Bill Text: TX HB131 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to requiring contractors in certain state construction contracts to provide health benefits to employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-11 - Referred to State Affairs [HB131 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB131-Introduced.html
82R889 MCK-D | ||
By: Alvarado | H.B. No. 131 |
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relating to requiring contractors in certain state construction | ||
contracts to provide health benefits to employees. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 2166, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 2166.2527 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 2166.2527. HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE REQUIRED FOR LARGE | ||
CONTRACTS. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Covered employee" means an employee of the | ||
contractor or a subcontractor, including a contract laborer, who: | ||
(A) is 18 years of age or older; | ||
(B) works at least 30 hours per week; and | ||
(C) works any amount of time on the project that | ||
is the subject of a major construction contract. | ||
(2) "Major construction contract" means a | ||
construction contract with a value of $1 million or more. | ||
(b) A contractor who enters into a major construction | ||
contract with the commission must: | ||
(1) provide health benefits coverage that is at least | ||
equivalent to basic coverage provided under the state employees | ||
group benefits program provided under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, | ||
to each covered employee; or | ||
(2) contribute to the Texas health opportunity pool | ||
trust fund under Subchapter N, Chapter 531, $1 for every hour worked | ||
by a covered employee on the project that is the subject of the | ||
major construction contract. | ||
(c) If a contractor provides health benefits coverage under | ||
Subsection (b)(1), the contractor must pay not less than $150 per | ||
month for the health insurance premiums for each covered employee | ||
and the employee's contribution for the cost of the health benefits | ||
coverage may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the premiums. | ||
(d) A subcontractor of the contractor under a major | ||
construction contract must comply with the requirements of | ||
Subsection (b). | ||
(e) The commission may perform monthly audits of a | ||
contractor to ensure compliance with the requirements of this | ||
section. | ||
(f) A major construction contract must include terms that | ||
allow the commission to terminate the contract if the contractor, | ||
or a subcontractor of the contractor, at any time during the life of | ||
the contract fails to comply with the requirements of this section. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 2166.2527, Government Code, as added by | ||
this Act, applies only to a building construction contract for | ||
which the solicitation of bids or proposals, request for proposals, | ||
or similar required notification as to the project is published on | ||
or after September 1, 2011. A building construction contract for | ||
which the solicitation of bids or proposals, request for proposals, | ||
or similar required notification as to the project is published | ||
before September 1, 2011, is governed by the law in effect at the | ||
time the solicitation, request, or notification is published, and | ||
that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |