H.B. No. 755 AN ACT relating to eligibility of certain dependents for coverage under the state employee group benefits program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1551.004(a), Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) In this chapter, "dependent" with respect to an individual eligible to participate in the group benefits program under Section 1551.101 or 1551.102 means the individual's: (1) spouse; (2) unmarried child younger than 25 years of age; (3) child of any age who the board of trustees determines lives with or has the child's care provided by the individual on a regular basis if: (A) the child is mentally retarded or physically incapacitated to the extent that the child is dependent on the individual for care or support, as determined by the board of trustees; (B) the child's coverage under this chapter has not lapsed; and (C) the child is at least 25 years old and: (i) was enrolled as a participant in the health benefits coverage under the group benefits program on the date of the child's 25th birthday; or (ii) on the date the individual became eligible to participate in the group benefits program, was enrolled as the individual's dependent in health benefits coverage under Chapter 1575, 1579, or 1601 or in continuation of that dependent coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its subsequent amendments; (4) child of any age who is unmarried, for purposes of health benefit coverage under this chapter, on expiration of the child's continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99-272) and its subsequent amendments; and (5) ward, as that term is defined by Section 601, Texas Probate Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 755 was passed by the House on April 6, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 755 was passed by the Senate on May 10, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor