Insurance - Risk Management and Tort Defense

Insurance

In accordance with §2-9-201 MCA, the Risk Management and Tort Defense Division is responsible for the acquisition and administration of all property/casualty insurance purchased for protection of state agencies and universities, except employee benefits and workers' compensation. For assistance with an insurance question, please contact the Insurance Staff, listed above on this page.

Agency Resource:

Property/Casualty Insurance Information System

During the early 1970s, Montana State Government lost its sovereign immunity. Therefore, the state began to purchase commercial liability insurance to protect itself from third party litigation. The risky nature of state services coupled with the high cost of commercial insurance forced state government and most other public entities to self-insure their liability risks in the mid-1970s.

Subsequent legislation (§2-9-101, MCA through §2-9-305, MCA) authorized the Department of Administration to assess state agencies and universities for the costs associated with defending tort claims and administering commercial insurance and self-insured programs. The Risk Management & Tort Defense Division may, therefore, elect to purchase commercial insurance or self-insure auto, aviation, boilers & machinery, fidelity bond, fine art, liability, and any other risks that are deemed necessary and cost-effective.

Insurance is purchased on a competitive bid basis periodically and is subject to change. Summaries of current insurance coverage may be found below under "Property & Casualty Insurance Program. Agencies seeking new or additional coverage should make a request 60 days prior to the desired effective date of coverage in order to allow enough lead time to evaluate appropriate insurance alternatives and bind coverage.

In order to assure that agency's assets are properly insured, they must be accurately reported to RMTD. Assets may be reported between October 1st and January 15th of each fiscal year through the state property/casualty insurance information system (PCIIS). An exposure reporting contact from each agency has been assigned and trained to report insurable assets on behalf of their agency. View the list of contacts.

Learn about the State of Montana’s property and casualty insurance programs for agencies and universities. The subsequent pages will explain how coverage is purchased and administered, links to program guides and coverage summaries, and provides access to information about core insurance (such as property, liability, and auto) and specialty insurance options.

Property/Casualty Insurance Core Programs

Property/Casualty Insurance Specialty Programs

Property Casualty Insurance Information System (PCIIS)

Property/Casualty Insurance Core Programs

Property/Casualty Insurance Specialty Programs

Risk Exposure Ropting Instructions 

The state Property/Casualty Insurance Information System (PCIIS) was developed by the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division to assist state agencies and universities in reporting their insurable assets in accordance with §2-9-201, MCA. Through web-based reporting tools, agencies and universities may enter new assets, update existing assets, or review historical insurance information.

Agency and university risk exposure reporting contacts are responsible to verify the accuracy of the requested asset information with their risk coordinator and appropriate agency/university management before submitting the forms to the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division. You can find your risk coordinator below in the Claims section, Risk Management Committee. Changes in ownership, changes in values, unreported assets, or assets that exceed insurance policy limits during FY 2027 may not be covered by insurance unless they are submitted to the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division. Assets that will be sold, demolished, abandoned, destroyed, or not replaced during FY 2027 should not be reported.

Participation in the state property casualty insurance program is mandatory unless otherwise indicated that insurance coverage is optional. Where indicated, forms must be submitted on-line or in an alternative format provided by the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division on or before January 15th, 2026, in order to secure coverage. If you have additional questions about exposure reporting, please contact the Underwriting Manager at (406) 444-2421. If you have additional questions about insurance coverage, please contact the State Risk Manager (see above in the About Us section for contact information).

 

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Property/Casualty Insurance Information System (PCIIS)

The state Property/Casualty Insurance Information System (PCIIS) was developed by the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division to assist state agencies and universities in reporting their insurable assets in accordance with §2-9-201, MCA. Through web-based reporting tools, agencies and universities may enter new assets, update existing assets, or review historical insurance information.

Agency and university risk exposure reporting contacts are responsible to verify the accuracy of the requested asset information with their risk coordinator and appropriate agency/university management before submitting the forms to the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division. Changes in ownership, changes in values, unreported assets, or assets that exceed insurance policy limits during FY 2027 may not be covered by insurance unless they are submitted to the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division. Assets that will be sold, demolished, abandoned, destroyed, or not replaced during FY 2027 should not be reported.

Participation in the state property casualty insurance program is mandatory unless otherwise indicated that insurance coverage is optional. Where indicated, forms must be submitted on-line or in an alternative format provided by the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division on or before January 15th, 2026, in order to secure coverage. If you have additional questions about exposure reporting, please contact the Underwriting Manager at (406) 444-2421. If you have additional questions about insurance coverage, please contact the State Risk Manager.

Risk Exposure Ropting Instructions 

ACCIDENT, DEATH, & DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE (Optional)

The state's accident, death, and dismemberment insurance covers accident, injury, medical expenses, and dismemberment for volunteers of activities sponsored by the Montana University System. This policy applies to volunteers who provide direct service to the University System for sponsored events or activities excluding employees or student interns. University System volunteers who provide direct service to the university campuses are defined as; 1) all volunteers participating in policyholder sponsored and supervised volunteer activities; 2) all volunteers while travelling directly to and from the activity and home; or 3) all volunteers while traveling with a policyholder supervised group in connection with such activities.

A summary of accidental death & dismemberment insurance coverage may be found at http://rmtd.mt.gov/insurance/addsummary. Coverage may vary by university. The Montana University System is the only state agency presently authorized to obtain accident, death, and dismemberment insurance through the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division.

Each campus must complete the volunteer schedule provided by the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division for volunteer full time equivalents (FTEs) that may need insurance during FY 2027.

Note: Volunteers reported during the FY 2026 reporting cycle should be those volunteers that are projected to be utilized during FY 2027. Volunteers reported during the FY 2026 reporting cycle are the basis for insurance coverage during FY 2027. Unreported volunteers utilized in FY 2027 may not be covered. Please contact the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division if your agency needs insurance coverage.

 

Insurance Premium Holiday

During FY 2022, the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division won a court judgement and received settlement proceeds totaling $141 million for the recovery of expenses associated with Libby Asbestos litigation. This unexpected source of revenue resulted in actuarial reserve estimates that exceed funding targets; therefore, we are pleased to announce a 50% insurance premium holiday for the 2027 biennium.

2027 Biennium Premium Assessment

Eligibility Criteria
Premium Discounts Awarded

State agencies and universities are often requested to furnish proof of insurance in contracts or leases in order to satisfy contractors, lessors, or other parties. Managers, supervisors, and employees ultimately have responsibility for procuring a certificate of insurance when it is required by law or by contract.

Auto Liability

Most state-owned vehicles typically contain a Certificate of Insurance for Auto Liability in the glove box. If your vehicle does not have one, it may be downloaded from the division's website at the links provided. For leased or courtesy vehicles, agency personnel are responsible to download the Certificate of Insurance for Auto Liability from the division's website and assure that it is in the vehicle.

Other

All other certificates of insurance must be obtained from the Risk Management and Tort Defense Division. Certificates are not available for activities or employees that the Risk Management and Tort Defense Division does not insure. Example: State employees using personal vehicles must carry evidence or proof of their own personal vehicle insurance since this insurance coverage is primary. To request a certificate of insurance, please complete the Certificate of Insurance Request Form, sign and return to the Accountant/Financial Specialist at the Risk Management and Tort Defense Division.

Please contact the Accountant/Financial Specialist if you have additional questions. Contact information can be found above in the About Us section.