HBA-MSH H.B. 1119 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1119 By: Dutton Civil Practices 4/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Governmental units in Texas have sovereign immunity from suit which is waived only under specific conditions. When immunity is waived, the liability of the state government is limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $250,000 for each person and $500,000 for each single occurrence for bodily injury or death and $100,000 for each single occurrence for injury to or destruction of property. The liability of a unit of local government, a municipality, and an emergency service organization is limited to lesser amounts in such situations. In some cases, the damages awarded are insufficient. House Bill 1119 establishes the same liability for all governmental units and increases the maximum damages that may be awarded for a claim against a governmental unit. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1119 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to limit the liability of a governmental unit other than a volunteer fire department or volunteer fire fighter to money damages of a maximum of $500,000 for each person, $2 million for each single occurrence for bodily injury or death and $500,000 for each single occurrence for injury or destruction of property. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.