1-1 By: Hirschi (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos) H.B. No. 1585 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 1997; 1-3 May 5, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Intergovernmental Relations; May 13, 1997, reported favorably by 1-5 the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 13, 1997, sent to 1-6 printer.) 1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-8 AN ACT 1-9 relating to liability insurance for motor vehicles operated by law 1-10 enforcement officers of a political subdivision. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Chapter 612, Government Code, is amended by 1-13 adding Section 612.004 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 612.004. LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTOR 1-15 VEHICLES OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) In this section, "law 1-16 enforcement officer" means a peace officer as defined by Article 1-17 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law. 1-18 (b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall 1-19 provide for insuring each law enforcement officer appointed or 1-20 employed by the political subdivision against liability to third 1-21 persons arising out of the officer's operation of a motor vehicle 1-22 owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the political subdivision 1-23 at any time that the officer is authorized to operate the vehicle, 1-24 including times that the officer is authorized to operate the 1-25 vehicle while off duty. 1-26 (c) The motor vehicle liability coverage must be in amounts 1-27 not less than those required by Subchapter D, Chapter 601, 1-28 Transportation Code, to establish financial responsibility. 1-29 (d) A political subdivision may satisfy this section by: 1-30 (1) electing to be self-insured under Chapter 1084, 1-31 Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987 (Article 715c, 1-32 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); 1-33 (2) entering into a risk retention group, risk 1-34 management pool, or interlocal contract with other political 1-35 subdivisions under Chapter 1084, Acts of the 70th Legislature, 1-36 Regular Session, 1987 (Article 715c, Vernon's Texas Civil 1-37 Statutes), Chapter 119, Local Government Code, or Chapter 791; or 1-38 (3) providing for coverage by an insurance company 1-39 authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance coverage. 1-40 (e) The policy may exclude coverage for operation of a motor 1-41 vehicle in the commission of a criminal offense other than a 1-42 traffic offense. 1-43 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-44 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-45 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-46 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-47 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-48 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-49 * * * * *