30 years on the ambulance earns lifetime coverage

The text as introduced · 578 words

90R4269 KRM-D

By: Martinez
H.B. No. 430

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the emergency medical services personnel retention

benefit program administered by the Department of State Health

Services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 66 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 66. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL RETENTION

BENEFIT PROGRAM

Sec. 66.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board of trustees" means the board of trustees of

the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

(2) "Program" means the emergency medical services

personnel retention benefit program established under Section

66.002.

(3) "Year of service" means a year in which an

individual:

(A) was employed or volunteered as emergency

medical services personnel; and

(B) served in that role for at least 1,000 hours.

Sec. 66.002. ESTABLISHMENT. The department shall, in

coordination with the board of trustees, establish and administer

the emergency medical services personnel retention benefit program

to provide life and health benefits to certain lifetime emergency

medical services personnel and incentivize the retention of those

personnel.

Sec. 66.003. ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS; REQUIREMENT TO

PROVIDE COVERAGE. (a) An individual may apply to the department in

the form and manner prescribed by department rule to receive

program benefits.

(b) An individual is eligible for program benefits if the

individual:

(1) holds or held a license or certification under

Chapter 773 as:

(A) an emergency medical technician;

(B) an advanced emergency medical technician; or

(C) a licensed paramedic;

(2) has accumulated at least 30 years of service; and

(3) is a resident of this state at the time of

application for program benefits.

(c) The department shall provide coverage described by

Section 66.004 to an individual the department determines is

eligible under this section.

Sec. 66.004. LIFE AND HEALTH BENEFIT COVERAGE. (a) A life

insurance policy provided under the program must provide a death

benefit in the amount of $100,000.

(b) Health benefit coverage provided under the program must

consist of:

(1) for an individual who is not eligible for Medicare

coverage, a health benefit plan that provides coverage

substantially equivalent to health benefit plan coverage provided

under the group benefits program under Chapter 1551, Insurance

Code; and

(2) for an individual who is eligible for Medicare

coverage, both:

(A) a Medicare supplement benefit plan, as

defined by Section 1652.002(a), Insurance Code; and

(B) premium assistance drug coverage under

Medicare Part D.

Sec. 66.005. CONTINUOUS COVERAGE. An individual who is

eligible for program benefits remains eligible for those benefits

for the duration of the individual's life.

Sec. 66.006. ALLOCATION OF PREMIUM COSTS. The department

shall pay insurance premiums for life and health benefit coverage

provided to eligible individuals under the program.

Sec. 66.007. CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS. The department may

enter into contracts and agreements as necessary to implement this

chapter, including interagency agreements to provide benefits to

individuals who are eligible to receive program benefits.

Sec. 66.008. FUNDING. From money appropriated or otherwise

available for the purpose, the department shall:

(1) administer the program; and

(2) provide program benefits to eligible individuals.

Sec. 66.009. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt

rules necessary to implement this chapter.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement the

changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.