2023 Texas Statutes › Labor Code › Title 5 - Workers' Compensation › Subtitle A - Texas Workers' Compensation Act › Chapter 412 - State Office of Risk Management › Subchapter B. Office › Section 412.011. Powers and Duties of Office

Sec. 412.011.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICE.  (a)  The State Office of Risk Management shall administer insurance services obtained by state agencies, including the government employees workers' compensation insurance program and the state risk management programs.
(b)  The office shall:
(1)  operate as a full-service risk manager and insurance manager for state agencies as provided by Subsection (c);
(2)  maintain and review records of property, casualty, or liability insurance coverages purchased by or for a state agency;
(3)  administer the program for the purchase of surety bonds for state officers and employees as provided by Chapter 653, Government Code;
(4)  administer guidelines adopted by the board for a comprehensive risk management program applicable to all state agencies to reduce property and liability losses, including workers' compensation losses;
(5)  review, verify, monitor, and approve risk management programs adopted by state agencies;
(6)  assist a state agency that has not implemented an effective risk management program to implement a comprehensive program that meets the guidelines established by the board;
(7)  administer the workers' compensation insurance program for state employees established under Chapter 501;  and
(8)  provide risk management services for employees of community supervision and corrections departments established under Chapter 76, Government Code, as if the employees were employees of a state agency.
(c)  The office shall:
(1)  perform risk management for each state agency subject to this chapter, except to any extent limited by Subsection (j); and
(2)  purchase insurance coverage under any line of insurance other than health or life insurance, including liability insurance authorized under Chapter 612, Government Code, for a state agency subject to Chapter 501, except for:
(A)  an institution subject to Section 501.022; or
(B)  the Texas State University System or a component institution of that system.
(d)  The board by rule shall develop an implementation schedule for the purchase under this section of insurance for state agencies by the office.  The board shall phase in, by line of insurance, the requirement that a state agency purchase coverage only through the office.
(e)  A state agency subject to Chapter 501, except for an institution subject to Section 501.022 or the Texas State University System or a component institution of that system, may not purchase property, casualty, or liability insurance coverage without the approval of the board.
(f)  The office shall work with each state agency to develop an agency-level continuity of operations plan under Section 412.054.
(g)  The office shall make available to each agency subject to Section 412.054 guidelines and models for each element listed in Section 412.054.  The office shall assist the agency as necessary to ensure that:
(1)  agency staff understands each element of the continuity of operations plan developed under Section 412.054; and
(2)  each agency provides training and conducts testing and exercises that prepare the agency for implementing the plan.
(h)  The office and the Texas Building and Procurement Commission shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that:
(1)  includes the type, amount, and frequency of safety-related information that may be shared between the office and the commission; and
(2)  designates points of contact within the office and the commission to coordinate the sharing of information.
(i)  The office shall:
(1)  maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the office;
(2)  maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the review or investigation of the complaint, and disposition of the complaint;
(3)  make information available describing the office's procedures for complaint investigation and resolution; and
(4)  periodically notify the complaint parties of the status of the complaint until final disposition.
(j)  The Texas State University System or a component institution of that system shall perform risk management services related to insurance coverage purchased by the system or institution without board approval.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1098, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1017, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2002;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 527, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 407 (S.B. 908), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 509 (H.B. 796), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (H.B. 1832), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.