FIDELITY COVERAGE

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 2, art. II, div. 3

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-36 Generally.

Sec. 2-36. - Generally. All officers and employees of the city shall be covered either by individual public official bonds or by the blanket crime policy for public employees in accordance with the conditions and requirements set forth in this division. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-37 Individual public official bonds for specific officers—Required; amount.

Sec. 2-37. - Individual public official bonds for specific officers—Required; amount. (a) Throughout the incumbency of each, the holders of the following offices and positions shall be covered by individual public official bonds in the amounts set forth below opposite the titles of such respective offices and positions: Title | Amount Mayor | $50,000.00 City controller | 50,000.00 City treasurer | 25,000.00 Tax assessor and collector | 25,000.00 Assistant city treasurer | 25,000.00 Assistant director of treasury | 25,000.00 Assistant tax assessor and collector | 25,000.00 Deputy city controller (designated) | 25,000.00 Deputy assessor of taxes | 25,000.00 Clerk of the municipal courts | 25,000.00 (b) In the event two or more of the titles above listed should become applicable to the same person, only one public official bond need be provided for such person, and it shall cover him in all capacities. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04; Ord. No. 2010-846, § 2, 11-3-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-38 Same—conditions.

Sec. 2-38. - Same—conditions. The individual public official bonds mentioned in section 2-37 shall each be conditioned that the surety executing such bond agrees to indemnify the city against any direct loss of money or other personal property belonging to the city or for which the city is legally responsible, caused by larceny, theft, embezzlement, forgery, misappropriation, willful misapplication, wrongful abstraction or by any other dishonest or fraudulent act or acts committed by the officer or employee covered by such bond. In addition, the bonds covering the offices of mayor and city controller shall be conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of those respective offices. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-39 Blanket crime policy for public employees.

Sec. 2-39. - Blanket crime policy for public employees. A blanket crime policy for public employees shall be maintained and shall cover all employees other than those officers and employees required by section 2-37 of this Code to be covered by individual public official bonds. The policy required under this section shall be conditioned such that the issuer of the policy shall indemnify the city against loss sustained through any fraudulent or dishonest act or acts committed by any of the covered employees, acting alone or in collusion with others, during the term of the policy. The policy shall be in an amount that the city council determines from time to time provides the most favorable premium and limit of coverage available to the city. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-40 Approval of form.

Sec. 2-40. - Approval of form. (a) The form of the public official bond, whether new or a change to an existing bond, required to cover the mayor or the city controller pursuant to this division shall be subject to final approval by the city council. Whenever a new public official bond to cover the mayor or the city controller is to be filed, or a change to the existing public official bond form for the mayor or the city controller is proposed, the same shall be presented to the city council together with the recommendation of the director of administration and regulatory affairs and the city attorney. The city council will then, by motion, indicate its approval or disapproval of the form of the public official bond. Failure of the city council to act will in no way diminish any liability the surety would otherwise have with respect to any public official bond that the surety has delivered for the purpose of putting it in force. (b) The director of administration and regulatory affairs is authorized to approve the form of public official bonds for all officers except the mayor and the city controller and the blanket crime policy for public employees. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04; Ord. No. 05-346, § 1, 4-6-05; Ord. No. 08-110, § 2(1a), 2-13-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-41 Payment of premiums.

Sec. 2-41. - Payment of premiums. Payment of the premiums on the public official bonds and blanket crime policy provided for in this division will be out of the budget appropriations for which the city council will make provision annually. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-42 Duties of director of administration and regulatory affairs under division.

Sec. 2-42. - Duties of director of administration and regulatory affairs under division. It shall be the duty of the director of administration and regulatory affairs to ensure compliance with the provisions of this division and to ensure that the public official bonds and blanket crime policy provided for in this division are obtained in accordance with the city's procurement procedures set forth in chapter 15 of this Code. (Ord. No. 04-1244, § 2, 12-1-04; Ord. No. 08-110, § 2(1b), 2-13-08; Ord. No. 2015-668, § 7, 7-8-2015)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTIIOFEMGE_DIV3FICOFetched: 10/26/2026