Our joint powers authority, called the Self-Insurance Program for Employees (SIPE), was established in 1976 to provide the services necessary and appropriate for the development, operation, and maintenance of a self-insurance system for workers' compensation claims against the public educational agencies who are members. At that time, there was a board of directors with a membership of twenty-five school districts. The overall goal has been to provide service and quick response to SIPE member school district needs in the area of worker's compensation. R.L. Kautz and Company was the SIPE claims administrator.
In 1983 Santa Barbara City College District withdrew from SIPE and a year later the Santa Barbara city schools also followed.
In 1988, the SIPE Board of Directors established a Safety Officer/Risk and Loss Control Manager position hiring Vern Sanborn to assist member school districts in developing Safety Engineering, Risk/Loss Control, and Industrial Hygiene Programs.
In July 1991, SIPE signed a contract with Workers' Compensation Administration (WCA) as claim administrator for the Santa Barbara SIPE.
In July 1992, the SIPE Board of Directors contracted Mr. Han J. Helling of Helling and Associates, an independent contractor, as a consultant to the Santa Barbara SIPE.
In July of 2018, the SIPE Board of Directors hired Keith Cox to replace Vern Sanborn who retired December 2018.
In June 2019 Mr. Han J. Helling retired and resigned as the SIPE consultant.
In July 2020 the SIPE board of directors hired Risk Program Administrators (RPA) as consultants. Amber Anderson of RPA is our acting consultant.
The SIPE Board of Directors is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees.
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 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 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, and industrial hygiene services.
• To provide a third party claims administrator for payment, investigation, and litigation of claims.
Operations
The Board of Directors is made up of one member from each member school district constituting a board membership of 22 with elected officers being a board president, a vice-president and a secretary and treasurer. The president of the board is the chief executive officer and has general supervision and direction of the business of the agency.
