HBA-MPM H.B. 3510 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3510
By: Gutierrez
Pensions & Investments
4/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Teacher shortages in Texas are occurring at all levels in education,
including higher education, thereby making it difficult for institutions
committed to providing quality education for students to attract and retain
faculty members.  Numerous community and junior colleges employ significant
numbers of adjunct faculty members to serve the growing number of students
attending the colleges. An increase in employee benefits may help attract
and retain experienced and committed adjunct faculty members.  House Bill
3510 includes adjunct faculty members among those individuals eligible to
receive insurance benefits under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3510 amends the Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance Benefits
Act to include in the definition of "employee" for purposes of determining
insurance benefits an employee of an institution of higher education who
receives compensation for services rendered to a public community/junior
college as an adjunct faculty member who teaches not less than six semester
credit hours per semester or term and who has been employed as a faculty
member of the same college for the preceding five years.  The bill requires
the board of trustees (board) of the Employees Retirement System of Texas
to include coverage for eligible adjunct faculty members in an insurance
policy, contract, or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery,
or renewed on or after January 1, 2002.  The board is authorized to include
adjunct faculty members prior to this date if it is determined that
coverage can reasonably be included. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.