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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the withdrawal of certain school districts from the |
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uniform group coverage program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1579.156 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1579.156. WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN |
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PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. (a) A participating entity, including a |
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school district required to participate under Section 1579.151, |
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that determines that its employees experience unreasonable |
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difficulty, delay, or inconvenience obtaining health care or |
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locating health care providers under a plan offered by the program |
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may apply to the trustee to withdraw from the program in the manner |
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provided by the trustee by rule. |
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(b) As soon as practicable, but not later than the 15th day |
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after the date an application described by Subsection (a) is |
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received, the trustee shall approve the application or set a date |
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for a hearing on reasonable notice to the participating entity. The |
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trustee shall approve or disapprove the application not later than |
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the 15th day after the date the hearing is concluded. If the |
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trustee disapproves the application, the trustee shall provide the |
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participating entity a written statement of the reasons for the |
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disapproval. |
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(c) The trustee may not unreasonably disapprove an |
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application under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the Teacher |
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Retirement System of Texas shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Section 1579.156, Insurance Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |