The Texas Alliance of Nonsubscribers (Alliance) is a nonprofit trade association comprised of responsible employers committed exclusively to protecting the right of Texas businesses to manage their occupational injury claims through nonsubscription.

Through its efforts to increase the understanding of nonsubscription, the Alliance works to preserve the choice that receives high satisfaction rates from employees and saves Texas businesses millions of dollars each year. All members of the Alliance are required to have a comprehensive occupational injury plan in place.

Every two years, Texas lawmakers convene in Austin and consider a myriad of issues affecting our state ranging from economics to education and highways to healthcare. Included in their deliberations are measures that impact the daily operations and viability of Texas businesses. In 2005, the Legislature approved the most sweeping reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system since 1989. While legislators have not mandated participation in the system, changes in recent legislative sessions could indicate a possible trend toward increased regulation of nonsubscription in Texas.

The Alliance will work to ensure that nonsubscription interests are united, organized, and prepared to protect Texas employers’ option to manage their occupational injury claims

By uniting the efforts of associations, employers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, medical providers, and other stakeholders, the Alliance will amplify the voice of nonsubscribers and provide a consistent message which reinforces that Texas businesses are making nonsubscription work. The results generated by the formation and organization of a unified Alliance will far exceed the impact of multiple, uncoordinated efforts.

The Alliance will support, rather than supplant, other organizations with nonsubscription interests. The Alliance will not focus on employer education or services, but WILL execute a strategic and well-coordinated communication and legislative outreach campaign to inform lawmakers of the effectiveness of nonsubscription. Other organizations play important roles in advancing nonsubscription interests within their spheres of influence. They are each invited to be a part of the Alliance and play an important role in its efforts to develop a unified voice for nonsubscription. Some of Texas' leading business trade associations have already joined the Texas Alliance of Nonsubscribers’ Advisory Council and will work with the Alliance to coordinate efforts during the 2007 legislative sessions.

The nature and pace of a legislative session (meeting in regular session for only five months every two years) requires that individual companies closely monitor and respond to multiple issues that may impact them during a session. The Alliance will leverage the collective stature of its members to increase their presence and impact in the workers’ compensation debate. It will focus exclusively on protecting the nonsubscription option by presenting a strong, united voice that will reinforce how Texas businesses are making nonsubcription work. Alliance efforts will be designed to provide linkage and coordination for nonsubscription interests during the legislative session.

The dues collected will support a well-coordinated communication and legislative outreach campaign focused on preserving the nonsubscription option by educating legislators and other key audiences about its effectiveness. Regular member dues for 2007 — based on number of employees — are $1.00 per Texas employee and provide voting rights to Alliance members. The number of employees is based on an average headcount using employee numbers on Jan. 30 and Aug. 30 of the previous year. Dues for employers with fewer than 250 Texas employees are $500. Minimum dues for employers with more than 250 Texas employees are $1,500 with a cap of $15,000 regardless of the number of employees. The term of membership is twelve months.

An associate membership of $2,000 shall be open to individuals, corporations, and firms providing products or services to nonsubscribers or to those who have an interest in retaining the current voluntary workers’ compensation system in Texas but are not eligible to be regular members. Associate membership is nonvoting but entitles the holder to receive mailings and communications about association activities and legislative initiatives.  The term of membership is also twelve months.

As a member of the Alliance, your company will have a part in executing a comprehensive communication and legislative outreach campaign that includes:

• Planning, guiding, and implementing the efforts to preserve nonsubscription in Texas.
• Development and mobilization of a statewide nonsubscription grassroots network.
• Ongoing legislative member and staff educational outreach efforts.
• Access to timely, meaningful, and extensive updates on legislative developments.
• Updates on policy developments throughout the year,
• Access to a network of nonsubscription experts.
• Access to facts, data, trends, and information that will allow members to be an effective advocate for nonsubscription with the Texas Legislature.
• Opportunity to highlight nonsubscribers as responsible employers to key audiences.

Any company doing business in Texas that is a nonsubscriber to the Texas Workers’ Compensation System and maintains an occupational injury benefits plan shall be eligible to be a regular member (voting) of the Alliance. Associate members (nonvoting) may include any corporation, firm, other business entity, or individual that provides services to regular members or to those who have an interest in retaining the current voluntary workers’ compensation system in Texas but are not eligible to be regular members

The Alliance is governed by its members and a board of directors. The organization will attempt to act by consensus when possible. Should a consensus not be available, the vote of a majority of board members will guide the Alliance’s actions on a particular matter or proposal. The membership will be provided with regular updates on the communication and legislative outreach campaign as well as reports on the financial status of the organization including an update on revenue generated from dues and expenditures made. The Alliance will place a priority on operating in an open, transparent, and fair manner.

The Alliance will focus on executing a coordinated communication and legislative outreach campaign. Other organizations do and will continue to focus on offering other nonsubscriber services including employer education.

The response has been outstanding. Membership has exceeded our expectations. The first few months have included successful meetings with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker’s offices as well as other legislative leaders. Some of the state’s leading trade associations have agreed to serve on the Alliance advisory council. The organization has successfully hosted legislative orientation tours of a nonsubscriber facility. Alliance members have also participated in a project with the Research and Evaluation Group of the Texas Department of Insurance.

Members of the Alliance could not be more pleased and believe the organization has important momentum it will need as it prepares for the legislative session in January.