(a) Purchase of liability insurance.--A local agency may purchase insurance on itself or its employees for any liability arising from the performance of their duties within the scope of their employment.
(b) Employment of risk manager.--A local agency may employ a professional risk manager whose responsibility it shall be to administer a public liability insurance program for the local agency and initiate any risk management program for the local agency and its employees.
(c) Joint action by local agency.--Any two or more local agencies may join together, enter into any agreements or jointly contract for the development of a group risk management program either through the provisions of the act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.762, No.180), referred to as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law, or any other applicable statute. Any two or more local agencies may join together, enter into any agreements or jointly contract for the purchasing of public liability insurance. Any two or more local agencies may pool their public liability insurance risks through the provisions of the act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.762, No.180) or any other applicable statute.
(d) Insurance pooling and coinsurance.--The pooling of insurance risks, reserves, claims or losses shall not be construed to be transacting insurance nor otherwise subject local agencies to the provisions of statutes regulating insurance or insurance companies. Local agencies may be coinsured under a master policy and the total premium may be prorated among the local agencies. Any county may undertake a group risk management program or public liability insurance program on behalf of itself and any other local agencies covered by this subchapter within the county that wish to voluntarily participate in the programs.
(e) Self-insurance.--Any local agency may self-insure which must be funded on an annual basis by appropriations to establish a reserve for self-insurance purposes.
References in Text. The act of July 12, 1972, P.L.762, No.180, referred to as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by the act of December 19, 1996, P.L.1158, No.177. The subject matter is now contained in Subchapter A of Chapter 23 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally).
Cross References. Section 8564 is referred to in sections 5602, 8002 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 85 - Matters Affecting Government Units
Section 8502 - Enforcement proceedings
Section 8521 - Sovereign immunity generally
Section 8522 - Exceptions to sovereign immunity
Section 8523 - Venue and process
Section 8525 - Legal assistance
Section 8526 - Counterclaim by the Commonwealth
Section 8527 - Indemnity relating to inmate health care
Section 8528 - Limitations on damages
Section 8553 - Limitations on damages
Section 8541 - Governmental immunity generally
Section 8542 - Exceptions to governmental immunity
Section 8545 - Official liability generally
Section 8546 - Defense of official immunity
Section 8547 - Legal assistance
Section 8549 - Limitation on damages
Section 8550 - Willful misconduct
Section 8557 - Judgment as a bar
Section 8558 - Judgments against insured local agency
Section 8559 - Judgments against self-insured local agency and those not fully insured