By: Darby (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 3416
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2021;
  May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
  Resources & Economic Development; May 21, 2021, reported favorably
  by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to disclosures regarding indemnification obligations and
  insurance coverage in connection with provision of services
  pertaining to wells or mines by certain subcontractors.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 127A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 127A. DISCLOSURES REGARDING INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS
  AND INSURANCE COVERAGE REGARDING WELL OR MINE SERVICES PROVIDED BY
  CERTAIN SUBCONTRACTORS 
         Sec. 127A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Temporary placement service" means an entity or
  other person that employs individuals or contracts with another
  entity or person to refer or assign personnel to the placement
  service's clients to support or supplement the clients' workforce
  in a special work situation, including:
                     (A)  an employee absence;
                     (B)  a temporary skill shortage;
                     (C)  a seasonal or cyclical workload; 
                     (D)  work requiring uniquely skilled personnel;
  or
                     (E)  a special assignment or project.
               (2)  "Temporary subcontractor" means an independent
  contractor who, in connection with performing well or mine
  services:
                     (A)  is referred to or placed by a temporary
  placement service with the placement service's client; or
                     (B)  has entered into an agreement with a
  temporary placement service to provide those services to the
  placement service's client.
               (3)  "Well or mine service" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 127.001.
         Sec. 127A.002.  DISCLOSURE REGARDING TEMPORARY
  SUBCONTRACTOR INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS AND INSURANCE COVERAGE
  REQUIREMENTS. (a) Before a temporary placement service refers or
  assigns a temporary subcontractor to the placement service's client
  to perform well or mine services, the placement service shall
  provide a written disclosure to the subcontractor that:
               (1)  describes the subcontractor's indemnification
  obligations, if any, to the placement service and to the placement
  service's client in connection with the services the subcontractor
  will provide to the client;
               (2)  describes any insurance policy, including the
  amount of coverage and any limits on coverage, that is provided for
  the benefit of the subcontractor by the placement service or the
  placement service's client, or both, in connection with the
  services the subcontractor will provide to the client; and
               (3)  expressly states whether and to what extent any
  insurance policy described by Subdivision (2) will cover the
  subcontractor's tort liability and contractual indemnity
  obligations arising out of the performance of the services by the
  subcontractor for the placement service's client or clients.
         (b)  The disclosure required under Subsection (a) may state
  that the disclosure does not alter, amend, or otherwise modify the
  terms of any agreement governing services provided by the temporary
  subcontractor or any insurance policy described by Subsection
  (a)(2), provided that the temporary placement service is
  responsible for the content of the disclosure.
         (c)  A temporary placement service shall:
               (1)  provide the disclosure required under Subsection
  (a) to a temporary subcontractor as a separate document from any
  agreement entered into with the subcontractor by the placement
  service or the placement service's client; and
               (2)  ensure that the disclosure is written in plain
  English and in a manner that is clear, concise, and designed to
  enable the temporary subcontractor to understand the
  subcontractor's contractual indemnity obligations, if any, and any
  insurance policy provided for the benefit of the subcontractor in
  connection with well or mine services to be performed by the
  subcontractor.
         (d)  A temporary placement service may satisfy the
  requirement to describe an insurance policy under Subsection (a)(2)
  by providing to the temporary subcontractor a certificate of
  insurance evidencing applicable coverage and limits.
         Sec. 127A.003.  DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR ONGOING
  INSURANCE POLICY. A temporary placement service that provides a
  disclosure to a temporary subcontractor under Section 127A.002 that
  states that an insurance policy described in that disclosure that
  is provided for the benefit of the temporary subcontractor remains
  in effect for a specified time period and with respect to a
  specified client or clients is not required to provide that
  subcontractor with an additional disclosure under Section 127A.002
  for future services provided by the subcontractor to that client or
  those clients until:
               (1)  the insurance policy is no longer in effect; or
               (2)  the placement service is required to provide the
  subcontractor a new disclosure because of a change concerning the
  insurance policy as provided under Section 127A.004.
         Sec. 127A.004.  NOTICE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN CHANGES RELATED
  TO INSURANCE POLICY. A temporary placement service shall provide a
  temporary subcontractor who is provided a disclosure of a provided
  insurance policy under Section 127A.002 a separate written notice
  of a cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy or a material
  reduction in coverage under the insurance policy not later than the
  30th day before the date the cancellation or nonrenewal of the
  policy or the material reduction in insurance coverage takes
  effect.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an agreement entered into on or after the effective date of this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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