Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 2495 amends the Transportation Code to require a person who operates a valet parking service to establish financial responsibility through a liability insurance policy, a surety bond, or a deposit with the comptroller in the amount of $450,000. The bill establishes minimum coverage amounts for liability insurance policies for such services, and it requires the owner or operator of a valet service to provide evidence of financial responsibility in the same manner as a motor vehicle owner and to exhibit that evidence at the public accommodation whose patrons use the service. The bill also provides (1) that a person who operates a service without financial responsibility commits an offense punishable by a fine; (2) that it is a defense to prosecution if the person charged provides evidence of financial responsibility that was in effect at the time of the alleged offense; and (3) that it is not a defense under common law in an action brought by a person against an owner or operator of a valet service that the person bringing the action was guilty of contributory negligence or assumed the risk of injury, death, or property damage.