AN ACT Relating to risk management and the state liability fund; amending RCW 4.92.130 and 43.84.092; adding new sections to chapter 4.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 4.92.140, 4.92.170, and 43.19.19366; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. In recent years the state of Washington has experienced significant increases in public liability claims. It is the intent of the legislature to reduce tort claim costs by restructuring Washington state's risk management program to place more accountability in state agencies, to establish an actuarially sound funding mechanism for paying legitimate claims, when they occur, and to establish an effective safety and loss control program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the department of general administration.

(2) "Risk manager" means the person supervising the office of risk management in the department of general administration.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

(1) All liability claims arising out of tortious conduct or under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981 et seq. that the state of Washington or any of its officers, employees, or volunteers would be liable for shall be filed with the office of risk management, department of general administration, unless specifically delegated to other state agencies under state statute.

(2) A centralized claim tracking system shall be maintained to provide agencies with accurate and timely data on the status of liability claims.

(3) All records and communications related to claims, and loss information pertaining thereto, is privileged. Such communications and information are not discoverable and are not admissible in a court of law for any purpose.

(4) Standardized procedures shall be established for filing, reporting, processing, and adjusting claims, which includes the use of qualified claims management personnel.

(5) All claims will be reviewed by the office of risk management to determine an initial valuation, to delegate to the appropriate office to investigate, negotiate, compromise, and settle the claim, or to retain that responsibility on behalf of and with the assistance of the affected state agency.

(6) All claims that result in a lawsuit will be forwarded to the attorney general's office. Thereafter the attorney general and the office of risk management shall collaborate in the investigation, denial, or settlement of the claim.

(7) Reserves shall be established for recognizing financial liability and monitoring effectiveness. The valuation of specific claims against the state shall be privileged and confidential.

(8) All settlements shall be approved by the responsible agencies, or their designees, prior to settlement.

Sec. 4. Section 7, chapter 159, Laws of 1963 as last amended by section 3, chapter 217, Laws of 1985 and RCW 4.92.130 are each amended to read as follows:

A ((~~tort claims revolving~~)) liability fund in the custody of the treasurer is hereby created as a nonappropriated fund to be used solely and exclusively for the payment of ((~~claims against the state arising out of tortious conduct and against its officers, employees, and volunteers for whom the defense of the claim was authorized under RCW 4.92.070.~~)) liability settlements and judgments against the state under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981 et seq. or for the tortious conduct of its officers, employees, and volunteers.

(1) The purpose of the liability fund is to: (a) Expeditiously pay legal liabilities of the state resulting from tortious conduct; (b) promote risk control through a cost allocation system which recognizes agency loss experience, levels of self-retention, and levels of risk exposure; and (c) establish an actuarially sound system to pay incurred losses, within defined limits.

(2) The liability fund shall be used to pay claims for injury and property damages exclusive of legal defense costs and agency-retained expenses otherwise budgeted.

(3) No money shall be paid from the ((~~tort claims revolving~~)) liability fund unless all proceeds available to the claimant from any valid and collectible liability insurance shall have been exhausted and unless:

((~~(1)~~)) (a) The claim shall have been reduced to final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction; or

((~~(2)~~)) (b) The claim has been approved for payment ((~~in accordance with RCW 4.92.140 as herein or hereafter amended~~)).

(4) Earnings on the fund's assets shall be credited to the fund, notwithstanding RCW 43.84.090.

(5) The liability fund shall be financed through annual premiums assessed to state agencies, based on sound actuarial principles, and shall be for liability coverage in excess of agency-budgeted self-retention levels.

(6) Annual premium levels shall be determined by the risk manager, with the consultation and advice of the risk management advisory committee and concurrence from the office of financial management. An actuarial study shall be conducted to assist in determining the appropriate level of funding.

(7) Disbursements from the liability fund shall be made to the claimant, or to the clerk of the court for judgments, upon written request to the state treasurer from the risk manager.

(8) The director of the office of financial management may direct agencies to transfer moneys from other funds and accounts to the liability fund if premiums are delinquent.

(9) The liability fund shall not exceed fifty percent of the actuarial value of the outstanding liability as determined annually by the office of risk management. If the fund exceeds the maximum amount specified in this section, premiums may be adjusted by the office of risk management in order to maintain the fund balance at the maximum limits. If, after adjustment of premiums, the fund balance remains above the limits specified, the excess amount will be prorated back to the appropriate funds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A risk management fund is hereby created to be an appropriated fund used exclusively for the payment of costs related to:

(a) The administration of liability, property and vehicle claims, including investigation, claim processing, negotiation and settlement, and other expenses relating to settlements and judgments against the state not otherwise budgeted; and

(b) Purchase of liability and property insurance, including catastrophic insurance, subject to policy conditions and limitations determined by the risk manager.

(2) Earnings on the fund's assets shall be credited to the fund, notwithstanding RCW 43.84.090.

(3) The risk management fund shall be financed through a combination of direct appropriations and assessments to state agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The office of risk management shall establish a coordinated safety and loss control program to reduce liability exposure, safeguard state assets, and reduce costs associated with state liability and property losses.

(2) State agencies shall provide top management support and commitment to safety and loss control, and develop awareness through education, training, and information sharing.

(3) The office of risk management shall develop and maintain centralized loss history information for the purpose of identifying and analyzing risk exposures. Loss history information shall be privileged and reported only to appropriate agencies. Such information shall not be discoverable nor admissible in trial for any purposes.

(4) The office of risk management shall develop methods of statistically monitoring agency and state-wide effectiveness in controlling losses.

(5) The office of risk management will routinely review agency loss control programs as appropriate to suggest improvements, and observe and recognize successful safety policies and procedures.

(6) The office of risk management shall provide direct assistance to smaller state agencies in technical aspects of proper safety and loss control procedures, upon request.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The director of the department of general administration shall establish an ongoing risk management advisory committee.

(2) The director of the department of general administration shall serve as chair. The committee shall meet upon call of the chairperson and shall adopt rules for the conduct of its business.

(3) The risk management advisory committee will provide guidance in:

(a) Determining appropriate roles, responsibilities of the office of risk management, and policies regarding state-wide risk management;

(b) Establishing premiums or other cost allocation systems;

(d) Developing risk retention pools; and

(e) Preparing recommendations for containment of risk exposures.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

The director of general administration has the power to adopt rules necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

The risk manager may delegate to a state agency the authority to carry out any powers or duties of the risk manager under this chapter related to claims administration and purchase of insurance for the purpose of protecting any classes of officers, employees, or for other persons performing services for the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as amending, repealing, or otherwise affecting RCW 28B.20.250 through 28B.20.255.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. The department of general administration shall conduct periodic actuarial studies to determine the amount of money needed to adequately fund the liability fund.

Sec. 12. Section 51, chapter 57, Laws of 1985 and RCW 43.84.092 are each amended to read as follows:

Except as provided in RCW 43.84.090, all earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury.

On or before July 20 of each year, the state treasurer shall distribute all earnings credited to the treasury income account as of June 30 to the funds for the fiscal year in which it was earned. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the state treasurer shall credit the various accounts and funds in the state treasury their proportionate share of earnings based upon each fund's average daily balance for the period: PROVIDED, That earnings on the balances of the forest reserve fund, the federal forest revolving fund, the liquor excise tax fund, the treasury income account, the suspense account, the undistributed receipts account, the state payroll revolving account, the agency vendor payment revolving fund, the local leasehold excise tax account, and the local sales and use tax account shall be credited to the state treasurer's service fund: PROVIDED FURTHER, That earnings on the balances of ((~~the tort claims revolving fund,~~)) the agency payroll revolving fund, the special fund salary and insurance contribution increase revolving fund and special fund semimonthly payroll revolving fund shall be credited to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Moneys in the tort claims revolving fund shall be deposited in the liability fund to be used for payment of liabilities incurred before the effective date of this act. The tort claim revolving fund is abolished.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) Section 8, chapter 159, Laws of 1963, section 4, chapter 126, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess., section 1, chapter 144, Laws of 1979 ex. sess., section 8, chapter 188, Laws of 1985, section 4, chapter 217, Laws of 1985 and RCW 4.92.140;

(2) Section 11, chapter 159, Laws of 1963, section 3, chapter 140, Laws of 1969, section 7, chapter 126, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess., section 3, chapter 75, Laws of 1977, section 2, chapter 228, Laws of 1977 ex. sess., section 6, chapter 151, Laws of 1979, section 10, chapter 126, Laws of 1986 and RCW 4.92.170; and

(3) Section 1, chapter 112, Laws of 1981, section 4, chapter 188, Laws of 1985 and RCW 43.19.19366.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1989.