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.

89(R) HB 2911 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R24221 MEW-F

By: Frank, Leo Wilson

H.B. No. 2911

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2911:

By: Buckley

C.S.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. For

each plan year beginning after the date of a participating entity's

election to participate in the program under this subsection until

the plan year beginning after the fifth anniversary of that

election, the trustee shall impose a risk stabilization fee in an

amount determined by the trustee on the premiums of the

participating entity.

This subsection expires September 1, 2033.

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 for a

state fiscal year 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 for

that state fiscal year; and

(B)

the total number of employees, as defined by

Section 1579.003, Insurance Code; and

(2)

the number of individuals 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.