H.B. 267 Summary

• Eliminates full defenses to liability for police, fire, and emergency medical service employees operating vehicles negligently during emergency responses, removing the requirement that operation not constitute willful or wanton misconduct.

• Creates new defense that political subdivisions are not liable for injuries caused by an employee's negligent motor vehicle operation if the plaintiff was attempting to flee from law enforcement to avoid criminal apprehension.

• Requires any compensatory damages recoverable against a political subdivision for an employee's negligent motor vehicle operation to be reduced by the percentage of contributory fault attributable to the plaintiff or other parties.

• Maintains prohibition on punitive or exemplary damages and the $250,000 cap on non-actual damages in actions against political subdivisions, with exceptions for wrongful death actions and court costs/interest.

• Requires deduction of insurance benefits and other compensation sources from awards against political subdivisions, with no right of subrogation for insurers.