(A) As used in this section, "course required for graduation" means an accredited, academic course that a state college or university, by published rule or bulletin, requires all candidates for a particular degree to complete successfully in order to be awarded the degree.

(B) In addition to the authority granted in any other section of the Revised Code to boards of trustees of a state college or university, such board of trustees may purchase for its students a policy or policies of insurance, other than motor vehicle or automobile liability insurance, against liability on account of damages or injury to persons or property, including death by wrongful act, resulting from the acts or omissions of such students that occur in the performance of any assigned field-based or clinical activity necessary to fulfill the requirements of a course required for graduation offered by the college or university.

(C)

(1) Whether or not such insurance is purchased, such board may, to the extent it considers appropriate, indemnify or agree to indemnify and hold harmless any such student against expense, including attorney's fees, damage, loss, or other liability arising out of or claimed to have arisen out of, injury to person or property, including death by wrongful act, resulting from the acts or omissions of the indemnified student while engaged in assigned clinical or field-based activities necessary to fulfill the requirements of a course required for graduation offered by the college or university.

(2) Any board electing to indemnify such students, or to agree to so indemnify, shall reserve such funds as are necessary, in the exercise of sound and prudent actuarial judgment, to cover the potential expense, fees, damage, loss, or other liability. Such board shall, annually on or before the ninetieth day after the end of the calendar year, submit to the superintendent of insurance for his approval a report of amounts so reserved and disbursements made from such funds, together with a written opinion of an independent actuarial firm as to whether the amounts reserved conform to the requirements of this division. The superintendent shall inform the board of his approval or disapproval of the report. In the case of a disapproval, the superintendent shall order the board to comply with this division within a period of time to be determined by the superintendent. The board shall contract with an independent actuarial firm for the preparation of the written evaluation of the reserve funds required by this division.

(3) The aggregate amount of indemnity provided under this division shall not exceed one million dollars per occurrence. The board may purchase liability insurance coverage to cover any student liability in excess of such aggregate amount.

(D) No person shall be indemnified, or covered under an insurance policy, as permitted by this section, if such person acts:

(1) Manifestly outside the scope of employment or official responsibility;

(2) With malicious purpose;

(3) In bad faith; or

(4) In wanton or reckless manner.

Effective Date: 04-10-1984.