HB765 - Relating to liability insurance certain peace officers obtain for damages resulting from the officers' misconduct.

  89R2155 JCG-D     By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 765       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to liability insurance certain peace officers obtain for   damages resulting from the officers' misconduct.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 612, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 612.006 to read as follows:           Sec.   612.006.     LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PEACE   OFFICER MISCONDUCT. (a) In this section:                 (1)     "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this   state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state   authorized by law to employ peace officers.                 (2)     "Peace officer" means an individual elected,   appointed, or employed to serve as a peace officer for a   governmental entity under Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal   Procedure, or other law.           (b)     This section applies only to a peace officer, other than   a reserve peace officer, who:                 (1)     works as a peace officer for a law enforcement   agency; and                 (2)     is entitled to benefits offered to a full-time   peace officer by the employing agency, such as retirement benefits.           (c)     A law enforcement agency may not employ a peace officer   to whom this section applies unless the peace officer obtains and   continuously maintains liability insurance to cover damages   resulting from any misconduct, including intentional or negligent   acts, the peace officer commits while acting in the scope of the   peace officer's employment for the law enforcement agency.           (d)     Liability insurance obtained and maintained for   purposes of Subsection (c) must comply with the rules the   commissioner of insurance adopts under Subsection (e).           (e)  The commissioner of insurance shall adopt rules that:                 (1)     set a minimum liability insurance coverage amount   for a policy allowing a reasonable number of victims to be   compensated; and                 (2)     require a policy to state the policy is provided in   accordance with and is subject to this section.          SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner   of insurance shall adopt rules to implement Section 612.006,   Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  Section 612.006(c), Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a peace officer employed on or after   September 1, 2026.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.