89R6080 MEW-F     By: Frank 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. This   subsection expires September 1, 2030.          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 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; and                      (B)  the total number of employees employed by   districts and schools to which this section applies; and                (2)  the number of employees 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.