HBA-ATS H.B. 1217 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1217 By: Moreno, Joe Insurance 2/6/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires the enrollment period for large employer health benefit plans to consist of an entire calendar month, beginning on the first day of the month and ending on the last day of the month. Statutorily specifying when an enrollment period must begin and end may lead to problems for employers and their employees. H.B. 1217 deletes the provision specifying the days during which an initial enrollment period for health insurance coverage for employees begins and ends to provide that an initial enrollment plan must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day annual open enrollment period. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 26.83(f), Insurance Code, by deleting the provision specifying the duration of days during which an initial enrollment period for health insurance coverage for employees who meet the participation criteria established by a large employer begins and ends. What remains is the provision that an initial enrollment plan must be at least 31 days, with a 31-day annual open enrollment period. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.