SDPAA News

COLUMN SDPAA News

LYNN BREN | SDPAA DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Excess Auto Liability Coverage

Little Freddy and his buddies are out cruising in Freddy’s dad’s brand-new Dodge truck. They decide to head on out to the gravel roads to really see what that truck can do. Just as they are having a “Hold My Beer” moment, Lynn is out in her personal Dodge truck checking the roads to make sure that there are no sign or maintenance issues.

Lynn doesn’t see Freddy with his truck load of buddies at the uncontrolled intersection and they collide. Freddy and all his friends are injured, and Freddy’s dad’s new truck is totaled. Lynn was working in her official capacity as a township supervisor but using her own personal auto. The big question is… whose coverage is first for Lynn?

In South Dakota, the owner’s coverage is primary. In our made-up scenario, Lynn’s personal auto coverage would respond first to the accident. The question then becomes, what happens if the personal auto coverage is insufficient, or denies coverage for some reason?

Members of the SDPAA who do not need auto liability coverage written through the Pool still are able to receive coverage for autos which are being used for Member business. For those Members who carry their general liability coverage with us, excess auto liability coverage is provided by endorsement at no additional charge. Members with the Auto Liability coverage also automatically receive the excess auto coverage for those times where use of a personal auto for Member use is required. ■

Cyber Credit Update Still time to sign up!

On a couple prior occasions, via a news article, a conference presentation, or an E-News Blast, we have shared information regarding our Cyber Liability Credit Program that is offered for the 2022 calendar year only. Members can qualify for a one-time cyber liability credit, paid as a distribution at the end of 2022, for completing the some or all of the three required tiers for the program.

All Members who participate in the SDPAA with general liability coverage have access to the Cyber Liability Credit program. As we have previously discussed, to qualify for the program, a Member must:

1. Sign up for a Cyber Security Assessment as offered, free of charge through DSU’s Project Boundary Fence.

There is still time to sign up! You can visit their website at https://dsu.edu/boundary-fence/ to obtain additional information or to sign up.

2. Identify a Cyber Representative and adopt a Cyber

Incident Response Plan (samples are on the SDPAA website). Your Cyber Representative should be committed to Cyber Security and be willing to be trained and train on trending Cyber Security issues.

3. Follow up with any recommendations for remediation of issues or vulnerabilities as identified during your Project

Boundary Fence analysis.

Because this credit is a one-time opportunity, there are some deadlines that apply. Tiers One and Two must be completed AND reported to our office by December 31, 2022. For Tier Three, you have until March 1, 2023, to report fulfillment of the remediation needs.

If you have any questions regarding the Cyber Credit Program, Excess Auto Liability Coverage, or any other training or coverage needs, please feel free to reach out to the SDPAA at 800-6583633 Option 2, or by email sdpaa@sdmunicipalleague.org. ■