HBA-RBT, NLM H.B. 2110 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2110 By: Bonnen County Affairs 7/16/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Harris County Office of Human Resources & Risk Management coordinates the purchase of separate crime and public employee dishonesty insurance policies for various county departments. This bill consolidates such policies into a single blanket policy to provide each employee insurance coverage against dishonesty or theft. H.B. 2110 authorizes the commissioners court of a county to obtain insurance or similar coverage from specified entities to insure a county officer or employee from liability for losses arising from the performance of official duties by the officer or duties of employment. This bill provides that an insurance policy purchased may be a blanket insurance policy covering some or all county officers or employees and authorizes the commissioners court to self-insure for part or all of any deductible under the blanket policy. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 157, 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 insurance or similar coverage from specified entities to insure a county officer or employee from liability for losses arising from the performance of official duties by the officer or duties of employment. Provides that an insurance policy purchased under this section may be a blanket insurance policy covering some or all county officers or employees and authorizes the commissioners court to self-insure for part or all of any deductible under the blanket policy. Authorizes the use of a blanket policy to satisfy any requirements for insurance required of a county officer by any 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.