35-2-114. Liability insurance authorized; effect of procurement.

(a) The governing body of any county memorial hospital, hospital district or other governmental agency which provides health care services or mental health services within this state may procure any type or amount of liability insurance coverage as it deems prudent to cover any loss by reason of liability for damages on account of injury, sickness or disease, death, property loss or damage. This shall not be construed as creating a liability of such county memorial hospital, hospital district or governmental agency insuring itself, nor shall the failure to procure any such insurance be construed as creating any liability of the county memorial hospital, hospital district or other governmental agency.

(b) To the extent of any such insurance coverage procured by a county memorial hospital, hospital district or other governmental agency providing health care or mental health services, the defense of governmental immunity is expressly waived. All defenses which would be available to a private corporation in an action against the corporation are available to the county memorial hospital, hospital district or other health care governmental agency.

(c) None of these provisions shall be construed as waiving the individual immunity of any employee, board member or officer of a county memorial hospital, hospital district or other health care governmental agency when the person is acting within the scope of his employment or authority.