TITLE: Relating to education employees uniform group health coverage.

SUMMARY: Relating to education employees uniform group health coverage.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to education employees uniform group health coverage. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1579.101, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) The trustee shall offer a coverage plan that is at least as comprehensive as the plan designated as TRS ActiveCare 2 offered on January 1, 2017. SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Sections 1579.2515 and 1579.256 to read as follows: Sec. 1579.2515. ADDITIONAL STATE ASSISTANCE. In addition to the amount contributed under Section 1579.251, the state shall assist employees of participating school districts in the purchase of group health coverage under this chapter by providing for each covered employee: (1) for the 2017-2018 plan year, an amount not less than $900; (2) for the 2018-2019 plan year, an amount not less than $1,800; and (3) for the 2019-2020 plan year and each plan year thereafter, an amount not less than the lesser of: (A) the amount paid for each covered employee in the previous plan year plus $900; or (B) the amount that, when added to the contribution under Section 1579.251 and the minimum required contribution under Section 1579.252 by a participating school district, equals 70 percent of total contributions made for employee-only coverage under the plan described by Section 1579.101(e). Sec. 1579.256. BIENNIAL ESTIMATE. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the trustee shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board an estimate of the amount of contributions expected to be received for the coverage plan designated as TRS Activ eCare 2 for the next two fiscal years. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 plan year. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.