2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 2. Government Structure and Administration › Chapter 9. Liability Exposure and Insurance Coverage › Part 2. Comprehensive State Insurance Plan › 2-9-211. Political subdivision insurance

2-9-211. Political subdivision insurance.
(1) All political subdivisions of the state may procure insurance separately or jointly with other subdivisions and may elect to use a deductible or self-insurance plan, wholly or in part. Political subdivisions that elect to procure insurance jointly (pooled fund) under this section may obtain excess coverage from a surplus lines insurer without proceeding under the provisions of 33-2-302(2)(a)(ii) and (2)(a)(iii). Political subdivisions that are not in a pooled fund may obtain excess coverage from a surplus lines insurer without proceeding under the provisions of 33-2-302(2)(a)(ii) and (2)(a)(iii) only if the insurer carries an A rating or better by a nationally recognized rating company or is a Lloyd's of London underwriter.
(2) A political subdivision that elects to establish a deductible plan may establish a deductible reserve separately or jointly with other subdivisions.
(3) A political subdivision that elects to establish a self-insurance plan may accumulate a self-insurance reserve fund, separately or jointly with other subdivisions, sufficient to provide self-insurance for all liability coverages that, in its discretion, the political subdivision considers should be self-insured. Payments into the reserve fund must be made from local legislative appropriations for that purpose or from the proceeds of bonds or notes authorized by subsection (5). Proceeds of the fund may be used only to pay claims under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter and for actual and necessary expenses required for the efficient administration of the fund.
(4) Money in reserve funds established under this section not needed to meet expected expenditures must be invested, and all proceeds of the investment must be credited to the fund.
(5) A political subdivision may issue and sell its bonds or notes for purposes of funding a self-insurance or deductible reserve fund and costs incident to the reserve fund in an amount not exceeding 0.18% of the total assessed value of taxable property, determined as provided in 15-8-111, within the political subdivision as of the date of issuance. The bonds or notes must be authorized by resolution of the governing body, are payable from the taxes authorized by 2-9-212, may be sold at public or private sale, do not constitute debt within the meaning of any statutory debt limitation, and may contain other terms and provisions as the governing body determines. Two or more political subdivisions may agree pursuant to an interlocal agreement to exercise their respective borrowing powers under this section jointly and may authorize a joint board created pursuant to the agreement to exercise powers on their behalf.
History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 380, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 360, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 82-4306; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 3, Sp. L. March 1986; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 68, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 29, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 191, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 350, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 48, L. 2019.