RMF counties enjoy healthy slate of benefits

By Becky Comet, AAC Member Benefits Manager

The list of benefits available to Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund (AACRMF) members is growing.

Since 1986, the AACRMF has provided automobile liability protection for county members. Fifty-four counties, other county entities, and more than 400 volunteer fire departments participate in this pool. It is a trust fund owned by member counties and governed by a board of seven trustees who are county officials.

The AACRMF general liability protection has been carefully crafted to provide coverage that is not “insurance” so the tort immunity counties enjoy by right is not waived by the purchase of “insurance.” This defense has been successfully tested in federal court. Furthermore, the fund is not merely a defense fund. The AACRMF is prepared to pay damages in addition to defense costs.

In 1997, the AAC formed a third party administrator (TPA) and brought the claims management in house. When a county purchases insurance, that insurance company must pay a fee or commission to the carrier for services. Since the AACRMF manages claims in house with the AAC as the TPA, funds stay in house, and additional services can be provided to member counties. That is why the AACRMF is able to provide a host of benefits to member counties free of charge.

One of the premier benefits is the codification of substantive county ordinances into a single bound volume. AAC Risk Management Services Counsel Brandy McAllister leads the team that codifies member counties’ ordinances. She has been working to make searching for ordinances more efficient since she was a law clerk in 2011. Now, she has taken codification to the next level. She is creating a searchable database of member county ordinances. It is available to RMF member counties at www.arcounties.org. Codification is a costly endeavor, and AACRMF offers this service to members free of charge.

The AAC continuously looks for ways to limit counties’ liability and to save them money. Therefore, the AACRMF has established partnerships that can provide member counties help in various areas. National MedTest Inc. performs drug and alcohol testing for counties in the RMF Auto Program. This service is available only for drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Guardian RFID partners with AACRMF to improve jail operations at every level. Guardian RFID is the global leader in inmate management systems and solutions for jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities. This system helps facilities maximize productivity, defensibility, and compliance by leveraging radio-frequency identification (RFID) + Cloud + Mobile technologies. The most up-to-date technology, the Spartan handheld device, is being deployed to member counties. Spartan has better connectivity and new features that the original device did not offer.

Another benefit as a participant in the AACRMF property program is the Peace of Mind (P.O.M.) partnership with Metro Disaster Specialists. In the event of a disaster involving county property, AACRMF members are on a priority list and will receive immediate response.

The AACRMF’s newest member benefit is the Justice Bridge, which is a simple video/audio communication system for law enforcement, state prisons, and the judiciary. Inmate court appearances can be accomplished via video teleconference. The program provides potential advancements in parole and probation processes.

Justice Bridge was tested last year in three counties, seven correctional facilities and four community correction facilities. The aim was to improve courtroom safety; to improve communication among county officials, law enforcement, prosecutors and judges; and to address inefficiencies in and liabilities associated with the transportation of inmates. The results were overwhelmingly positive. The pilot counties saw a reduction in employee overtime, fuel expenditure, and vehicle maintenance costs. They also reduced their liability for vehicular accidents, inmate escapes, inmate assaults and inmate medical costs.

These benefits come free of charge to counties that are members in the AAC Risk Management Fund. Get more information about these benefits by calling me at (501) 372-7550 or Risk Management Fund Director Debbie Norman at (501) 375-8247.