Texas Regulations 110.110

(1) Certificate of coverage (certificate)--A copy of a certificate of insurance, a certificate of authority to self-insure issued by the commission, or a workers' compensation coverage agreement (TWCC-81, TWCC-82, TWCC-83, or TWCC-84), showing statutory workers' compensation insurance coverage for the person's or entity's employees (including those subject to a coverage agreement) providing services on a project, for the duration of the project. (2) Building or construction--Has the meaning defined in the Texas Labor Code, section 406.096(e)(1). (3) Contractor--A person bidding for or awarded a building or construction project by a governmental entity. (4) Coverage--Workers' compensation insurance meeting the statutory requirements of the Texas Labor Code, section 401.011(44). (5) Coverage agreement--A written agreement on form TWCC-81, form TWCC-82, form TWCC-83, or form TWCC-84, filed with the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission which establishes a relationship between the parties for purposes of the Texas Workers' Compensation Act, pursuant to the Texas Labor Code, Chapter 406, Subchapters F and G, as one of employer/employee and establishes who will be responsible for providing workers' compensation coverage for persons providing services on the project. (6) Duration of the project--Includes the time from the beginning of work on the project until the work on the project has been completed and accepted by the governmental entity. (7) Persons providing services on the project ("subcontractor" in section 406.096 of the Act)--With the exception of persons excluded under subsections (h) and (i) of this section, includes all persons or entities performing all or part of the services the contractor has undertaken to perform on the project, regardless of whether that person contracted directly with the contractor and regardless of whether that person has employees. This includes but is not limited to independent contractors, subcontractors, leasing companies, motor carriers, owner-operators, employees of any such entity, or employees of any entity furnishing persons to perform services on the project. "Services" includes but is not limited to providing, hauling, or delivering equipment or materials, or providing labor, transportation, or other service related to a project. "Services" does not include activities unrelated to the project, such as food/beverage vendors, office supply deliveries, and delivery of portable toilets. (8) Project--Includes the provision of all services related to a building or construction contract for a governmental entity.

(b) Providing or causing to be provided a certificate of coverage pursuant to this rule is a representation by the insured that all employees of the insured who are providing services on the project are covered by workers' compensation coverage, that the coverage is based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts, and that all coverage agreements have been filed with the appropriate insurance carrier or, in the case of a self-insured, with the commission's Division of Self-Insurance Regulation. Providing false or misleading certificates of coverage, or failing to provide or maintain required coverage, or failing to report any change that materially affects the provision of coverage may subject the contractor or other person providing services on the project to administrative penalties, criminal penalties, civil penalties, or other civil actions.

(c) a governmental entity that enters into a building or construction contract on a project shall:

(1) include in the bid specifications, all the provisions of paragraph (7) of this subsection, using the language required by paragraph (7) of this subsection; (2) as part of the contract, using the language required by paragraph (7) of this subsection, require the contractor to perform as required in subsection (d) of this section; (3) obtain from the contractor a certificate of coverage for each person providing services on the project, prior to that person beginning work on the project; (4) obtain from the contractor a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage:

(A) before the end of the current coverage period, if the contractor's current certificate of coverage shows that the coverage period ends during the duration of the project; and (B) no later than seven days after the expiration of the coverage for each other person providing services on the project whose current certificate shows that the coverage period ends during the duration of the project;

(5) retain certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for three years thereafter; (6) provide a copy of the certificates of coverage to the commission upon request and to any person entitled to them by law; and (7) use the language contained in the following Figure 1 for bid specifications and contracts, without any additional words or changes, except those required to accommodate the specific document in which they are contained or to impose stricter standards of documentation: Article _____. Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage.

A. Definitions:

Certificate of coverage ("certificate")- A copy of a certificate of insurance, a certificate of authority to self-insure issued by the commission, or a coverage agreement (TWCC-81, TWCC-82, TWCC-83, or TWCC-84), showing statutory workers' compensation insurance coverage for the person's or entity's employees providing services on a project, for the duration of the project.

Duration of the project - includes the time from the beginning of the work on the project until the contractor's/person's work on the project has been completed and accepted by the governmental entity.

Persons providing services on the project ("subcontractor" in section 406.096) - includes all persons or entities performing all or part of the services the contractor has undertaken to perform on the project, regardless of whether that person contracted directly with the contractor and regardless of whether that person has employees. This includes, without limitation, independent contractors, subcontractors, leasing companies, motor carriers, owneroperators, employees of any such entity, or employees of any entity which furnishes persons to provide services on the project. "Services" include, without limitation, providing, hauling, or delivering equipment or materials, or providing labor, transportation, or other service related to a project. "Services" does not include activities unrelated to the project, such as food/beverage vendors, office supply deliveries, and delivery of portable toilets.

B. The contractor shall provide coverage, based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and filing of any coverage agreements, which meets the statutory requirements of Texas Labor Code, Section 401.011(44) for all employees of the contractor providing services on the project, for the duration of the project. C. The Contractor must provide a certificate of coverage to the governmental entity prior to being awarded the contract D. If the coverage period shown on the contractor's current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project, the contractor must, prior to the end of the coverage period, file a new certificate of coverage with the governmental entity showing that coverage has been extended. E. The contractor shall obtain from each person providing services on a project, and provide to the governmental entity:

(1) a certificate of coverage, prior to that person beginning work on the project, so the governmental entity will have on file certificates of coverage showing coverage for all persons providing services on the project; and (2) no later than seven days after receipt by the contractor, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project.

F. The contractor shall retain all required certificates of coverage for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter. G. The contractor shall notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, within 10 days after the contractor knew or should have known, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project. H. The contractor shall post on each project site a notice, in the text, form and manner prescribed by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, informing all persons providing services on the project that they are required to be covered, and stating how a person may verify coverage and report lack of coverage. I. The contractor shall contractually require each person with whom it contracts to provide services on a project, to:

(1) provide coverage, based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and filing of any coverage agreements, which meets the statutory requirements of Texas Labor Code, Section 401.011(44) for all of its employees providing services on the project, for the duration of the project; (2) provide to the contractor, prior to that person beginning work on the project, a certificate of coverage showing that coverage is being provided for all employees of the person providing services on the project, for the duration of the project; (3) provide the contractor, prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project; (4) obtain from each other person with whom it contracts, and provide to the contractor:

(A) a certificate of coverage, prior to the other person beginning work on the project; and (B) a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, prior to the end of the coverage period, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project;

(5) retain all required certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter; (6) notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, within 10 days after the person knew or should have known, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project; and (7) contractually require each person with whom it contracts, to perform as required by paragraphs (1) - (7), with the certificates of coverage to be provided to the person for whom they are providing services.

J. By signing this contract or providing or causing to be provided a certificate of coverage, the contractor is representing to the governmental entity that all employees of the contractor who will provide services on the project will be covered by workers' compensation coverage for the duration of the project, that the coverage will be based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts, and that all coverage agreements will be filed with the appropriate insurance carrier or, in the case of a self-insured, with the commission's Division of Self-Insurance Regulation. Providing false or misleading information may subject the contractor to administrative penalties, criminal penalties, civil penalties, or other civil actions. K. The contractor's failure to comply with any of these provisions is a breach of contract by the contractor which entitles the governmental entity to declare the contract void if the contractor does not remedy the breach within ten days after receipt of notice of breach from the governmental entity.

(d) A contractor shall:

(1) provide coverage for its employees providing services on a project, for the duration of the project based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and filing of any coverage agreements; (2) provide a certificate of coverage showing workers' compensation coverage to the governmental entity prior to beginning work on the project; (3) provide the governmental entity, prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the contractor's current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project; (4) obtain from each person providing services on a project, and provide to the governmental entity:

(A) a certificate of coverage, prior to that person beginning work on the project, so the governmental entity will have on file certificates of coverage showing coverage for all persons providing services on the project; and (B) no later than seven days after receipt by the contractor, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project;

(5) retain all required certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter; (6) notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, within ten days after the contractor knew or should have known, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project; (7) post a notice on each project site informing all persons providing services on the project that they are required to be covered, and stating how a person may verify current coverage and report failure to provide coverage. This notice does not satisfy other posting requirements imposed by the Act or other commission rules. This notice must be printed with a title in at least 30 point bold type and text in at least 19 point normal type, and shall be in both English and Spanish and any other language common to the worker population. The text for the notices shall be the following text provided by the commission on the sample notice, without any additional words or changes:

"REQUIRED WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE" "The law requires that each person working on this site or providing services related to this construction project must be covered by workers' compensation insurance. This includes persons providing, hauling, or delivering equipment or materials, or providing labor or transportation or other service related to the project, regardless of the identity of their employer or status as an employee." "Call the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission at 512-440-3789 to receive information on the legal requirement for coverage, to verify whether your employer has provided the required coverage, or to report an employer's failure to provide coverage."

(8) contractually require each person with whom it contracts to provide services on a project to:

(A) provide coverage based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and biling of any coverage agreements for all of its employees providing services on the project, for the duration of the project; (B) provide a certificate of coverage to the contractor prior to that person beginning work on the project; (C) include in all contracts to provide services on the project the language in subsection (e)(3) of this section; (D) provide the contractor, prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project; (E) obtain from each other person with whom it contracts, and provide to the contractor:

(i) a certificate of coverage, prior to the other person beginning work on the project; and (ii) prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of the coverage period, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project;

(F) retain all required certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter; (G) notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, within ten days after the person knew or should have known, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project; and (H) contractually require each other person with whom it contracts, to perform as required by subparagraphs (A)-(H) of this paragraph, with the certificate of coverage to be provided to the person for whom they are providing services.

(e) A person providing services on a project, other than a contractor, shall:

(1) provide coverage for its employees providing services on a project, for the duration of the project based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and filing of any coverage agreements; (2) provide a certificate of coverage as required by its contract to provide services on the project, prior to beginning work on the project; (3) have the following language in its contract to provide services on the project: "By signing this contract or providing or causing to be provided a certificate of coverage, the person signing this contract is representing to the governmental entity that all employees of the person signing this contract who will provide services on the project will be covered by workers' compensation coverage for the duration of the project, that the coverage will be based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts, and that all coverage agreements will be filed with the appropriate insurance carrier or, in the case of a self-insured, with the commission's Division of Self-Insurance Regulation. Providing false or misleading information may subject the contractor to administrative penalties, criminal penalties, civil penalties, or other civil actions." (4) provide the person for whom it is providing services on the project, prior to the end of the coverage period shown on its current certificate of coverage, a new certificate showing extension of coverage, if the coverage period shown on the certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project; (5) obtain from each person providing services on a project under contract to it, and provide as required by its contract:

(A) a certificate of coverage, prior to the other person beginning work on the project; and (B) prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of the coverage period, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project;

(6) retain all required certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter; (7) notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project and send the notice within ten days after the person knew or should have known of the change; and (8) contractually require each other person with whom it contracts to:

(A) provide coverage based on proper reporting of classification codes and payroll amounts and filing of any coverage agreements for all of its employees providing services on the project, for the duration of the project; (B) provide a certificate of coverage to it prior to that other person beginning work on the project; (C) include in all contracts to provide services on the project the language in paragraph (3) of this subsection; (D) provide, prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of the coverage period, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the project; (E) obtain from each other person under contract to it to provide services on the project, and provide as required by its contract:

(i) a certificate of coverage, prior to the other person beginning work on the project; and (ii) prior to the end of the coverage period, a new certificate of coverage showing extension of the coverage period, if the coverage period shown on the current certificate of coverage ends during the duration of the contract;

(F) retain all required certificates of coverage on file for the duration of the project and for one year thereafter; (G) notify the governmental entity in writing by certified mail or personal delivery, within ten days after the person knew or should have known, of any change that materially affects the provision of coverage of any person providing services on the project; and (H) contractually require each person with whom it contracts, to perform as required by this subparagraph and subparagraphs (A)-(G) of this paragraph, with the certificate of coverage to be provided to the person for whom they are providing services.

(f) If any provision of this rule or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this rule that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this rule are declared to be severable.

(g) This rule is applicable for building or construction contracts advertised for bid by a governmental entity on or after September 1, 1994. This rule is also applicable for those building or construction contracts entered into on or after September 1, 1994, which are not required by law to be advertised for bid.

(h) The coverage requirement in this rule does not apply to motor carriers who are required pursuant to Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6675c, to register with the Texas Department of transportation and who provide accidental insurance coverage pursuant to Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6675c, section 4(j).

(i) The coverage requirement in this rule does not apply to sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers who meet the requirements of the Act, section 406.097(c), and who are explicitly excluded from coverage in accordance with the Act, section 406.097(a) (as added by House Bill 1089, 74th Legislature, 1995, section 1.20). This subsection applies only to sole proprietors, partners, and corporate executive officers who are excluded from coverage in an insurance policy or certificate of authority to self-insure that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 1996.

The provisions of this section 110.110 adopted to be effective September 1, 1994, 19 TexReg 5715; amended to be effective November 6, 1995, 20 TexReg 8609.