1341-S.E AMS HARG S2605.1

ESHB 1341  - S AMD TO WM COMM AMD (S-2538.2/13)279
     By Senators Hargrove, Padden

ADOPTED 04/15/2013

     On page 10, after line 5 of the amendment, insert the following:

"Sec. 13   RCW 4.92.130 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 513 are each amended to read as follows:
     A liability account in the custody of the treasurer is hereby created as a nonappropriated account to be used solely and exclusively for the payment of 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 and all related legal defense costs.
     (1) The purpose of the liability account is to: (a) Expeditiously pay legal liabilities and defense costs 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, including the payment of compensation awarded by a court under section 6 of this act; and (c) establish an actuarially sound system to pay incurred losses, within defined limits.
     (2) The liability account shall be used to pay claims for injury and property damages and legal defense costs exclusive of agency-retained expenses otherwise budgeted.
     (3) No money shall be paid from the liability account, except for defense costs, unless all proceeds available to the claimant from any valid and collectible liability insurance shall have been exhausted and unless:
     (a) The claim shall have been reduced to final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction; or
     (b) The claim has been approved for payment.
     (4) The liability account 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.
     (5) Annual premium levels shall be determined by the risk manager. An actuarial study shall be conducted to assist in determining the appropriate level of funding.
     (6) Disbursements for claims from the liability account 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.
     (7) The director may direct agencies to transfer moneys from other funds and accounts to the liability account if premiums are delinquent.
     (8) The liability account shall not exceed fifty percent of the actuarial value of the outstanding liability as determined annually by the office of risk management. If the account exceeds the maximum amount specified in this section, premiums may be adjusted by the office of risk management in order to maintain the account balance at the maximum limits. If, after adjustment of premiums, the account balance remains above the limits specified, the excess amount shall be prorated back to the appropriate funds.
     (9) The payment of compensation for wrongful conviction awarded by a court under section 6 of this act does not constitute a finding that the wrongful conviction resulted from tortious conduct by the officers or employees of the state or the political subdivisions, municipal corporations, and quasi-municipal corporations of the state."

ESHB 1341  - S AMD TO WM COMM AMD (S-2538.2/13)
     By Senators Hargrove, Padden

ADOPTED 04/15/2013

     On page 10, line 13 of the title amendment, after "insert" insert "amending RCW 4.92.130;"

EFFECT:  Clarifies that payment of compensation awarded by a court for wrongful conviction is a risk control measure and an allowable use of funds in the liability account. Specifies that payment of a court- ordered compensation award does not constitute a finding that the wrongful conviction resulted from tortious conduct by the state or its municipalities and political subdivisions.

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