To: (Charter schools)

From: Charles Dunlap, Executive Director

Date: July 20, 2001

Subject: TRS-ActiveCare

House Bill 3343, as passed by the 77th Texas Legislature and signed into law by the Governor on the 15th of June 2001, establishes a statewide health care benefits program for active public education employees. The legislation provides for:

  • Funding to all school districts, regional education service centers, other educational districts, and qualified charter schools.

  • "Health coverage or compensation supplementation" funding to all employees (who are members of the Teacher Retirement System) of all school districts, regional education service centers, other educational districts, and participating charter schools.

  • A statewide health care benefits program to be administered by the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The plan will be known as TRS-ActiveCare.

    Eligibility for participation in TRS-ActiveCare is determined by the classification of your educational entity. Your entity is classified as a charter school. As a charter school, your entity has the option of participating in TRS-ActiveCare effective September 1, 2002. Please see the enclosed Overview and Instructions for information regarding the program and requirements pertaining to your participation. Enclosed also is an Entity Information Sheet to be completed and returned to TRS not later than September 1, 2001.

    An educational entity that has the option to participate in TRS-ActiveCare effective September 1, 2002, and elects not to participate, will have another opportunity to join the program in September 2005. However, TRS may determine that an earlier opt-in date is cost-effective to the program and administratively feasible. At this time, there is no provision to withdraw participation in TRS-ActiveCare once an entity is in the program.

    For questions regarding school finance legislation, please contact Joe Wisnoski 512-463-8994 or Omar Garcia 512-463-9238 at the Texas Education Agency.

    For questions regarding the TRS-ActiveCare program and the compensation supplement to employees, please call 512-397-6446, or email Maggie.Schmitt@trs.state.tx.us or Betsey.jones@trs.state.tx.us. Progress updates will be available on the TRS website, www.trs.state.tx.us..