What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?
A COI is a form provided by the operator of a program site, excluding sites owned by Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI), which identifies a specified amount of coverage the insured holds in various categories, e.g. commercial general liability, automobile, professional liability and workers compensation.
Why does our council require COI’s?
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' national Girl Scout insurance broker has advised us that it is both appropriate and necessary to request and receive COI’s from the owner/operators of facilities used by our girl and adult members. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is obligated to ensure, to the extent reasonably possible, that any site or facility we use for our girls and adults is safe. One measure is the evidence that the facility is adequately insured.
What if a vendor/program provider refuses to provide a COI?
These instances are handled on a case by case basis in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer.
We do not need COI’s for political subdivisions of the State of Illinois; licensed vendors with GSUSA.
A troop wants to go to a fast food restaurant that has a playground. Do we need to request a COI?
For public venues i.e. McDonald’s, public library, museum, etc. if the event is held in a public area, no COI is needed. If held in a private room, a COI is required.
A troop is setting up a Fall Program/Cookie Program booth at a local store. Do we need to request a COI?
If the booth is located outside of the outer-most door of the store, no COI is required. If the booth is inside the outer-most door, then we need a COI from the store. If any booth at any commercial establishment will be inside the store, then we need a COI from the company at the corporate level.
What is required when a Girl Scout activity takes place in a private residence?
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' commercial general liability policy provides liability coverage for leaders who hold meetings in their home, but Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois property/casualty insurance does not cover the leader’s home or personal property, whether the home is owned, rented or leased. It is the homeowner/lessor’s responsibility to make sure that there is adequate property/casualty insurance coverage in place. Registered members participating in Girl Scout activities in a home who are injured are covered by the Girl Scout Activity Insurance provided as part of the GSUSA membership registration fee. This insurance only provides coverage for accidents.
Does Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' insurance cover accidents in which the leader is transporting girls in a privately-owned vehicle?
The insurance on the vehicle is always primary, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' insurance is secondary. The coverage on the vehicle must meet state minimum limits for the vehicle to be used to transport girls.
Why does Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois prefer to be named as an additional insured?
The term Additional Insured refers to the practice of the insured entity naming Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as additional insured. This allows Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois to be named on the vendor’s insurance policy in case there is a claim resulting from an injury or accident to a program participant for which the vendor and/or its personnel are responsible. For high risk activities, mainly high adventure, food related, hay-rides, transportation, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois recommends that we be named as additional insured. We are required to be named as additional insured in instances where services are being performed on our site.
When is additional insurance coverage required?
Commercial bus transportation (more than 40 seats) requires $10,000,000 of insurance coverage. The coverage can be a combination of commercial general liability and umbrella coverage, but not automobile liability coverage.
Shopping malls typically have the additional insured listed for $2,000,000 of coverage.
Acceptable amounts of coverage required on a COI:
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois requires a minimum total per occurrence limit of $1,000,000. This can be in a Primary Commercial General OR a combination of a Primary General Liability Policy and a Broad Umbrella liability policy. If vendors are performing services at any of our facilities or any facility that we rent, we require workers compensation coverage per state statute. If the vendor is coming onto a Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois site or is providing transportation as part of a program, the COI must also include at least $1,000,000 of automobile coverage.
When is Workers Compensation insurance required?
Workers compensation coverage is required in instances where the vendor performs services on any Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois site or any site that Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois rents for a program/event. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois CANNOT waive workers compensation coverage. If a vendor’s employee is injured on our site, they can file a claim against our workers compensation if the vendor does not carry workers compensation coverage.
When is Professional Liability insurance required?
Professional liability insurance at a minimum of $500,000 is required to cover consultants in instances where we would be relying on their professional opinion, in case it proves to be incorrect.
For more information regarding Certificates of Insurance, please feel free to contact customercare@gsofsi.org or call 800-345-6858.
