BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2980
                                               By: Hamric (Ellis)
                                      Intergovernmental Relations
                                                          5-22-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, neither district judge nor volunteer fire departments
are authorized to participate in a county risk management pool. 
However, because district judges are being named in suits against
counties and counties are liable for the acts of their volunteer
fire departments, both groups have an interest in being included in
such an insurance pool.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2980 authorizes the County Government Risk
Management Pool to provide liability coverage for district judges
and volunteer fire departments.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 119.001, Local Government Code, by adding
Subdivision (5), to define "volunteer fire department."

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 119, Local Government Code, by adding
Sections 119.010 and 119.011, as follows:

     Sec. 119.010.  CERTAIN COVERAGE AUTHORIZED; DISTRICT JUDGES. 
     Authorizes the County Government Risk Management Pool (pool)
     to provide coverage against liability for the acts or
     omissions of a district judge whose judicial district is
     located within the geographic boundaries of a county
     participating in the pool that arise in the course and scope
     of the judge's official duties as a judge.  Authorizes a
     county participating in the pool, a district judge from
     personal funds, or both the county and the judge, to pay the
     additional cost of the coverage.
     
     Sec. 119.011.  CERTAIN COVERAGE AUTHORIZED:  VOLUNTEER FIRE
     DEPARTMENTS.  Authorizes the pool to provide coverage against
     liability for the acts or omissions of a volunteer fire
     department, volunteer for a fire department, and a person
     described by Section 352.004(b).
     
     SECTION 3.     Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.