Specialist insurer Beazley has announced the launch of a comprehensive policy that covers infringements of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in public education programs. The policy provides coverage for employment practices liability (EPL) and sexual misconduct and molestation liability (SML) for US educational institutions that receive federal funding.

Beazley has underwritten EPL and SML for more than 20 years. The launch of the new policy builds on the insurer’s experience in risk management and crisis response in dealing with the risks faced by educational institutions.

EPLS and SML coverage under the policy includes:

• Loss resulting from any employment practices claim.
• Sub-limited defense costs resulting from wage and hour claims.
• Sub-limited employment event loss.
• Sub-limited defense costs resulting from immigration practices claims.
• Sub-limited Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defense costs resulting from OSHA citations.
• Loss resulting from sexual misconduct and molestation claims.
• Safeguarding costs resulting from sexual misconduct and molestation circumstances.

Employee-on-employee sexual molestation coverage can also be considered, Beazley said.

“Even the most informed and diligent educational institution runs the risk of a Title IX complaint,” said Paul Nash, head off employment practices liability at Beazley. “We understand the challenges and have developed a solution that provides comprehensive coverage and crisis-response services to help our clients address areas of potential risk, and – if needed – to provide support in dealing with crisis response, communication and management.”