S.B. 267 Enrolled

             1     

GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY ACT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             5     
House Sponsor: Kay L. McIff

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies a provision relating to the filing of a notice of claim.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides that a governmental entity may not challenge the timeliness of a notice of
             13      claim filed within a specified time if the claimant had in good faith previously filed
             14      a notice of claim with another governmental entity and if other conditions are met.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           63G-7-401 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 350
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 63G-7-401 is amended to read:
             25           63G-7-401. When a claim arises -- Notice of claim requirements -- Governmental
             26      entity statement -- Limits on challenging validity or timeliness of notice of claim.
             27          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a claim arises when the statute of
             28      limitations that would apply if the claim were against a private person begins to run.
             29          (b) The statute of limitations does not begin to run until a claimant knew, or with the


             30      exercise of reasonable diligence should have known:
             31          (i) that the claimant had a claim against the governmental entity or its employee; and
             32          (ii) the identity of the governmental entity or the name of the employee.
             33          (c) The burden to prove the exercise of reasonable diligence is upon the claimant.
             34          (2) Any person having a claim against a governmental entity, or against its employee
             35      for an act or omission occurring during the performance of the employee's duties, within the
             36      scope of employment, or under color of authority shall file a written notice of claim with the
             37      entity before maintaining an action, regardless of whether or not the function giving rise to the
             38      claim is characterized as governmental.
             39          (3) (a) The notice of claim shall set forth:
             40          (i) a brief statement of the facts;
             41          (ii) the nature of the claim asserted;
             42          (iii) the damages incurred by the claimant so far as they are known; and
             43          (iv) if the claim is being pursued against a governmental employee individually as
             44      provided in Subsection 63G-7-202 (3)(c), the name of the employee.
             45          (b) The notice of claim shall be:
             46          (i) signed by the person making the claim or that person's agent, attorney, parent, or
             47      legal guardian; and
             48          (ii) directed and delivered by hand or by mail according to the requirements of Section
             49      68-3-8.5 to the office of:
             50          (A) the city or town clerk, when the claim is against an incorporated city or town;
             51          (B) the county clerk, when the claim is against a county;
             52          (C) the superintendent or business administrator of the board, when the claim is against
             53      a school district or board of education;
             54          (D) the presiding officer or secretary/clerk of the board, when the claim is against a
             55      local district or special service district;
             56          (E) the attorney general, when the claim is against the state;
             57          (F) a member of the governing board, the executive director, or executive secretary,


             58      when the claim is against any other public board, commission, or body; or
             59          (G) the agent authorized by a governmental entity to receive the notice of claim by the
             60      governmental entity under Subsection (5)(e).
             61          (4) (a) If an injury that may reasonably be expected to result in a claim against a
             62      governmental entity is sustained by a claimant who is under the age of majority or mentally
             63      incompetent, that governmental entity may file a request with the court for the appointment of a
             64      guardian ad litem for the potential claimant.
             65          (b) If a guardian ad litem is appointed, the time for filing a claim under Section
             66      63G-7-402 begins when the order appointing the guardian is issued.
             67          (5) (a) Each governmental entity subject to suit under this chapter shall file a statement
             68      with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code within the Department of Commerce
             69      containing:
             70          (i) the name and address of the governmental entity;
             71          (ii) the office or agent designated to receive a notice of claim; and
             72          (iii) the address at which it is to be directed and delivered.
             73          (b) Each governmental entity shall update its statement as necessary to ensure that the
             74      information is accurate.
             75          (c) The Division of Corporations and Commercial Code shall develop a form for
             76      governmental entities to complete that provides the information required by Subsection (5)(a).
             77          (d) (i) A newly incorporated municipality shall file the statement required by
             78      Subsection (5)(a) promptly after the lieutenant governor issues a certificate of incorporation
             79      under Section 67-1a-6.5 .
             80          (ii) A newly incorporated local district shall file the statement required by Subsection
             81      (5)(a) at the time that the written notice is filed with the lieutenant governor under Section
             82      17B-1-215 .
             83          (e) A governmental entity may, in its statement, identify an agent authorized by the
             84      entity to accept notices of claim on its behalf.
             85          (6) The Division of Corporations and Commercial Code shall:


             86          (a) maintain an index of the statements required by this section arranged both
             87      alphabetically by entity and by county of operation; and
             88          (b) make the indices available to the public both electronically and via hard copy.
             89          (7) A governmental entity may not challenge the validity of a notice of claim on the
             90      grounds that it was not directed and delivered to the proper office or agent if the error is caused
             91      by the governmental entity's failure to file or update the statement required by Subsection (5).
             92          (8) A governmental entity may not challenge the timeliness, under Section 63G-7-402 ,
             93      of a notice of claim if:
             94          (a) the claimant files a notice of claim with the governmental entity:
             95          (i) in accordance with the requirements of this section; and
             96          (ii) within 30 days after the expiration of the time for filing a notice of claim under
             97      Section 63G-7-402 ;
             98          (b) the claimant demonstrates that the claimant previously filed a notice of claim:
             99          (i) in accordance with the requirements of this section;
             100          (ii) with an incorrect governmental entity;
             101          (iii) in the good faith belief that the claimant was filing the notice of claim with the
             102      correct governmental entity;
             103          (iv) within the time for filing a notice of claim under Section 63G-7-402 ; and
             104          (v) no earlier than 30 days before the expiration of the time for filing a notice of claim
             105      under Section 63G-7-402 ; and
             106          (c) the claimant submits with the notice of claim:
             107          (i) a copy of the previous notice of claim that was filed with a governmental entity
             108      other than the correct governmental entity; and
             109          (ii) proof of the date the previous notice of claim was filed.


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