By Brimer                                             H.B. No. 1203
         77R434 PB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the purchase of certain insurance coverage by state
 1-3     agencies.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 412.001(4), Labor Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7                 (4)  "State agency" means:
 1-8                       (A)  a board, commission, department, office, or
 1-9     other agency in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of
1-10     state government that has five or more employees, was created by
1-11     the constitution or a statute of this state, and has authority not
1-12     limited to a specific geographical portion of the state; and
1-13                       (B)  an institution of higher education as
1-14     defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
1-15           SECTION 2. Section 412.011, Labor Code, is amended to read as
1-16     follows:
1-17           Sec. 412.011.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICE.  (a)  The State
1-18     Office of Risk Management shall [is created to] administer
1-19     insurance services obtained by state agencies, including the
1-20     government employees workers' compensation insurance program and
1-21     the state risk management programs.
1-22           (b)  The office shall:
1-23                 (1)  operate as a full-service insurance and risk
1-24     manager for state agencies as provided by Subsection (c);
 2-1                 (2)  maintain and review records of property, casualty,
 2-2     or liability insurance coverages purchased by or for a state
 2-3     agency;
 2-4                 (3)  administer guidelines adopted by the board for a
 2-5     comprehensive risk management program applicable to all state
 2-6     agencies to reduce property and liability losses, including
 2-7     workers' compensation losses;
 2-8                 (4) [(2)]  review, verify, monitor, and approve risk
 2-9     management programs adopted by state agencies;
2-10                 (5) [(3)]  assist a state agency that has not
2-11     implemented an effective risk management program to implement a
2-12     comprehensive program that meets the guidelines established by the
2-13     board; and
2-14                 (6) [(4)]  administer the workers' compensation
2-15     insurance program for state employees established under Chapter
2-16     501.
2-17           (c)  In acting as a full-service insurance and risk manager
2-18     for state agencies, the office may:
2-19                 (1)  purchase insurance coverage for a state agency
2-20     under any line of insurance other than health or life insurance,
2-21     including liability insurance authorized under Chapter 612,
2-22     Government Code; or
2-23                 (2)  advise the state agency on available coverages and
2-24     the premium costs associated with those coverages and otherwise
2-25     assist the agency in the purchase of coverage.
2-26           Sec. 412.0115.  AFFILIATION WITH OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL. 
2-27     The office is administratively attached to the office of the
 3-1     attorney general and the office of the attorney general shall
 3-2     provide the facilities for the office, but the office shall be
 3-3     independent of the office of the attorney general's direction.
 3-4           SECTION 3. Section 412.012, Labor Code, is amended to read as
 3-5     follows:
 3-6           Sec. 412.012.  FUNDING. [(a)]  The office shall be
 3-7     administered through money appropriated by the legislature and
 3-8     through:
 3-9                 (1)  interagency contracts for purchase of insurance
3-10     coverage and the operation of the risk management program; and
3-11                 (2)  the allocation program for the financing of state
3-12     workers' compensation benefits.
3-13           Sec. 412.0121.  INTERAGENCY CONTRACTS. (a)  [(b)  Interagency
3-14     Contracts.  (1)]  Each state agency shall enter into an interagency
3-15     contract with the office under Chapter 771, Government Code, to pay
3-16     the costs incurred by the office in administering this chapter for
3-17     the benefit of that state agency.
3-18           (b)  Costs payable under the contract include the cost of:
3-19                 (1) [(A)]  services of office employees;
3-20                 (2) [(B)]  materials; and
3-21                 (3) [(C)]  equipment, including computer hardware and
3-22     software.
3-23           (c) [(2)]  The amount of the costs to be paid by a state
3-24     agency under the interagency contract is based on:
3-25                 (1) [(A)]  the number of employees of the agency
3-26     compared with the total number of employees of all state agencies
3-27     to which this chapter applies;
 4-1                 (2) [(B)]  the dollar value of the agency's property
 4-2     and asset and liability exposure compared to that of all state
 4-3     agencies to which this chapter applies; and
 4-4                 (3) [(C)]  the number and aggregate cost of claims and
 4-5     losses incurred by the state agency compared to those incurred by
 4-6     all state agencies to which this chapter applies.
 4-7           Sec. 412.0122.  STATE SELF-INSURING FOR WORKERS'
 4-8     COMPENSATION.  (a)  [(c)]  The state is self-insuring with respect
 4-9     to an employee's compensable injury.
4-10           (b)  The legislature shall appropriate the amount designated
4-11     by the appropriation structure for the payment of state workers'
4-12     compensation claims costs to the office.  This section does not
4-13     affect the reimbursement of claims costs by funds other than
4-14     general revenue funds, as provided by the General Appropriations
4-15     Act.
4-16           Sec. 412.0123.  DEPOSIT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION SUBROGATION
4-17     RECOVERIES. (a)  [(d)  State Workers' Compensation Account.  (1)]
4-18     All money recovered by the director from a third party through
4-19     subrogation shall be deposited into the state workers' compensation
4-20     account in general revenue.
4-21           (b) [(2)]  Funds deposited under this section may be used for
4-22     the payment of workers' compensation [and other] benefits to state
4-23     employees.
4-24           SECTION 4. Section 412.021(a), Labor Code, is amended to read
4-25     as follows:
4-26           (a)  The office is governed by the risk management board.
4-27     Members of the board must have demonstrated experience in the
 5-1     fields [field] of:
 5-2                 (1)  insurance and insurance regulation;
 5-3                 (2)  workers' compensation; and
 5-4                 (3)  risk management administration.
 5-5           SECTION 5. Section 412.022(b), Labor Code, is amended to read
 5-6     as follows:
 5-7           (b)  A training program established under this section must
 5-8     provide information to the member regarding:
 5-9                 (1)  the enabling legislation that created the board;
5-10                 (2)  the program operated by the board;
5-11                 (3)  the role and functions of the board;
5-12                 (4)  the rules of the board, with an emphasis on the
5-13     rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;
5-14                 (5)  the current budget for the board;
5-15                 (6)  the results of the most recent formal audit of the
5-16     board;
5-17                 (7)  the requirements of:
5-18                       (A)  the open meetings law, Chapter 551,
5-19     Government Code;
5-20                       (B)  the public information [open records] law,
5-21     Chapter 552, Government Code; and
5-22                       (C)  the administrative procedure law, Chapter
5-23     2001, Government Code;
5-24                 (8)  the requirements of the conflict of interest laws
5-25     and other laws relating to public officials; and
5-26                 (9)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
5-27     board or the Texas Ethics Commission.
 6-1           SECTION 6. Section 412.041, Labor Code, is amended to read as
 6-2     follows:
 6-3           Sec. 412.041.  DIRECTOR DUTIES[; RESPONSIBILITIES]. (a)  The
 6-4     director serves as the state risk manager.
 6-5           (b)  The director shall supervise the development and
 6-6     administration of systems to:
 6-7                 (1)  identify the property and liability losses,
 6-8     including workers' compensation losses, of each state agency;
 6-9                 (2)  identify the administrative costs of risk
6-10     management incurred by each state agency;
6-11                 (3)  identify and evaluate the exposure of each state
6-12     agency to claims for property and liability losses, including
6-13     workers' compensation; and
6-14                 (4)  reduce the property and liability losses,
6-15     including workers' compensation, incurred by each state agency.
6-16           (c)  In addition to other duties provided by this chapter, by
6-17     Chapter 501, and by the board, the director shall:
6-18                 (1)  keep full and accurate minutes of the transactions
6-19     and proceedings of the board;
6-20                 (2)  be the custodian of the files and records of the
6-21     board;
6-22                 (3)  prepare and recommend to the board plans and
6-23     procedures necessary to implement the purposes and objectives of
6-24     this chapter and Chapter 501, including rules and proposals for
6-25     administrative procedures consistent with this chapter and Chapter
6-26     501;
6-27                 (4)  hire staff as necessary to accomplish the
 7-1     objectives of the board and may delegate powers and duties to
 7-2     members of that staff as necessary;
 7-3                 (5)  be responsible for the investigation of complaints
 7-4     and for the presentation of formal complaints;
 7-5                 (6)  attend all meetings of the board as a nonvoting
 7-6     participant; and
 7-7                 (7)  handle the correspondence of the board and obtain,
 7-8     assemble, or prepare the reports and information that the board may
 7-9     direct or authorize.
7-10           (d)  If necessary to the administration of this chapter and
7-11     Chapter 501, the director, with the approval of the board, may
7-12     secure and provide for services that are necessary and may employ
7-13     and compensate within available appropriations professional
7-14     consultants, technical assistants, and employees on a full-time or
7-15     part-time basis.
7-16           (e)  The director also serves as the administrator of the
7-17     government employees workers' compensation insurance program.
7-18           (f)  In administering and enforcing Chapter 501 as regards a
7-19     compensable injury with a date of injury before September 1, 1995,
7-20     the director shall act in the capacity of employer and insurer. In
7-21     administering and enforcing Chapter 501 as regards a compensable
7-22     injury with a date of injury on or after September 1, 1995, the
7-23     director shall act in the capacity of insurer.  [(effective for
7-24     dates of injury before September 1, 1995.)]
7-25           (g) [(1)]  The director shall act as an adversary before the
7-26     commission and courts and present the legal defenses and positions
7-27     of the state as an employer and insurer, as appropriate.
 8-1           (h) [(2)]  For the purposes of Subsection (f) [this
 8-2     subsection] and Chapter 501, the director is entitled to the legal
 8-3     counsel of the attorney general.
 8-4           (i)  In administering Chapter 501 the [(3)  The] director is
 8-5     subject to the rules, orders, and decisions of the commission in
 8-6     the same manner as a private employer, insurer, or association.
 8-7           (j) [(g)  In administering and enforcing Chapter 501, the
 8-8     director shall act in the capacity of insurer.  (effective for
 8-9     dates of injury on or after September 1, 1995.)]
8-10                 [(1)  The director shall act as an adversary before the
8-11     commission and courts and present the legal defenses and positions
8-12     of the state as an insurer.]
8-13                 [(2)  For purposes of this subsection and Chapter 501,
8-14     the director is entitled to legal counsel of the attorney general.] 
8-15                 [(3)  The director is subject to the rules, orders, and
8-16     decisions of the commission in the same manner as an insurer or
8-17     association.]
8-18           [(h)]  The director shall:
8-19                 (1)  prepare for adoption by the board procedural rules
8-20     and prescribe forms necessary for the effective administration of
8-21     this chapter and Chapter 501 [(effective for dates of injury before
8-22     September 1, 1995)]; and
8-23                 (2)  prepare for adoption by the board and enforce
8-24     reasonable rules for the prevention of accidents and injuries[;]
8-25                 [(3)  prepare for adoption by the board procedural
8-26     rules and prescribe forms necessary for the effective
8-27     administration of this chapter and Chapter 501].  [(effective for
 9-1     dates of injury on or after September 1, 1995.)]
 9-2           (k) [(i)]  The director shall hold hearings on all proposed
 9-3     rules and provide reasonable opportunity for the officers of state
 9-4     agencies to testify at hearings on all proposed rules under this
 9-5     chapter and Chapter 501.
 9-6           (l) [(j)]  The director shall furnish copies of all rules to:
 9-7                 (1)  the commission;
 9-8                 (2)  the commissioner of the Texas Department of
 9-9     Insurance; and
9-10                 (3)  [to] the administrative heads of all state
9-11     agencies affected by this chapter and Chapter 501.
9-12           SECTION 7. Section 412.051, Labor Code, is amended to read as
9-13     follows:
9-14           Sec. 412.051.  DUTIES OF STATE AGENCIES; INSURANCE REPORTING
9-15     REQUIREMENTS. (a)  Each state agency [subject to this chapter]
9-16     shall actively manage the risks of that agency by:
9-17                 (1)  developing, implementing, and maintaining programs
9-18     designed to  assist employees who sustain compensable injuries to
9-19     return to work; and
9-20                 (2)  cooperating with the office and the Texas
9-21     Department of Insurance in the purchase of property, casualty, and
9-22     liability lines of insurance coverage.
9-23           (b)  In addition to the report required under Section
9-24     412.053, each state agency that purchases property, casualty, or
9-25     liability insurance coverage in a manner other than through the
9-26     services provided by the office shall report the purchase to the
9-27     office in the manner prescribed by the office.  The state agency
 10-1    shall report the purchase not later than the 30th day before the
 10-2    date on which the policy coverage is scheduled to take effect.  The
 10-3    office may require a state agency to submit copies of insurance
 10-4    forms, policies, and other relevant information.
 10-5          SECTION 8. Section 412.053(b), Labor Code, is amended to read
 10-6    as follows:
 10-7          (b)  The information shall be reported not later than the
 10-8    60th day before the last day [on or before 60 days after the close]
 10-9    of each fiscal year.
10-10          SECTION 9. Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
10-11    amended by adding Article 21.49-15A to read as follows:
10-12          Art. 21.49-15A.  INSURER REPORT TO STATE OFFICE OF RISK
10-13    MANAGEMENT
10-14          Sec. 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this article:
10-15                (1)  "Insurer" means an insurance company,
10-16    inter-insurance exchange, mutual or reciprocal association, county
10-17    mutual insurance company, Lloyd's plan company, or other entity
10-18    that is authorized by the Texas Department of Insurance to engage
10-19    in the business of insurance in this state.
10-20                (2)  "Office" means the State Office of Risk
10-21    Management.
10-22                (3)  "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section
10-23    412.001, Labor Code.
10-24          Sec. 2.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a)  Each insurer that
10-25    enters into an insurance policy or other contract or agreement with
10-26    a state agency for the purchase of property, casualty, or liability
10-27    insurance coverage by the state agency, including a policy,
 11-1    contract, or agreement subject to competitive bidding requirements,
 11-2    shall report the sale to the State Office of Risk Management in the
 11-3    manner prescribed by that office.
 11-4          (b)  The insurer shall report the sale not later than the
 11-5    30th day before the effective date of the insurance coverage.
 11-6          (c)  The office may require an insurer to submit copies of
 11-7    insurance forms, policies, and other relevant information.
 11-8          (d)  The office shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
 11-9    this article.  In adopting those rules, the office shall consult
11-10    with the commissioner.
11-11          (e)  Failure by an insurer to comply with the reporting
11-12    requirements adopted under this article constitutes grounds for the
11-13    imposition of sanctions against that insurer under Chapter 82.
11-14          SECTION 10. Section 412.052, Labor Code, is repealed.
11-15          SECTION 11. A person serving as a member of the risk
11-16    management board on the effective date of this Act is entitled to
11-17    serve until the expiration of the term for which the member was
11-18    appointed.  On the expiration of that term, the governor shall
11-19    appoint a member who meets the qualifications established by
11-20    Section 412.021, Labor Code, as amended by this Act.
11-21          SECTION 12. (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and
11-22    (c) of this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
11-23          (b)  Not later than  December 1, 2001, the risk management
11-24    board shall adopt rules to implement:
11-25                (1)  the changes in law made by the amendments made by
11-26    this Act to Chapter 412, Labor Code; and
11-27                (2)  Article 21.49-15A, Insurance Code, as added by
 12-1    this Act.
 12-2          (c)  An insurer is not required to comply with the reporting
 12-3    requirements adopted under Article 21.49-15A, Insurance Code, as
 12-4    added by this Act, until January 1, 2002.  Article 21.49-15A,
 12-5    Insurance Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an insurance
 12-6    policy, contract, or agreement delivered, issued for delivery, or
 12-7    renewed on or after January 1, 2002.  A policy, contract, or
 12-8    agreement delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January
 12-9    1, 2002, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before
12-10    the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect
12-11    for that purpose.