Bill Text: TX HB1219 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to education employees uniform group health coverage.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-26 - Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services [HB1219 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1219-Introduced.html

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86R6160 MEW-D
By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 1219

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to education employees uniform group health coverage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.260(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a
school district or participating charter school may use the sum of
the following amounts of funds only to pay contributions under a
group health coverage plan for district or school employees:
(1) the amount determined by multiplying the amount
described by Section 1579.251(a), Insurance Code, [of $900 or the
amount specified in the General Appropriations Act for that year]
for purposes of the state contribution under that section [Section
1579.251, Insurance Code], by the number of district or school
employees who participate in a group health coverage plan provided
by or through the district or school; and
(2) the difference between the amount necessary for
the district or school to comply with Section 1581.052, Insurance
Code, for the school year and the amount the district or school is
required to use to provide health coverage under Section 1581.051,
Insurance Code, for that year.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 1579.103 to read as follows:
Sec. 1579.103. PRIMARY CARE COVERAGE PLAN. The coverage
provided under the primary care coverage plan must be comparable in
scope and, to the greatest extent possible, in cost to the basic
health coverage provided under Chapter 1551.
SECTION 3. Section 1579.251, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1579.251. STATE ASSISTANCE. (a) The state shall
assist employees of participating school districts and charter
schools in the purchase of group health coverage under this chapter
by providing for each covered employee the amount that, when added
to the minimum required contribution under Section 1581.052 by a
participating entity, equals 100 percent of the amount of premium
required for employee-only coverage under the primary care coverage
plan [of $900 each state fiscal year or a greater amount as provided
by the General Appropriations Act]. The state contribution shall
be distributed through the school finance formulas under Chapters
41 and 42, Education Code, and used by school districts and charter
schools as provided by Section 42.260, Education Code.
(b) The state shall assist employees of participating
regional education service centers and educational districts
described by Section 1579.002(5)(B) in the purchase of group health
coverage under this chapter by providing to the employing service
center or educational district, for each covered employee, the
amount that, when added to the minimum required contribution under
Section 1581.052 by a participating entity, equals 100 percent of
the amount of premium required for employee-only coverage under the
primary care coverage plan [of $900 each state fiscal year or a
greater amount as provided by the General Appropriations Act].
SECTION 4. Section 1581.052(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A school district, other educational district,
participating charter school, or regional education service center
shall, for each fiscal year, use to provide health coverage an
amount equal to the number of participating employees of the
district, school, or service center multiplied by $2,400 [$1,800].
SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
school year.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.