| TO: | Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1869 by Price (Relating to contractual subrogation rights of certain insurers and benefit plan issuers.), As Introduced |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2014 | ($1,538,830) |
| 2015 | ($1,538,830) |
| 2016 | ($1,538,830) |
| 2017 | ($1,538,830) |
| 2018 | ($1,538,830) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GR Dedicated Accounts 994 |
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Federal Funds 555 |
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Other Special State Funds 998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ($1,538,830) | ($89,973) | ($479,553) | ($9,741) |
| 2015 | ($1,538,830) | ($89,973) | ($479,553) | ($9,741) |
| 2016 | ($1,538,830) | ($89,973) | ($479,553) | ($9,741) |
| 2017 | ($1,538,830) | ($89,973) | ($479,553) | ($9,741) |
| 2018 | ($1,538,830) | ($89,973) | ($479,553) | ($9,741) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from State Highway Fund 6 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | ($381,903) |
| 2015 | ($381,903) |
| 2016 | ($381,903) |
| 2017 | ($381,903) |
| 2018 | ($381,903) |
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code relating to contractual subrogation rights of certain insurers and benefit plan issuers. The bill would allow for contractual subrogation rights to certain benefit plan issuers and limit the amounts that can be recovered under those subrogation rights. The injured covered individual against whom subrogation rights are sought from could bring a declaratory judgment action to limit the amount recoverable under the subrogation rights, resulting in a recovery of one-third of the covered individual’s total recovery or the total cost of benefits paid by the payor as a direct result of the tortious conduct of the third party. If the covered individual proves, by a preponderance of evidence, that the covered individual’s total recovery is less than 50 percent of the value of the claim for damages, then the payor’s total allowable recovery would be limited to an amount that is no less than 15 percent, but no more than one-third of the covered individual’s total recovery. If the covered individual proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that the payor’s recovery would result in a recognized injustice, the payor’s total recovery would be limited to an amount that is less than 15 percent or greater than 5 percent of the covered individual’s total recovery. The bill would exclude a common law doctrine that requires an injured party to be made whole before a subrogee makes a recovery.
The bill would prohibit a court from awarding costs or attorney’s fees. In an action where the insurer’s interests are not actively represented by an attorney in a third-party action, the payor of benefits shall pay to the attorney representing the covered individual, a fee in an amount previously determined plus a pro rata share of expenses. However, in the absence of an agreement, the court shall award to the attorney a reasonable fee for recovery of the payor’s share. The bill would also prohibit a payor of benefits from pursuing a recovery against a covered individual’s first party recovery.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2014.
Based on information provided by the Employees Retirement System (ERS), this analysis assumes an average annual recovery of $7,500,000 from subrogation activities. Under the provisions of the bill, ERS estimates that annual recoveries from subrogation activities would decrease by $2,500,000 to $5,000,000 each year. This total amount is reflected in the table above across all applicable methods of financing.
Based on information provided by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), it is assumed that any costs associated with the implementation of this bill would be absorbed within existing staff and resources. Also, based on information provided by TDI, this analysis assumes that implementation of the bill would result in an increase in form filings due to companies updating subrogation provisions and a one-time revenue gain ($70,500 in fiscal year 2014) in General Revenue-Dedicated Texas Department of Insurance Fund 36 from filing fees. Since General Revenue-Dedicated Texas Department of Insurance Fund 36 is a self-leveling account, this analysis also assumes that any additional revenue resulting from the implementation of the bill would accumulate in account fund balances and that the department would adjust the assessment of the maintenance tax or other fees accordingly in the following year.
Based on information provided by the Teacher Retirement System, the University of Texas System Administration, and the Texas A&M University System Administration, it is assumed that the bill would have no significant fiscal impact and that all duties and responsibilities could be accomplished within existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 323 Teacher Retirement System, 327 Employees Retirement System, 454 Department of Insurance, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration
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| LBB Staff: | UP, CL, MW, ER, KKR
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