HBA-JEK, TBM H.B. 1066 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1066 By: Uher Insurance 7/10/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Law prior to the 77th Legislature defined a grandchild as a dependent of a grandparent for insurance purposes if the grandparent claimed the grandchild as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. Though CHIP and Medicaid have made considerable progress in meeting the health insurance needs of children, many children in Texas remain without coverage. Due to the increasing number of single parents raising children and the lack of affordable private health insurance, grandparents are taking a larger role in caring for and raising grandchildren. House Bill 1066 allows a policy holder to claim a grandchild as a dependent for insurance purposes regardless of whether the policy holder claims the grandchild as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1066 amends the Insurance Code to establish that an insurer must provide coverage for a grandchild in an individual or group policy of accident and sickness insurance on payment of a premium, regardless of whether the policy holder treats the grandchild as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. The Act applies only to an insurance policy, contract, or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2002.