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.