Information You Need to Stay Stronger, Together. In this edition...
Member Action Items: Help us serve you by updating your property, vehicle, and mobile equipment schedules for the upcoming 2021/22 Fund Year.
The Pool’s workers’ compensation department strives for excellent member service: TMLIRP Receives Recognition from the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) for being a 2020 Performance Based Oversight (PBO) High Performer
Free training opportunities: Regular training helps you avoid accidents
Member Spotlight: Railroad crew founds Valentine, Texas - February 14th, 1882
Legislative/legal update: Qualified immunity under the microscope
News and Information
Remember to Update Your Schedules!
In an effort to continue improving the Pool’s rerate process, the Pool is asking members to update the property, vehicle, and mobile equipment schedules for the upcoming 2021/22 Fund Year. This can be accomplished via the member portal or by sending an updated spreadsheet to your member services manager or underwriter. Please update by 3/01/2021 for inclusion in the 21-22 rerate. Billing for the October renewals will not be billed until October of 2021.
TMLIRP Receives Recognition from the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) for being a 2020 Performance Based Oversight (PBO) High Performer
DWC has released the 2020 Insurance Carrier Performance Based Oversight (PBO) assessment. Insurance carriers were assessed on their performance in five measures:
Paying initial temporary income benefits;
Processing initial medical bills;
Processing requests for reconsideration of medical bills;
Submitting initial payment data by electronic data interchange (EDI); and
Submitting medical bill processing data by EDI.
The Pool is one of 40 high performers out of 120. Click here to read the full report.
Legislative/Legal Updates
Police Reform: A Quick Update
Some federal and state legislators want to change how police officers are held liable for alleged misconduct.
When a plaintiff sues for excessive force, an officer can raise the “qualified immunity (QI)” defense. QI protects an officer if his actions were reasonable considering court decisions governing similar situations.
Last summer, the U.S. House – but not the Senate – passed “The George Floyd Act,” which would limit the use of QI. Will something pass in the future? Democrats control both Houses of Congress, but President Biden supports law enforcement. Each will be relevant to anything that passes.
Texas legislators have introduced similar legislation, which would create a new right to sue an officer under the Texas, rather than U.S., Constitution. It would leave out the traditional QI-type defense and remove dollar caps on a plaintiff’s award.
The Pool will provide input on the proposals to ensure safe communities for all, while respecting law enforcement.
Member Spotlight
Railroad crew founds Valentine, Texas - February 14th, 1882
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the member spotlight this month is the city of Valentine. Located in Jeff Davis County, this town has a been a member of the Pool since 2008. Read on for more info on how this town got its name..
On February 14th, 1882, the town of Valentine, Texas, was founded and named when a Southern Pacific Railroad crew building east from El Paso reached the site. Valentine, in Jeff Davis County, is thirty-six miles west of Fort Davis. The trains started running in 1883, and Valentine got a post office in 1886. The town became a shipping point for local cattle ranchers, and by 1914 it had an estimated population of 500, five cattle breeders, a news company, a real estate office, a grocery store, a restaurant, and the Valentine Business Club. By the late 1990s, however, the estimated population had dropped to 267. https://texasdaybyday.com/?id=22
Service In Focus
Cyber Security Training
HB 3834 requires all political subdivisions to complete annual cyber security training. The annual cyber training requirement is due to DIR by June 15th. The Pool has DIR-approved cyber security training. You can access this informative training video through the Pool’s website, the Pool’s Youtube channel, or the online learning center.
