S.B. 250

             1     

PUBLIC DUTY DOCTRINE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             5     
House Sponsor: Kay L. McIff

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill enacts a provision relating to the duty of a governmental entity or employee.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides that a general duty that a governmental entity or employee owes to the
             13      public does not create a specific duty to an individual member of the public unless
             14      there is a special relationship between the governmental entity or employee and the
             15      individual member of the public.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22           63G-7-202 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 395 and renumbered and
             23      amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 63G-7-202 is amended to read:
             27           63G-7-202. Act provisions not construed as admission or denial of liability --


             28      Effect of waiver of immunity -- Exclusive remedy -- Joinder of employee -- Limitations on
             29      personal liability.
             30          (1) (a) Nothing contained in this chapter, unless specifically provided, may be
             31      construed as an admission or denial of liability or responsibility by or for a governmental entity
             32      or its employees.
             33          (b) If immunity from suit is waived by this chapter, consent to be sued is granted, and
             34      liability of the entity shall be determined as if the entity were a private person.
             35          (c) No cause of action or basis of liability is created by any waiver of immunity in this
             36      chapter, nor may any provision of this chapter be construed as imposing strict liability or
             37      absolute liability.
             38          (2) Nothing in this chapter may be construed as adversely affecting any immunity from
             39      suit that a governmental entity or employee may otherwise assert under state or federal law.
             40          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(c), an action under this chapter against a
             41      governmental entity for an injury caused by an act or omission that occurs during the
             42      performance of an employee's duties, within the scope of employment, or under color of
             43      authority is a plaintiff's exclusive remedy.
             44          (b) Judgment under this chapter against a governmental entity is a complete bar to any
             45      action by the claimant, based upon the same subject matter, against the employee whose act or
             46      omission gave rise to the claim.
             47          (c) A plaintiff may not bring or pursue any civil action or proceeding based upon the
             48      same subject matter against the employee or the estate of the employee whose act or omission
             49      gave rise to the claim, unless:
             50          (i) the employee acted or failed to act through fraud or willful misconduct;
             51          (ii) the injury or damage resulted from the employee driving a vehicle, or being in
             52      actual physical control of a vehicle:
             53          (A) with a blood alcohol content equal to or greater by weight than the established
             54      legal limit;
             55          (B) while under the influence of alcohol or any drug to a degree that rendered the
             56      person incapable of safely driving the vehicle; or
             57          (C) while under the combined influence of alcohol and any drug to a degree that
             58      rendered the person incapable of safely driving the vehicle;


             59          (iii) injury or damage resulted from the employee being physically or mentally
             60      impaired so as to be unable to reasonably perform the employee's job function because of:
             61          (A) the use of alcohol;
             62          (B) the nonprescribed use of a controlled substance as defined in Section 58-37-4 ; or
             63          (C) the combined influence of alcohol and a nonprescribed controlled substance as
             64      defined by Section 58-37-4 ;
             65          (iv) in a judicial or administrative proceeding, the employee intentionally or knowingly
             66      gave, upon a lawful oath or in any form allowed by law as a substitute for an oath, false
             67      testimony material to the issue or matter of inquiry under this section; or
             68          (v) the employee intentionally or knowingly:
             69          (A) fabricated evidence; or
             70          (B) except as provided in Subsection (3)(d), with a conscious disregard for the rights of
             71      others, failed to disclose evidence that:
             72          (I) was known to the employee; and
             73          (II) (Aa) was known by the employee to be relevant to a material issue or matter of
             74      inquiry in a pending judicial or administrative proceeding, if the employee knew of the pending
             75      judicial or administrative proceeding; or
             76          (Bb) was known by the employee to be relevant to a material issue or matter of inquiry
             77      in a judicial or administrative proceeding, if disclosure of the evidence was requested of the
             78      employee by a party to the proceeding or counsel for a party to the proceeding.
             79          (d) The exception, described in Subsection (3)(c)(v)(B), allowing a plaintiff to bring or
             80      pursue a civil action or proceeding against an employee, does not apply if the employee failed
             81      to disclose evidence described in Subsection (3)(c)(v)(B), because the employee is prohibited
             82      by law from disclosing the evidence.
             83          (4) Except as permitted in Subsection (3)(c), no employee may be joined or held
             84      personally liable for acts or omissions occurring:
             85          (a) during the performance of the employee's duties;
             86          (b) within the scope of employment; or
             87          (c) under color of authority.
             88          (5) A general duty that a governmental entity or an employee owes to the public does
             89      not create a specific duty to an individual member of the public, unless the individual member


             90      of the public stands so far apart from the general public that there is a special relationship
             91      between the governmental entity or employee and the individual member of the public.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-25-14 6:29 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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