Albert Betts, Jr.

Since 2014, Albert Betts, Jr. has served as the Executive Director of the Insurance Council of Texas, a non-profit trade association representing the interests of nearly 400 property and casualty insurers doing business in Texas.

Previously, Albert was a partner at the law firm of Thompson Coe Cousins and Irons, LLP, practicing in the firm's Insurance Law and Governmental and Legislative Advocacy Group. His practice focused on representing clients before the Texas Department of Insurance and other regulatory agencies, including representing and advising insurance trade associations, insurance companies, and other clients on a variety of property and casualty insurance issues, as well as advocating for clients' interests before the Texas legislature and other government officials.

In 2005, he was appointed, by Texas Governor Rick Perry, as the first Commissioner of Workers' Compensation for the State of Texas. In 2007, Albert was reappointed and confirmed unanimously by the Texas Senate. Betts served as Commissioner from 2005 through 2008, during which time he testified before numerous legislative committees, advised state leaders, and led the successful overhaul and reform of the Texas workers' compensation system. Prior to serving as Commissioner, Betts served as Chief of Staff for the Texas Department of Insurance.

Overall, Albert has 30 years of experience as a lawyer, public policy administrator, and organizational leader, including prior experience at the Department of Insurance, the State Office of Risk Management, Texas Attorney General, and the former Texas Workers' Compensation Commission.

He is co-editor of Larson, Texas Workers' Compensation Handbook and is a frequent speaker to insurance, risk management, and employer groups on property and casualty insurance and workers' compensation issues. He previously served as chair of Texas Legal, a non-profit prepaid legal benefit plan created to provide affordable legal services to Texans and was on that organization's board of directors from 2010 through 2019. Currently, he serves as an ex-oficio board member of the Insurance Council of Texas Education Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit charitable organization promoting insurance education at Texas universities.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and has been a licensed attorney since 1991.