Bill Text: TX HB1297 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a specialty certification for insurance agents who have completed certain training regarding self-insured health benefit plans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-05 - Referred to Business & Commerce [HB1297 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1297-Introduced.html
  85R1893 SCL-F
 
  By: Frullo H.B. No. 1297
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a specialty certification for insurance agents who have
  completed certain training regarding self-insured health benefit
  plans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 4054, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter I to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I.  SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION FOR AGENTS TRAINED REGARDING
  SELF-INSURED HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS
         Sec. 4054.401.  CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.  The department shall
  establish a voluntary specialty certification program for
  individuals who have completed training in accordance with this
  subchapter regarding self-insured health benefit plans.
         Sec. 4054.402.  QUALIFICATIONS.  (a)  To be eligible to
  receive a specialty certification under this subchapter, an
  individual must:
               (1)  hold a general life, accident, and health license
  under this chapter;
               (2)  satisfy the requirements of this subchapter; and
               (3)  submit evidence of completion of training to the
  department in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.
         (b)  To maintain a specialty certification under this
  subchapter, an individual must continue to hold a general life,
  accident, and health license under this chapter.
         Sec. 4054.403.  INITIAL TRAINING.  (a)  To be certified
  under this subchapter, an individual must first complete training
  in the law applicable to self-insured health benefit plans.
         (b)  An individual seeking specialty certification under
  this subchapter must complete a course applicable to self-insured
  health benefit plans, as prescribed and approved by the
  commissioner.  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an individual
  is not eligible for the specialty certification unless, on
  completion of the course, it is certified to the commissioner as
  required by the department that the individual has:
               (1)  completed the course; and
               (2)  passed an examination testing the individual's
  knowledge and qualification.
         (c)  An individual seeking specialty certification under
  this subchapter is not required to complete the course and
  examination required by Subsection (b) if the individual
  demonstrates to the department, in the manner prescribed by the
  department, that the individual holds a designation as:
               (1)  a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU);
               (2)  a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS); or
               (3)  a Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC).
         Sec. 4054.404.  RENEWAL.  To renew a specialty certification
  under this subchapter, the individual must complete during the
  two-year certification period the number of hours of continuing
  education applicable to self-insured health benefit plans that are
  required by the commissioner by rule.
         Sec. 4054.405.  SATISFACTION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
  REQUIREMENTS.  Each hour of education completed in accordance with
  this subchapter to obtain or renew a specialty certification may be
  used to satisfy an hour of a continuing education requirement
  otherwise applicable to the agent under this title.
         Sec. 4054.406.  ADVERTISING.  An individual who holds a
  specialty certification under this subchapter may advertise, in the
  manner specified by department rule, that the individual is
  specially trained regarding self-insured health benefit plans.
         Sec. 4054.407.  LIST MAINTAINED BY DEPARTMENT; WEBSITE.  The
  department shall maintain a list of all individuals who hold a
  specialty certification under this subchapter, together with the
  business address and phone number of each individual and a general
  description of the individual's service area.  The department shall
  publish the list on the department website.
         Sec. 4054.408.  RULES. The commissioner, in accordance with
  Section 36.001, may adopt rules as necessary to administer this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Section 4001.002(a-1), Insurance Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Except as otherwise provided by this code, this title
  applies to each individual who holds a specialty certification
  under Subchapter H or I, Chapter 4054.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2018, the Texas
  Department of Insurance may begin issuing specialty certifications
  under Subchapter I, Chapter 4054, Insurance Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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