34 TAC §41.12
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) proposes an
amendment to §41.12, concerning Certification of Insurance Coverage.
The purpose of the amendment is to make the rule conform to Education Code §22.004,
which was revised by the 76th Legislature in Senate Bill 1128.
The amendment to §41.12 changes the deadlines, in accordance with
the revised law, for school districts to file their reports relating to compliance
with Education Code §22.004(c) to the TRS executive director. In addition,
the amendment reflects the revised deadline for the TRS executive director
to submit a status report to the legislature regarding the comparability of
insurance coverage as described in Education Code §22.004.
Ronnie Jung, Chief Financial Officer, has determined that for each year
of the first five-year period the rule is in effect there will be no fiscal
implications to state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering
the rule.
Mr. Jung has also determined that for each year of the first five years
the rule is in effect the public benefit anticipated will be that interested
parties will have additional notice of the new deadlines. There will be no
effect on small businesses. There are no anticipated economic costs to the
persons who are required to comply with the rule as proposed.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Charles L. Dunlap, Executive
Director, 1000 Red River, Austin, Texas 78701.
The amendment is proposed under the Education Code, §22.004,
which requires the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System to adopt
rules to determine whether a school district's group health coverage is comparable
to the basic health coverage specified by that statute, and under Government
Code, Chapter 825, §825.102, which authorizes the Board of Trustees of
the Teacher Retirement System to adopt rules for the transaction of business
of the Board.
No other statute, article or code is affected by the proposed amendment.
§41.12. Certification of Insurance Coverage.
(a) - (c)
(No change.)
(d)
Each public school district shall report, using a uniform
reporting form or method of reporting prescribed by the Teacher Retirement
System (TRS), the district's compliance with the Education Code, §22.004(c),
to the executive director of TRS by
March
[
November
]
1 of each
even-numbered
school year. The report must reflect the
district group health coverage plan in effect
during the current plan
year
[
on November 1
] and must include all information required
by statute and any additional information requested by TRS staff to complete
the certification. A district's failure to submit required information to
TRS on or before
March
[
November
] 1 of each
even-numbered
year may result in a TRS report to the Legislative Budget Board and
the legislature reflecting the district's non-compliance, as described in
subsection (e) of this section.
(e)
The executive director of the Teacher Retirement System
(TRS) shall certify whether a district's coverage is comparable to the basic
health coverage provided under the Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance
Benefits Act (Insurance Code, Article 3.50-2). If the executive director of
TRS determines that the group health coverage offered by a district is not
comparable, the executive director shall report that information to the district
and to the Legislative Budget Board. The executive director shall submit a
report to the legislature not later than
September
[
January
] 1 of each
even-numbered
[
odd-numbered
] year
describing the status of each district's group health coverage program based
on the information provided by the district and the certification described
herein.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State, on April 20, 2000.
TRD-200002841
Charles Dunlap
Executive Director
Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Proposed date of adoption: June 23, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 391-2115