HBA-MPM, H.B. 50 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 50
By: Chavez
Teacher Health Insurance, Select
2/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is a lack of adequate health insurance coverage for Texas
public school employees.  This, combined with teacher salaries lower than
the national average, contributes to the shortage of qualified teachers in
Texas.  House Bill 50 entitles school districts, home-rule school
districts, and open-enrollment charter schools to receive an annual
allotment for each student in average daily attendance to be used toward
the contribution the districts or schools make for employee health
insurance coverage or other health care benefits. 

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 50 amends the Education Code to entitle a school district to an
annual allotment for employee health care benefits of $_____, or a greater
appropriated amount, for each student in average daily attendance.  A
school district is authorized to use these funds only to increase its
contribution toward employee health insurance coverage or other health care
benefits or to pay costs supplementary to the district's regular employee
health insurance program.  The bill authorizes a home-rule school district
or open-enrollment charter school to use these funds only to provide health
insurance coverage or other health care benefits for employees.  The bill
incorporates this additional allotment for health care benefits in the
formula for weighted average daily attendance set forth in the Education
Code. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.