Under state law, all liability insurance and/or governmental self-insurance purchased on behalf of the State must be authorized in writing by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.  Deciding whether to purchase insurance or to self-retain the various risks of the State through the Risk Management Fund requires analysis, a statewide perspective, and risk financing expertise. The Risk Management Division of the Office of Management and Budget is the focal point for this decision making process, which includes substantial input from State agencies.

The State’s approach to assumption of risk varies by type of coverage. Some insurance is purchased due to the catastrophic potential of some exposures to negatively affect the financial stability of the Risk Management Fund. 

Liability: Pursuant to the provisions of the State Tort Claims Act, N.D.C.C. ch. 32-12.2, the Risk Management Fund provides tort liability coverage for state employees up to $250,000 per person and $1,000,000 per occurrence.  More information.

Fleet Vehicle Liability: The Risk Management Fund’s coverage includes liability arising out of the use of State-owned, State-rented or State-leased vehicles, but only to the extent that the use is within the scope of the employee’s employment.  More information.

International Travel Insurance: Risk Management Fund purchases insurance coverage for state employees traveling out of the country on official state business.  This coverage includes: commercial general liability, contingent automobile liability, employers responsibility/executive assistance services, kidnap and extortion, and accident death and dismemberment.  Additional information regarding this policy, including policy numbers, printable Executive Assistance identification cards and passport stickers, online security information (password protected website resources and services with User ID and password), proprietary telephone numbers, etc., can be accessed by authorized state employees through the online training system.

Professional Liabilities Medical Malpractice:  Risk Management Fund facilitates the purchase of professional liabilities medical malpractice coverage for scheduled physicians, residents, and students in medical programs.  The coverage is for limits of liability of $1,000,000 per claim/$5,000,000 aggregate.  Due to the risks and the need for high limits of liability, this exposure is funded through purchase of insurance coverage, not the Risk Management Fund.

Property:  All owned or leased real and personal property of the State and its agencies by law must be insured through the North Dakota Fire and Tornado Fund, (701) 328-9600. 

Exceptions to this requirement are determined by the Fire and Tornado Fund, in which case the agency has authority to place coverage with other insurers.  Such exceptions include but are not limited to:

All Risk Insurance. Risk Management facilitates the purchase of All Risk Insurance for equipment owned and leased by state agencies and institutions under the State Board of Higher Education.  All agencies should make every effort to use this policy.  More information. (106kb PDF)

Inland Marine floaters. Special coverage is available for mobile equipment, portable radios, computers, artwork, and similar property. An agency wishing to purchase this coverage may do so.

Aviation:  Insurance coverage is purchased by various entities that have aviation risks.  Due to the catastrophic nature of aviation risks and the need for high limits of liability, this exposure is funded through purchase of commercial insurance coverage, not the Risk Management Fund.