Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program Provides Limited Benefits

Report 06-08, January 2006




Report Summary

  • The Educators Professional Liability Insurance program was created to protect public school educators and administrators from liability for monetary damages and the cost of defense of their actions. The program may provide a sense of security to Florida's educators and does provide last resort protection when no other valid and collectible insurance exists. However, the program has paid few claims compared to the total claims filed against the policy and the premiums paid. Since Fiscal Year 2001-02, the program has paid three claims totaling $50,375, while the state paid $4,382,538 in premiums during the four fiscal years covering these claims.
  • Several factors limit the number and amount of claims paid by program. These include the relatively few professional liability claims that are filed; the state's sovereign immunity law, which limits individual employee liability; the school district insurance programs that pay most of the claims filed; and the restrictive state policy provisions that limit payment of potential claims. While multiple entities may share the cost to settle claims, we found no evidence that the state policy has made duplicate payment for claims paid by school boards.


Related Reports
  1. Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program Abolished by the Legislature
    Report 07-32 June 2007
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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