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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to liability insurance certain peace officers obtain for |
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damages resulting from the officers' misconduct. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 612, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 612.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 612.006. LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PEACE |
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OFFICER MISCONDUCT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state |
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authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(2) "Peace officer" means an individual elected, |
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appointed, or employed to serve as a peace officer for a |
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governmental entity under Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, or other law. |
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(b) This section applies only to a peace officer, other than |
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a reserve peace officer, who: |
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(1) works as a peace officer for a law enforcement |
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agency; and |
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(2) is entitled to benefits offered to a full-time |
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peace officer by the employing agency, such as retirement benefits. |
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(c) A law enforcement agency may not employ a peace officer |
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to whom this section applies unless the peace officer obtains and |
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continuously maintains liability insurance to cover damages |
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resulting from any misconduct, including intentional or negligent |
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acts, the peace officer commits while acting in the scope of the |
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peace officer's employment for the law enforcement agency. |
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(d) Liability insurance obtained and maintained for |
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purposes of Subsection (c) must comply with the rules the |
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commissioner of insurance adopts under Subsection (e). |
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(e) The commissioner of insurance shall adopt rules that: |
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(1) set a minimum liability insurance coverage amount |
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for a policy allowing a reasonable number of victims to be |
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compensated; and |
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(2) require a policy to state the policy is provided in |
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accordance with and is subject to this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner |
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of insurance shall adopt rules to implement Section 612.006, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 612.006(c), Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a peace officer employed on or after |
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September 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |