SRC-JXG H.B. 2110 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2110 76R2227 PAM-FBy: Bonnen (Jackson) Intergovernmental Relations 4/26/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, the Harris County Office of Human Resources & Risk Management coordinates the purchase of separate crime and public employee dishonesty insurance policies for various county departments. H.B. 2110 would authorize the commissioners court of a county to obtain insurance or similar coverage from specified entities to insure a county officer or employee from liability for losses arising from the performance of official duties by the officer or duties of employment, and would provide that an insurance policy purchased may be a blanket insurance policy covering some or all county officers or employees. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2110 authorizes the commissioners court of a county to obtain general liability insurance for county officials. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 157C, Local Government Code, by adding Section 157.043, as follows: Sec. 157.043. GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS. (a) Defines "county officer or employee." (b) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to obtain insurance or similar coverage from a governmental pool operating under Chapter 119 or a self-insurance fund or risk retention group operating under Article 715c, V.T.C.S., for a county officer or employee, insuring the officer or employee from liability for losses arising from the performance of official duties by the officer or duties of employment by the employee, including losses resulting from errors or omissions of the officer or employee or from crime, dishonesty, or theft. (c) Provides that an insurance policy purchased under Subsection (b) may be a blanket insurance policy covering some or all county officers or employees. Authorizes the commissioners court to self-insure for part or all of any deductible required under a blanket insurance policy. Authorizes a blanket insurance policy purchased under this subsection to be used to satisfy any requirement for insurance required of a county officer by any law. (d) Provides that this section is cumulative of other statutory, common law, or constitutional provisions. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.