Competitive Insurance Benefits:
HB 861: Relating to the authority of certain university systems to provide benefits to certain qualified individuals.
Primary Author: Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin)
Joint Author: Rep. Ellen Cohen (D-Houston); Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston); Rep. Mark Strama (D-Austin)
Co-Author: Rep. Alma Allen (D-Houston); Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth); Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs)
Background: Equality Texas worked with Rep. Naishtat's office to draft language which would expand access to insurance/health benefits for employees and faculty of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems by adding a new category of dependent that includes "qualified other individual".
Committee: Insurance
Actions: 04/14/09 - Left pending in committee
04/14/09 - Testimony taken in public hearing
02/23/09 - Referred to Insurance Committee
01/29/09 – Filed
Equality Texas Position: Supports. This bill is part of our Legislative Agenda.
Equality Texas Bill Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet on HB 861 (pdf)
Equality Texas Action Alerts:
Participation in this advocacy campaign is limited to residents of Texas House District 32, which includes most of the city of Corpus Christi, plus Aransas, Calhoun and San Patricio counties.