Professional Liability Insurance

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

               Washington, DC 20405

 

HRM 9820.1

January 16, 2020

 

 GSA ORDER

 

SUBJECT:  Professional Liability Insurance

1.  Purpose. This Order implements policy within the General Services Administration (GSA) for the reimbursement of costs incurred by covered employees for professional liability insurance (PLI), providing coverage for certain acts and omissions.

2.  Background. This Order is issued under the authority of and to implement the permanent provisions of Section 636 of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, 1997, Public Law 104-208 (1996); and amended in Section 642 of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000, Public Law 106-58, (1999) (the Act), requiring agencies to reimburse covered employees “... not to exceed one-half the costs incurred by such employee(s) for professional liability insurance.”

3.  Scope and Applicability. The Act limits coverage to employees who are:

     a.  Members of the Senior Executive Service;

     b.  Supervisors or management officials; and/or

3.   Law enforcement officers.

This policy applies to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) only to the extent that the OIG determines it is consistent with the OIG’s independent authority under the IG Act and it does not conflict with other OIG policies or the OIG mission.

4.  Cancellation. This Order cancels and supersedes GSA Order, CPO 9820.1, Professional Liability Insurance, dated October 4, 2011.

5.  Nature of Revision. This Order is being revised to update the process for employees to receive reimbursement of costs.

6.  Policy. GSA will reimburse a covered employee not more than $150 per year or one-half of the annual policy cost, whichever is less, for professional liability insurance. The purchase of professional liability insurance is strictly voluntary.

 7. Definitions. 

     a.  Professional Liability Insurance. Insurance, as defined by the Act, which provides coverage for the following:

          (1)  Legal liability for damages due to injuries to other persons, damage to their property, or other damage or loss to such other persons (including the expenses of litigation and settlement) resulting from or arising out of any tortious act, error, or omission of the covered individual (whether common law, statutory, or constitutional) while in the performance of such individual’s official duties as a qualified employee; and 

          (2)  The cost of legal representation for the covered individual in connection with any administrative or judicial proceeding (including any investigation or disciplinary proceeding) relating to any act, error, or omission of the covered individual while in the performance of such individual’s official duties as a qualified employee, and other legal costs and fees relating to any such administrative or judicial proceeding.

     b.  Supervisor. An individual employed by an agency having authority in the interest of the agency to hire, direct, assign, promote, reward, transfer, furlough, layoff, recall, suspend, discipline, or remove employees, to adjust their grievances, or to effectively recommend such action, if the exercise of the authority is not merely routine or clerical in nature but requires the consistent exercise of independent judgment, except that, with respect to any unit which includes firefighters or nurses, the term “supervisor” includes only those individuals who devote a preponderance of their employment time to exercising such authority. (5 CFR 7103(a)(10)).

     c.  Management Official. An individual employed by an agency in a position the duties and responsibilities of which require or authorize the individual to formulate, determine, or influence the policies of the agency. (5CFR 7103 (a)(11)).  

     d.  Law Enforcement Officer. An employee, the duties of whose position are primarily the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States, including any law enforcement officer under section 8331(20) or 8401(17) of such title 5, or under section 4823 of title 22, United States Code.

8.  Procedure.

     a.  Employees covered by this Order who purchase or have purchased professional liability insurance coverage, and who wish to obtain reimbursement, must obtain a receipt showing all of the following:

          (1)  The annual premium amount;

          (2)  The policy period; 

          (3)  The effective date; and

          (4)  A certificate of professional liability insurance as defined per Section 7.

     b.  The employee will need to enter a miscellaneous voucher in CONCUR for PLI reimbursement and attach proof of payment, e.g. receipt, to the voucher. In the event that the employee does not already have a CONCUR account set up, they should contact their local CONCUR superuser to gain access. Once submitted, the request will then be routed to Accounts Payable for reimbursement.

9.  Implementation. Implementation under this issuance must be carried out in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and bargaining agreements.

10.  Signature.

 

 

/S/________________________________

Antonia T. Harris

Chief Human Capital Officer

Office of Human Resources Management