§5572. Authority of sheriffs to form, join, and participate in interlocal risk management agency; establishment of self-insurance fund; contributions; records

A. Any two or more sheriffs may make and execute an intergovernmental agreement among themselves to establish an interlocal risk management program, to become members of an interlocal risk management agency, to pool their public liability risks in whole or in part with each other, and to establish a group self-insurance fund. The interlocal risk management agency, once established, may designate the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association to administer any group self-insurance fund so established and to administer the terms and conditions of any interlocal risk management program entered into between participating sheriffs. The agency may instead elect to designate another public or private entity to administer the terms and conditions of the interlocal risk management program but only the interlocal risk management agency or the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association may administer the group self-insurance fund.

B. Contributions of participating sheriffs to the group self-insurance fund are authorized to be paid from their general fund, except for the criminal and civil sheriffs of the parish of Orleans, which funds shall be paid from the fund or funds provided or appropriated for the payment of all expenses of their offices.

C. Any sheriff participating in an interlocal risk management program and agency pursuant to this Section and for whom a contribution is made on behalf of his deputies is authorized to secure from the agency and file on behalf of his deputies a certificate of deputy participation in the program and the agency in lieu of furnishing a surety bond under the provisions of R.S. 13:5537, R.S. 13:5553, and R.S. 35:391.

D. All books, records, and files maintained by a third party for the intergovernmental risk management agency, including but not limited to audit data and all active and inactive claims files, shall at all times be the sole property of the agency and shall be surrendered immediately to the agency upon demand.

Acts 1986, No. 662, §1; Acts 1991, No. 43, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 33:1482 pursuant to Acts 2011, No. 248, §3.