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.