SRC-PNG S.B. 880 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 880 76R2227 PAM-FBy: Jackson Intergovernmental Relations 4/12/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, under Texas law, a county may have to purchase several separate insurance policies for crime and dishonesty coverages for various county offices. This bill would allow a county to buy general liability insurance coverage for county officers and employees. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 880 provides for general liability insurance coverage for county officers and employees. 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. Defines "county officer or employee." Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to obtain general liability insurance for a county official or employee, insuring the officer or employee from liability for losses arising from the performance of official duties from a governmental pool operating under Chapter 119 or a self-insurance fund or risk retention group operating under Chapter 1084, Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987 (Article 715c, V.T.C.S.). Authorizes an insurance policy purchased under Subsection (b) to 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 law. 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.