Print/Copy Mail Services Vice President FAOnly the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), through its Risk Management Division (RMD), has the legal authority to direct, manage, and arrange for or purchase all insurance programs of state government, except for employee benefit insurance programs, which are directed and managed by the Public Employees Benefit Board (PEBB).
No one in a state agency may purchase any kind of insurance unless authority is delegated to them by DAS. All universities of the Oregon University System are considered state agencies. If you have any insurance need please (have the appropriate person) contact your university Risk Coordinator.
The state is self-insured for its property and liability exposures. Workers’ compensation insurance is purchased from SAIF Corporation, as required by statute. State monies may only be used to cover officers, employees and agents of state government. The state provides for those coverages by assessing the state agencies. The assessment dollars are then segregated into a fund for property, a fund for liability, and a fund for workers’ compensation premiums.
Nearly all state-owned property can be covered by RMD. This includes automobiles, real property (buildings and equipment), personal property (building contents, and supplies). The personal property of others can be covered if a property loan agreement is signed by a representative of the university who has the proper authorization to sign. (This is usually someone in the business office). (This is not for employee's privately owned personal property.)
Expanded coverage for employees or volunteers personal property :
The state does limit the value of some of the property it will cover and the university must elect to have those items covered. Property with limits of coverage includes boilers and machinery, electronic data processing equipment and media, money and securities, and exceptional items (art or items of historic value).
The value of all property must be reported to RMD each year in order to be covered. This is done on the University’s Risk Report, filed in July by the Risk Coordinator.
RMD requires a $2500 deductible for any covered property loss. All claims for property loss must be reported to the University’s Risk Coordinator within 60 days of the loss.
The state will defend and pay damages, if necessary, for all liability claims for alleged wrongdoing by state agencies, their officers, employees and agents, when the law says they are legally bound to make good on any loss or damage.
Liability coverage applies as long as state employees are acting within the scope of their duties for the state. State employees are not covered for criminal acts, violation of the state’s code of ethics, or other types of wrongdoing.
Specific areas covered include:
*auto liability-the state pays for medical expenses, wage replacement, property damage, pain and suffering, and attorney expense.
*tort liability-the state pays for bodily injury, property damage, pain and suffering, and attorney expense.
A tort is a wrongful act other than a breach of contract that injuries another and for which civil action can be brought and subsequent judgment for damages can be paid to the wronged party. It is a reckless or negligent violation of another person’s rights that results in some sort of injury, including: bodily injury, property damage, loss of reputation, emotional distress, or loss/impairment of a constitutional right or freedom.
Tort liability coverage includes exposures arising from our usage of airplanes, vehicles, and water craft. The state’s tort liability coverage also includes those area of liability usually covered by professional liability. This means that our student health center medical providers and others on the campus whose jobs require a license will be covered in the event they are accused of wrongful acts. Again, coverage requires that the wrong act occur while they are acting in the scope of their employment for the state.
If you become aware that someone feels they have been wronged by the actions of an employee, officer, or agent of the university you must notify your university Risk Coordinator within 24 hours.
The State purchases a policy for foreign liability. Foreign liability covers any liability the university incurs when its officers, employees or agents travel to foreign countries. The insurance provides broad coverage for bodily injury and property damage, foreign automobile liability for bodily injury and property damage, premises medical payments for accidents, fire legal liability coverage for real property and employee benefits liability. Foreign liability does not cover professional liability or contractual liability. Repatriation coverage includes medical evacuation of state employees to the nearest good medical facility and return of the state employee’s body to the United States in the event of death. Some foreign countries are excluded by the State’s policy; in those cases, the State is self-insured for this exposure.
Provided by SAIF Corporation, as mandated by statute, workers’ compensation covers the occupational injuries or diseases of state employees. Workers who are injured in the course and scope of their duties must complete a form 801 to apply for this coverage. These forms can be obtained from the University Workers’ Compensation Coordinator. Claims must be filed within 72 hours of the injury. Claims resulting in immediate hospitalization or death must be reported to Oregon OSHA within 24 hours of the accident.
Aviation insurance is liability insurance for employees and agents operating aircraft on official business covering liability claims and damage to the aircraft.
OUS institutions that provide educational services to other states must obtain surety bonds to cover any loss from failure to provide agreed-upon educational services.
Volunteer Injury Coverage (VIC) (Optional)
VIC covers volunteers for injury caused directly and solely by an accident occurring during, and arising out of the performance of official state business duties assigned by department personnel. Coverage includes benefits for medical expense, short-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment. Contact your Risk Coordinator for information about VIC coverage. The university must elect to have this coverage on its Risk Report and must have both a completed job description and a signed waiver from the volunteer prior to the claim. Whether your university has elected this coverage or not, you are generally liable to anyone, including your volunteers, for any injury caused by you or your employee’s negligence or wrong-doing.
Special Risks Accident insurance for day care facilities provides accidental death, dismemberment, and accident medical expense coverage for (non-employee) persons participating in day care center activities on the premises designated and supervised by university day care personnel or while traveling with a group in connection with activities under the direct supervision of day care center personnel, or while traveling directly to or from activities and his/her home or lodging place. The policy also includes a catastrophe benefit if the person’s injury results in coma, quadriplegia, paraplegia, hemiplegia or loss of movement of one upper or one lower limb. Notice of a claim must be given to your Risk Coordinator within (20) days after covered loss begins.
Insurance Purchases Delegated to the OUS Risk Manager
The Risk Manager for OUS purchases intercollegiate Athletics Insurance, Catastrophic Athletic coverage, Special Risk insurances (special events insurance and alumni sports events insurance) and Student Health Insurance for the System.
Basic and catastrophic athletic insurances cover student athletes, cheerleaders, and student trainers while participating in regularly scheduled intercollegiate sports events, including supervised practices and tryouts during the regular season, and group travel to and from practices and events, for bodily injury and/or death. The coverage consists of accidental death and dismemberment insurance, disability insurance, and medical insurance for accidental injuries. Athletic insurance does not cover alumni sports events (see below) or club sports.
This Special Risks Accident insurance for bodily injury and/or death covers persons participating in or supervising alumni sports events sponsored by the university, on the premises designated by the university, and while traveling to and from activities or to and from home and the event. Contact your Risk Coordinator well in advance of the event (one month is preferable) for coverage.
Special events insurance (accident medical coverage) is blanket coverage for registered attendees at a camp or event sponsored by a university department, covering injuries or sickness while attendees are at a regularly scheduled camp activity under the supervision of university personnel and while traveling to and from camp activities and to and from home (before and after camp). Departments should contact their university Risk Coordinator for coverage and cost.
Student Health Insurance (Optional)
Student Medical Insurance pays benefits to the insured
student who becomes ill or injured.
University of Oregon Risk Coordinator
Sheree' Johnson, ext. 346-3190, Business Affairs, is the Risk Coordinator for the University of Oregon. Please contact her with any insurance questions, or information on filing a claim. She also may be contacted by e-mail at shereej@uoregon.edu .
