HB0229 • 2020

Governmental claims-liability for property damage.

AN ACT relating to governmental claims; eliminating the liability limit for property damage claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; repealing a provision related to a finding of proximate cause; repealing the prohibition on appeals of decisions; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Labor

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes claims that are not fully supported or are speculative due to the bill's failure to pass.

Changes to Property Damage Claims Against the Government

The bill removes a limit on how much money the government can be held responsible for when it damages someone's property and makes other changes to rules about claims against the government.

What This Bill Does

Removes the $500 limit on property damage claims against the government under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act.
Gets rid of a rule that stops people from appealing decisions about these claims.
Changes some parts of the law to match the new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have property damage claims against the government in Wyoming.
Government agencies and employees involved in such claims.

Terms To Know

Proximate cause: The main reason for an event that causes harm or loss, used to decide if someone is responsible for damages.
Liability limit: A maximum amount of money a person or organization can be held responsible for in legal cases.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.
It only applies to claims from events after July 1, 2020, if it had passed.

Bill History

2020-02-14 House
H Did not Consider for Introduction Vote
2020-02-12 House
H Received for Introduction
2020-02-12 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

20LSO-0503
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0503
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0229

Governmental claims-liability for property damage.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Jennings, Edwards, Styvar and Tass and Senator(s) James and Steinmetz

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to governmental claims; eliminating the liability limit for property damage claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; repealing a provision related to a finding of proximate cause; repealing the prohibition on appeals of decisions; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 1
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39
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118(f)(intro), (ii)(B) and (C) is amended to read:

1
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39
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118.

Maximum liability; insurance authorized.

(f)

The liability imposed by W.S. 1
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39
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105 through 1
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39
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112 may include liability for property damage
in an amount less than five hundred dollars ($500.00)
in cases in which no personal injury or death resulted, but only under the following conditions:

(ii)

The decision of whether the property damage claim will be paid shall be based on finding that:

(B)

The act occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his employment duties;
and

(C)

The employee acted negligently by breaching a duty or by failing to act like a reasonable person
.
; and

Section 2.

W.S. 1
‑
39
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118(f)(ii)(D) and (v) is repealed.

Section 3.

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

Section 4
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

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HB0229