Bill Text: TX HB2275 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of certain university systems to provide benefits to certain qualified individuals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-17 - Referred to Higher Education [HB2275 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2275-Introduced.html
84R7573 LED-D | ||
By: Naishtat | H.B. No. 2275 |
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relating to the authority of certain university systems to provide | ||
benefits to certain qualified individuals. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 1601.004(b)(2), Insurance Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(2) "Spouse" means a party to a marriage recognized by | ||
the laws of this state, including an informal marriage under | ||
Subchapter E, Chapter 2, [ |
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Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 1601.107, Insurance Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1601.107. COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENTS AND QUALIFIED | ||
INDIVIDUALS. (a) An individual who is eligible to participate in | ||
the uniform program under Section 1601.101, 1601.102, or 1601.1021 | ||
is entitled to secure for a dependent of the individual, or for a | ||
qualified individual, any group coverages provided under this | ||
chapter for dependents under rules adopted by the applicable | ||
system. | ||
(b) For purposes of this section, "qualified individual" | ||
means an individual who: | ||
(1) during the preceding 12 months has continuously | ||
resided in the same household with an individual who is eligible to | ||
participate in the uniform program as described by Subsection (a); | ||
(2) is at least 18 years of age; | ||
(3) is not the spouse of the eligible individual; and | ||
(4) is directly dependent on, or interdependent with, | ||
the eligible individual, sharing a common financial obligation as | ||
described by Subsection (c). | ||
(c) A relationship of dependence or interdependence under | ||
Subsection (b)(4) may be established by providing: | ||
(1) any three of the following documents: | ||
(A) a joint loan obligation, mortgage, or lease, | ||
or a document reflecting joint ownership of a vehicle; | ||
(B) a life insurance policy, retirement benefits | ||
account, or will of one of the individuals that designates the other | ||
as beneficiary or executor; | ||
(C) a mutually granted power of attorney for | ||
purposes of health care or financial management; | ||
(D) a document showing that each individual is | ||
authorized to sign for purposes of the other's bank or credit | ||
account; and | ||
(E) documentary proof of a joint bank or credit | ||
account; and | ||
(2) a sworn statement attesting to authenticity and | ||
truthfulness of documents and representations provided under this | ||
section. | ||
SECTION 3. Sections 1601.201(b) and (c), Insurance Code, | ||
are amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) For an employee designated by the system as working 40 | ||
or more hours a week, the system may contribute: | ||
(1) the full cost of basic coverage for the employee; | ||
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(2) not more than 50 percent of the cost of dependent | ||
coverage; and | ||
(3) no amount of the cost of coverage of a qualified | ||
individual, as that term is defined by Section 1601.107(b). | ||
(c) For an employee designated by the system as working less | ||
than 40 hours a week, including an individual employed by the system | ||
in a position that as a condition of employment requires the | ||
individual to be enrolled as a student in the system in | ||
graduate-level courses, the system, from money appropriated from | ||
the general revenue fund, may contribute: | ||
(1) not more than 50 percent of the cost of basic | ||
coverage for the employee; [ |
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(2) not more than 25 percent of the cost of dependent | ||
coverage; and | ||
(3) no amount of the cost of coverage of a qualified | ||
individual, as that term is defined by Section 1601.107(b). | ||
SECTION 4. Section 1601.203, Insurance Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1601.203. PAYMENT FOR COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENTS AND | ||
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. Contributions for coverages for a qualified | ||
individual, as that term is defined by Section 1601.107(b), or for a | ||
dependent of an individual eligible to participate in the uniform | ||
program under Section 1601.101 or 1601.102 required of the | ||
participant that exceed the amount of system contributions shall be | ||
paid: | ||
(1) by a deduction from the monthly compensation of | ||
the participant; | ||
(2) by a reduction of the monthly compensation of the | ||
participant in the appropriate amount; or | ||
(3) in the form and manner the system determines. | ||
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
group coverages provided under Chapter 1601, Insurance Code, | ||
beginning with the 2015-2016 plan year. A plan year before | ||
2015-2016 is governed by the law as it existed immediately before | ||
September 1, 2015, and that law is continued in effect for that | ||
purpose. | ||
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |