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                                  * * * * *