HISTORY
The joint powers authority, originally called the Self Insurance Program for Employees (SIPE), was established in 1977 to provide the services necessary and appropriate for the development, operation and maintenance of a self insurance program for workers' compensation claims. A Board of Directors was created consisting of a representative from each member school district. The SIPE Board of Directors established Risk Management Committee to conduct research and develop safety and loss control programs with the overall goal of providing safety and loss control services to SIPE member school districts.
In 1984, the SIPE Board of Directors in association with the County Office of Education established a Safety Department with one position as a Safety Officer to assist member school districts in developing safety engineering, loss control and industrial hygiene programs.
In 1988, the SIPE Board of Directors voted unanimously to establish SIPE as a stand alone agency separate from the County Office of Education. They also changed the Safety Officer position to a Risk and Loss Control Manager position.
In 1991, the SIPE Board of Directors established a Loss Control Specialist position to work under the direction of the Risk and Loss Control Manager of SIPE.
In 1997, the SIPE Department of Risk Management was renamed the Department of Occupational Health and Safety.
In 1998, the SIPE Board of Directors established a Coordinator of Industrial Hygiene position and the Loss Control Specialist position was changed to the Coordinator of Occupational Safety and Health.
In 1999, the SIPE Board of Directors voted unanimously to change the name of the organization from the Self Insurance Program for Employees to the Schools Insurance Program for Employees.
In 2006, the SIPE Board of Directors changed the Risk and Loss Control Manager position to an Executive Director's position which included additional responsibility for the over-all management of the SIPE program.
PURPOSE
To administer the Joint Powers Agreement pursuant to the provisions of the California Government Code, Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 5, Article 1, Section 6500-6515 (Joint Powers Agreements) Section 990.8 of the Government Code (insurance by two or more public entities), and Sections 35214, 39603, 81602 and 81603 of the Education Code relating to the joint exercise of powers between school districts and community colleges.
- To provide a self insurance plan for workers' compensation claims against SIPE member school districts.
- To provide legal representation for workers' compensation claims.
- To provide services as may be necessary for the payment and handling of workers' compensation claims.
- To provide safety engineering, loss control, environmental and industrial hygiene services.
- To provide safety and risk management research and development through the SIPE Risk Management Committee.
- To sponsor educational programs to benefit and enhance all district safety programs.
- To provide a third party claims administrator for payment, investigation and litigation of claims.
OPERATIONS
The SIPE Board of Directors consists of one representative from each member school district constituting a current board membership of twelve. The officers of the agency include the President, Vice President and Secretary who also serve as an executive committee to provide direction to the Executive Director.
The Board of Directors may appoint and dissolve working committees from its active membership or may contract for services of others in keeping with the Joint Powers Agreement and these Bylaws.
The officers of the Agency and the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The principal officers shall be a president, a vice president, and a secretary. The President, Vice President, and Secretary shall serve as an executive committee to provide direction to the Executive Director.
The Risk Management Committee works closely with the Executive Director to administer SIPE Safety and Loss Control Programs and to establish an annual budget for research and development in the area of safety, loss control and risk management.
The Risk Management Committee has four sub-committees: Transportation Safety, Disaster Preparedness, Countywide Workshop, and Finance.