Insurance Information

INSURANCE INFORMATION FOR BSA VOLUNTEERS

Listed below are brief outlines of insurance coverages provided by or through the Great Salt Lake Council:

Liability Insurance

Comprehensive General Liability Insurance This coverage provides primary general liability coverage for registered volunteer Scouters with respect to claims arising out of an official Scouting activity with the exception that the coverage is excess over any insurance which may be available to the volunteer for loss arising from the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle or watercraft. This insurance is only available while the vehicle or watercraft is in the actual use of a Scouting unit and being used for a Scouting purpose.

The insurance provided unregistered Scouting volunteers through the BSA general liability insurance program is excess over any other insurance the volunteer might have to his or her benefit, usually a homeowner’s, personal liability, or auto liability policy.

There is no coverage for those who commit intentional or criminal acts.

Automobile Liability Insurance

All vehicles MUST be covered by a liability insurance policy. The amount of this coverage must meet or exceed the insurance requirement of the state in which the vehicle is licensed. (It is recommended, however, that coverage limits are at least $100,000 combined single limit.) Any vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers is required to have limits of $500,000 single limit. In the case of rented vehicles the requirement of coverage limits can be met by combining the limits of personal coverage carried by the driver with coverage carried by the owner of the rented vehicle. All vehicles used in travel outside the United States must carry a liability insurance policy that complies with or exceeds the requirements of that country. A tour permit is required when units travel overnight or outside the council boundaries.  National tour permits are required for all trips of more than 500 miles or more one way and all tours outside the United States of America.

Each local council establishes the parameters under which a local council tour permit is required. These permits must list the driver’s names and limits of automobile liability insurance carried. Leaders should file local tour permits two weeks before the activity and national tour permits one month before the activity.

Quality Standard: Responsible owners of vehicles and boats should purchase their own liability insurance.

Unit Accident Insurance (Deseret Mutual)

(For units sponsored by the LDS Church)

The Church Activity Insurance Program is underwritten by Deseret Mutual (DMBA) and provides secondary accident coverage for BSA Scout units sponsored and staffed by local stakes, wards, and branches of the LDS Church in the United States. The benefits have similarities to the BSA unit accident plan offered by Health Special Risk, but are not the same. See the current DMBA Church Activity Program handbook for information on the benefits, limitations and exclusions. The LDS Church encourages Scouts, committee members, and adult Scouting leaders to properly register with BSA and obtain the proper tour permits. Persons injured while participating in a sponsored activity should notify their ecclesiastical leader or contact Deseret Mutual at (801) 578-5600 or (800) 777-3699.

The reason for different accident policies for LDS and non-LDS sponsored units is due to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) practice of providing the same Deseret Mutual accident policy for all LDS Church activities, including Scouting.