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HB0093 • 2020

Governmental claims-maximum liability.

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; increasing the maximum liability under the act; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Kirkbride
Last action
2020-02-14
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.

Increasing Liability Limits for Governmental Claims

The bill proposes to increase the maximum amount that a government entity in Wyoming can be held responsible for when someone files a claim against them.

What This Bill Does

  • Raises the limit on how much money a government entity has to pay if they are sued by one person from $250,000 to $500,000.
  • Increases the total amount that can be paid out for all claims related to a single event or situation from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Anyone who might file a claim against a government entity in Wyoming.

Terms To Know

Governmental Claims Act
A law that sets rules about when and how people can sue the government for damages or losses.
Liability
The responsibility to pay money if someone is found to be at fault in a legal case.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass and was never signed into law.
  • It only applies to claims that happen after July 1, 2020.

Bill History

  1. 2020-02-14 House

    H Did not Consider for Introduction Vote

  2. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2020-02-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
20LSO-0389
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0389
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0093

Governmental claims-maximum liability.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Kirkbride, Connolly and Stith and Senator(s) Kost and Von Flatern

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; increasing the maximum liability under the act; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
110(b) and 1
‑
39
‑
118(a)(i) and (ii) are amended to read:

1
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39
‑
110.

Liability; health care providers.

(b)

Notwithstanding W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
118(a), for claims under this section against a physician, physician assistant, nurse, optometrist or dentist who is employed by a governmental entity or who is deemed to be a public employee of the state by virtue of a contract pursuant to W.S. 35
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31
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101 through 35
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31
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103, based upon an act, error or omission occurring on or after May 1, 1988, the liability of a governmental entity shall not exceed the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to any claimant for any number of claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence
.
nor exceed the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for all claims of all claimants arising out of a single transaction or occurrence.

1
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39
‑
118.

Maximum liability; insurance authorized.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in any action under this act, the liability of the governmental entity, including a public employee while acting within the scope of his duties, shall not exceed:

(i)

The sum of
two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00)
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
to any claimant for any number of claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence; or

(ii)

The sum of
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00)
for all claims of all claimants arising out of a single transaction or occurrence.

Section 2.

This act shall only apply to claims arising out of transactions or occurrences taking place on or after July 1, 2020.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

1
HB0093