsection (a) may not elect to:
(1) participate in the program until the fifth
anniversary of the effective date of the entity's election to
discontinue participation; or
(2) discontinue the entity's participation after an
election described by Subdivision (1) until the fifth anniversary
of the effective date of that election.
(b-1) A participating entity that elected to discontinue
participation in the program between September 1, 2021, and
September 1, 2023, may elect to participate in the program before
the fifth anniversary of the effective date of that election. This
subsection expires September 1, 2030.
SECTION 2. Effective September 1, 2027, Subchapter F,
Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 48.276 to
read as follows:
Sec. 48.276. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTAIN GROUP HEALTH
COVERAGE. (a) This section applies only to a school district or
open-enrollment charter school that does not participate in the
uniform group coverage program established under Chapter 1579,
Insurance Code.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school to
which this section applies is entitled to additional state aid in an
amount equal to the product of:
(1) the quotient of:
(A) the amount appropriated in the General
Appropriations Act to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for
purposes of health care for public education active employees; and
(B) the total number of employees employed by
districts and schools to which this section applies; and
(2) the number of employees employed by the district
or school.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
use money provided under this section only to pay contributions
under a group health coverage plan for district or school
employees.
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.