2016 North Dakota Century Code Title 26.1 Insurance Chapter 26.1-22 State Fire and Tornado Fund
Download as PDF
CHAPTER 26.1-22
STATE FIRE AND TORNADO FUND
26.1-22-01. Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Fund" means the state fire and tornado fund.
2. "Indirect loss" means a loss in income or the additional expenses incurred because of
a property loss.
3. "International peace garden" means an entity located upon the international boundary
line between the United States and Canada used and maintained as a memorial to
commemorate the long-existing relationship of peace and good will between the
people and the governments of the United States and Canada and to further
international peace among the nations of the world.
4. "Permanent contents" refers only to such public property, either owned or leased,
usually kept or used in or about public buildings insured in the fund, and to all public
personal property usually kept or used in or about all buildings used for public
purposes, or within one hundred feet [30.48 meters] of all such buildings, or while on
sidewalks, streets, alleys, yards, detached platforms, and in or on railway cars. The
term includes similar property owned by an international peace garden or a winter
show. The term does not include automobiles, trucks, tractors, road machinery, or
similar property used principally outside such buildings.
5. "Political subdivision" means all counties, townships, park districts, school districts,
cities, and any other units of local government which are created either by statute or
by the Constitution of North Dakota for local government or other public purposes.
6. "Replacement cost" is the cost to replace a building or its permanent contents with a
similar structure of like materials or a similar product at current prices.
7. "Winter show" means an agricultural exhibition sponsored each year in March by a
nonprofit corporation.
26.1-22-02. State fire and tornado fund under management of commissioner Purpose of fund.
The commissioner shall manage the fund. The fund must be maintained as a fund to insure
the various state industries, the various political subdivisions, any international peace garden,
and any winter show against loss to the public buildings, or buildings owned by an international
peace garden or a winter show, and fixtures and permanent contents therein, and against
indirect loss, through fire, lightning, inherent explosion, windstorm, cyclone, tornado and hail,
explosion, riot attending a strike, aircraft, smoke, and vehicles. At the option of the insured, the
fund may insure against other risks of direct physical loss and indirect loss from those risks. All
moneys collected under this chapter must be paid into the fund for use only for the purposes
provided for in this chapter.
26.1-22-02.1. Insurance against indirect losses.
The commissioner shall provide, upon request of an entity insured with the fund, coverage
by the fund for an indirect loss incurred because of a loss arising out of a peril insured against
by the fund.
26.1-22-03. Employment of assistants - Expenditures from fund.
To carry out this chapter, the commissioner may utilize any information on file in the state
fire marshal's department and any of the employees of the commissioner and the commissioner
may employ necessary assistants and incur necessary expenses. All expenditures made for
these purposes must remain within the limits of legislative appropriations and must be paid out
of the fund upon warrants prepared by the office of management and budget drawn upon the
state treasurer after the approval of vouchers by the office of the budget.
Page No. 1
26.1-22-04. Investment of fund.
Investment of the fund is under the supervision of the state investment board in accordance
with chapter 21-10.
26.1-22-05. Public, international peace garden, and winter show buildings insurable in
fund.
The public buildings and fixtures and permanent contents therein belonging to the state, the
various state industries except the state mill and elevator association if the association
exercises the option provided in section 26.1-22-10, and the political subdivisions must, and the
buildings and fixtures and the permanent contents therein belonging to an international peace
garden or a winter show may, be insured under this chapter. No officer or agent of the state or of
any political subdivision, and no person having charge of any public buildings belonging to the
state, any state industry, or any political subdivision, may pay out any public moneys or funds on
account of any insurance against loss by fire, lightning, inherent explosion, windstorm, cyclone,
tornado and hail, explosion, riot attending a strike, aircraft, smoke, vehicles, or any other risks of
direct physical loss, or contract in any manner for, or incur any indebtedness against, the state
or any political subdivision on account of any such insurance upon any of the buildings or
fixtures and permanent contents therein belonging to the state or any political subdivision,
except in the manner provided in this chapter.
26.1-22-06. Commissioner to adopt guidelines on insurable values.
The commissioner shall adopt guidelines to be used by state agencies, departments,
offices, officers, boards, commissions, international peace gardens, and winter shows for the
purpose of determining insurable values of state-owned property and property belonging to an
international peace garden or a winter show for insurance coverage as authorized by law. The
commissioner shall adopt guidelines in determining insurable values to assist state agencies
and institutions and political subdivisions in determining whether to select indirect loss
coverage. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the expenses for necessary loss
prevention inspections and rating inspections for the purpose of determining the proper
premium rate to be applied to the property insured by the fund must be paid out of the fund.
26.1-22-06.1. Replacement cost appraisal required on state-owned property.
Once every six years each state agency and institution shall obtain from the fund a
replacement cost appraisal on all buildings and fixtures and permanent contents under its
control. The fund shall determine the manner of conducting the appraisal. Annually, except for
any year an appraisal is conducted, the agency or institution shall adjust the appraisal amount in
the manner authorized by the fund.
26.1-22-07. Certain property of state and of Bank of North Dakota excepted.
Repealed by S.L. 1989, ch. 357, § 3.
26.1-22-08. Townships and school districts have option as to insurance on certain
property.
This chapter does not apply to the property of any township or school district located
outside of the incorporated limits of a city unless the clerk of the township or business manager
of the school district, at the direction of the board of township supervisors or the school board,
files with the commissioner a written application for insurance and a request that the township or
school district come under this chapter. To be effective, the application must be approved in
writing by the commissioner.
26.1-22-09. Buildings to be reported to commissioner.
In each odd-numbered year, or upon application for insurance, the state board of higher
education, and each officer, department, or agent of the state and of any industry thereof having
in charge any public building belonging to the state, each county auditor, city auditor, township
clerk, and school district business manager, as the case may be, the agent for an international
Page No. 2
peace garden, and the agent for a winter show, if applicable, shall report to the commissioner
the insurable value of each public building, or of each building owned by an international peace
garden or a winter show with the exception of buildings insured by private insurance companies,
and of the fixtures and permanent contents therein, with the exception of fixtures and permanent
contents insured by private insurance companies, belonging to the state, political subdivision,
an international peace garden, or a winter show, and shall supply such other information as may
be required by the commissioner on forms provided by the commissioner.
26.1-22-10. Commissioner to provide insurance on buildings and personal property.
Upon application the commissioner shall provide for insurance against loss by fire, lightning,
inherent explosion, windstorm, cyclone, tornado and hail, explosions, riot attending a strike,
aircraft, smoke, vehicles, or any other risks of direct physical loss, all in the manner and subject
to the restrictions of the standard fire insurance policy and standard endorsement, and no other
hazards, in the fund, on all buildings owned by the state, state industries, political subdivisions,
international peace gardens, and winter shows, and the fixtures and permanent contents in such
buildings, to the extent of not to exceed the insurable value of such property, as the value is
agreed to between the commissioner and the officer or board having control of such property,
or, in case of disagreement, by approval through arbitration. The commissioner may allow
personal property to be insured on a blanket basis.
All buildings and the contents of the buildings owned by the state mill and elevator
association, in lieu of coverage under this chapter, may, at the option of the industrial
commission, be insured by private insurance companies licensed to do business in this state,
against at least all the types of hazards insured against by the fund. If the industrial commission
exercises the option provided in this section, the commission shall seek competitive sealed bids,
shall invite the fund to submit a bid, and may reject any or all bids received.
All public buildings owned by a political subdivision, in lieu of coverage provided for in this
section, may at the option of the governing body of the political subdivision be insured on the
basis of competitive sealed bids, through the fund which must be invited to submit a sealed bid
or private insurance companies licensed to do business in this state, against damage resulting
from hazards, which include those types of hazards that may be insured against by the fund.
The governing body may reject any or all such bids.
All public libraries owned by the state or political subdivisions may, in addition to the
coverage provided for in this section, be covered against damage through vandalism. If this
coverage cannot be extended to the public libraries situated within this state, the libraries may
contract for this coverage with private insurance companies; provided, that this coverage meets
the recommendations of the insurance code of the American library association.
26.1-22-10.1. State-owned property - Insured at replacement cost.
State-owned buildings constructed after 1939 and fixtures and permanent contents insured
under this chapter must be insured at replacement cost or for another value in accordance with
underwriting guidelines adopted by the commissioner.
26.1-22-10.2. (Effective through June 30, 2017) School district - Leased property Insurability.
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the board of a school district entered a
contract with a nonprofit corporation in this state during the period beginning
November 1, 2013, and ending December 31, 2013, and if in accordance with the
terms of that contract the nonprofit corporation acquired and constructed a school
facility that the nonprofit corporation in turn leases back to the district for use in the
provision of educational services, that facility is designated as a public facility owned
by the school district for purposes of insurability under this chapter.
2. For purposes of this section, "school facility" means the real property referenced in the
contract and all buildings, improvements, and fixtures on the real property.
Page No. 3
26.1-22-11. Arbitration.
In case the commissioner and the board or officer having charge of any property are unable
to agree upon the insurable value of the property, the value must be determined by a
recognized appraisal company at the expense of the state industry, political subdivision, an
international peace garden, or a winter show owning the property, if the appraisal company
arbitrator meets with the approval of both the commissioner and the board or officer concerned.
If they are unable to agree on an arbitrator, then the matter must be submitted to arbitration by a
board of arbitration selected as provided by this section. The commissioner and the board or
officer in charge of the property each shall select one competent, disinterested contractor,
architect, experienced appraiser, appraisal company, or one of the members of such board, and
the two so chosen shall select a third person of similar qualification. The three arbitrators shall
proceed to determine the insurable value of the property, and the decision of the arbitrators, or a
majority of them, must be given in writing to the commissioner and the board or officials
concerned and is binding upon both parties. Each party to the dispute shall pay the expense
and charges of the arbitrator chosen by the party, and the expense and the charges of the third
arbitrator must be borne equally by both parties to the dispute. The decision by the board of
arbitration must be made within thirty days from the time the matter is submitted to it. Until the
commissioner and board or officer in charge have agreed, or in case of dispute, until the
decision of the appraisal company or arbitrators, the property must continue to be valued in the
same amount as previously, or in case of new buildings or property, in the amount fixed by the
commissioner. The same procedure must be followed in case of new construction or in any
increase or decrease in values.
26.1-22-12. Policy fee.
Repealed by S.L. 1989, ch. 357, § 3.
26.1-22-13. Reserve balance - Payment of loss.
All assessments, interest, and profits on investments and all other income of the fund must
be added to a reserve balance within the fund. All losses incurred, including loss adjustment
expenses and operating expenses appropriated by the legislative assembly, must be paid from
the reserve balance in the manner provided by law.
26.1-22-14. Assessments and reporting of premiums and losses.
If the reserve balance is less than twelve million dollars, the commissioner shall determine
the amount of money necessary to bring the reserve balance up to twelve million dollars. The
commissioner shall then levy an assessment against every policy in force with the fund. The
assessment must be computed as follows:
The eighty percent or ninety percent coinsurance rate established by the insurance services
office for each insured property for which that rate may be applicable, and the full rate
established for policies providing coverage against indirect losses and for properties to
which the eighty percent or ninety percent coinsurance rate is not applicable under the rules
of the insurance services office, must be applied to the amount of insurance provided in
each policy and the result of the application of the rate to the amount of insurance sets the
tentative assessment to be made against the policy. The total of all tentative assessments
must then be ascertained. The percentage of the assessment necessary to restore the
reserve balance to the sum of twelve million dollars must then be computed and collected
on each policy; provided, that until the reserve balance reaches twelve million dollars, the
assessment must be in an amount determined by the commissioner but may not exceed
sixty percent of the rates set by the insurance services office for insured property unless the
reserve balance is depleted below three million dollars. In case of a fractional percentage
the next higher whole percent must be used in such computation.
The commissioner shall submit, not later than December thirty-first of each odd-numbered year,
all data concerning premiums written and losses incurred during the previous biennium ending
July thirty-first to the insurance services office so that the experience of the fund may be
included in the computation of rates to apply to the classes of business written by the fund.
Page No. 4
26.1-22-15. Collection of premiums and assessments.
The commissioner, as soon as possible after providing for insurance coverage against any
indirect loss or loss of property belonging to the state, a political subdivision, an international
peace garden, or a winter show, shall certify to the insured the amount of premium or
assessment due. The certificate must give the name of the insured, the amount of insurance
written thereon, and the amount of the premium or assessment, and if applicable, the location
and description of the insured property. The proper officer shall remit to the commissioner the
amount of the premium or assessment within sixty days after the date of the certification. The
commissioner shall deposit the premiums and assessments with the state treasurer to the credit
of the fund. If the premiums or assessments are not paid within sixty days after the date on
which they are certified, they shall bear interest at the rate of six percent per annum and
collection thereof may be enforced by appropriate action. The attorney general and the state's
attorney of the relevant county shall bring appropriate actions to enforce the collections of the
premium and assessment upon request of the commissioner. Payment of the premiums or
assessments certified pursuant to this section may be made by any state department, officer,
board, institution, or agency and by any political subdivision, out of any available funds,
notwithstanding that no specific appropriation or tax levy has been made therefor.
26.1-22-16. Rejection of certain risks.
If the commissioner finds that any risk is unreasonably hazardous, the commissioner may
require the board or officer having control of the risk to make any improvements or changes
necessary to remove the extra hazard. If the board or agency fails to make the improvements or
changes within six months after the demand by the commissioner, the commissioner may
cancel the insurance on the renewal upon thirty days' notice. No cancellation may be made by
the commissioner without the approval of the industrial commission. If a dispute arises between
the commissioner and the board or official having control of the risk, either as to the insurability
thereof or as to the compliance by the board or officer with the requirements of the
commissioner, the dispute must be submitted to a board of arbitration as provided in section
26.1-22-11 and the decision of the board of arbitration is binding on both parties. If the
insurance on any risk is canceled as provided in this section, the board or officer in charge of
the risk may procure insurance from any authorized insurance company, and the premium is a
proper charge against the state, state industry, or political subdivision owning the property.
26.1-22-17. Loss - How paid.
All losses occasioned by the perils insured against under this chapter must be paid out of
the fund in an amount not exceeding the amount of the insurance upon any particular risk. The
loss upon any building or property insured in the fund, whether totally destroyed or partially
damaged by reason of the perils, must be adjusted by the commissioner or a duly authorized
adjuster or adjusting company. All necessary loss adjustment expenses must be included as a
component of the loss and be paid out of the fund. Immediately upon the happening or occasion
of any such loss or damage, the insured shall notify the commissioner. The notification must be
in the manner required by the commissioner and must provide a description of the property, the
amount of insurance carried, the probable amount of loss or damage, and the probable cause of
loss or damage. The insured may not disturb the property except as provided in the policy until
the commissioner or the commissioner's agent has adjusted the loss or has given notice that
the information on which the adjustment is to be made has been secured. Allowances for loss
and damage must be paid out of the fund upon warrants drawn by the office of management
and budget upon the state treasurer against the fund after the submission of a voucher
prepared by the commissioner to the office of management and budget specifying the amount to
be paid and the payee to whom the warrants must be drawn. However, if at any time due to a
catastrophe or disaster, or a succession of catastrophes or disasters, the reserve balance has
been depleted below two million dollars, the commissioner may, with the approval of the
industrial commission, issue premium anticipation certificates in an amount sufficient to bring
the reserve balance up to two million dollars. The premium anticipation certificates must be
issued for a period of from ten to twenty years, as determined by the commissioner with the
approval of the industrial commission, and the interest and principal must be paid and retired by
Page No. 5
assessments levied on all policies in force with the fund. To retire these premium anticipation
certificates, the commissioner shall levy a special assessment on every policy in force with the
fund; however, the total of all assessments and premiums provided for in section 26.1-22-14
may not exceed the full rate as developed by an advisory organization at the direction of the
commissioner. Any state department may invest its funds in the purchase of the premium
anticipation certificates.
26.1-22-18. Arbitration of loss.
In case an agreement as to the amount of loss insured against under this chapter cannot be
arrived at between the commissioner or the commissioner's representative and the person or
board representing the state, political subdivision, an international peace garden, or a winter
show owning the building or property, the loss may be arbitrated as provided by law.
26.1-22-19. Repair or replacement of destroyed buildings.
If the commissioner and the insured agree that the fund shall repair or replace the building
destroyed or damaged, no repairs, rebuilding, or replacement may be undertaken by the
commissioner or any employees of the commissioner, but if they are deemed necessary or
proper in any case, they must be performed by independent contractors. The cost of any
repairs, rebuilding, or replacements may not exceed the amount of the insurance carried upon
the particular risk.
26.1-22-20. Replacement of policies.
Repealed by S.L. 1989, ch. 357, § 3.
26.1-22-21. Insurance required - Excess loss reinsurance.
The commissioner shall procure and shall keep in force excess loss reinsurance naming the
fund as the reinsured. The excess loss reinsurance must be in an amount and for a period
determined by the commissioner to be sufficient for the fund. The reinsurance contract must
reimburse the fund for losses incurred by the fund under policies issued by the fund and arising
out of each occurrence of a covered cause of loss and include at least a sixty-day cancellation
notice.
The cost of the excess loss reinsurance must be paid out of the premium income of the fund
and must be assessed against the policyholders that benefit from the reinsurance. Excess loss
reinsurance must be written only by a company or companies authorized to do business within
this state. The contract must be countersigned by a licensed North Dakota resident insurance
producer. On the last Monday in June prior to the expiration of the contract, the commissioner,
with the approval of the industrial commission, shall contract for the excess loss reinsurance
with the company or group of companies submitting the lowest and best bid for the period
commencing on the ensuing first day of August. The commissioner, with the approval of the
industrial commission, may disregard this section after the commissioner and the commission
have studied the available bids for the reinsurance required by this section.
26.1-22-21.1. Insurance broker of record.
The fund may contract for insurance broker of record services to assist in procuring excess
loss reinsurance by soliciting bids. The fund may award a contract to an insurance broker
licensed by, and in good standing with, the state to serve the interests of the fund and its
policyholders under this title. The contract must be for the period of a biennium. The fund may
renew, renegotiate, or rebid a contract based upon contract performance, cost, and the best
interests of the fund and policyholders.
26.1-22-22. Commissioner may waive subrogation rights during construction.
The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, waive any right of the fund to
recover for damage sustained by any structure as a result of fire or explosion caused by a
contractor, its employees or agents, in the performance of a contract for the alteration of, or the
construction of an addition to, a building insured in the fund.
Page No. 6
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. North Dakota may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
