Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Opening Session with Keynote
Matthew Luhn
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 9:00AM – 10:15AM
Location: South Shore Room, Harrahs
Wildfire Risks: Where Defense is the Best Offense
Marco Guardi, Managing Director, ASCIP
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 11:15AM – 12:00PM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
In this session we’ll explore how defensive steps in wildfire risk management reduced property loss severity and minimized disruption to members’ educational missions. Covering wildfire preparedness to business continuity planning, these steps serve as a holistic approach to strengthening resilience while preserving precious assets.
Impacts of AB 218: Lessons Learned & Best Practices for Meeting the Challenges Posed by the California Child Victims Act
Dave George, Chief Executive Officer, Schools Excess Liability Fund
Craig Schweikhard, Executive Director, San Mateo County Schools Insurance Group
Jerry Johnson, Director of Risk Management, Contra Costa Community College District
Craig Bowlus, Managing Director, National Practice Leader – Risk Pooling Aon
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 11:15AM – 12:00PM
Location: South Shore Room, Harrahs
We’ll take a look at the impact of AB 218 on public agencies in the aftermath of the passing of this unfunded, retroactive mandate by the California Legislature, nearly two years after implementation. What’s been learned, how these new challenges are being met and the best practices public entities can deploy to protect themselves from these claims.
Cyber Risk: A Devious Data Dilemma
Aaron Hillebrandt, Principal and Consulting Actuary, Pinnacle Actuarial Resources
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 2:30PM – 3:15PM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
Several organizations aggregate, analyze, and publish cyber-risk-related data studies. Since cyber-risk data reliability is in its infancy, we must analyze a given study itself before we use its data. Why was the study conducted? What was its data source? What type of data is it? How much massaging, filtering, and adjusting was done? The session will help attendees navigate the cyber-risk data minefield. We will also review some trends in commercial cyber coverage.
7 Ways to Plug into the Power of the Microsoft Platform (not confirmed)
Brian Mack, Chief Revenue Officer, Spear Technologies
Lee Mashore, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Vergence
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 4:15PM – 5:00PM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
Many JPAs feel stuck in time with legacy claims and risk management systems. They’re trying to resolve current business challenges with yesterday’s technology. Now, with the Microsoft Power Platform, organizations can modernize and digitally transform operations. In this session, learn the seven advantages to plugging into the power of this platform – including the ability to wield tremendous control, automation, and engagement via low-code/no-code configuration. The platform also provides advanced analytics to strengthen loss control efforts.
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Trends in the Pooling Industry – How to Boost Your Pool’s Financial Health
Puneet Behl, CFO, PRISM
Kevin Wong, Shareholder, Gilbert
Thursday, September 23, 2021 8:30AM – 9:15AM
Location: Emerald Bay Ballroom, Harveys
The session will capture some unusual tools for reinsurance and accounting for pools like Captives, LPT’s, commutations, consolidation of various lines of coverages, corridors and IMCD’s etc. We will discuss these tools and the accounting treatment to boost pool equity.
Defending Against the PTSD Presumption Amid Building Momentum within the Legislature to Expand It (The Introduction of SB284 in 2021 to amend LC 3212.15)
Tyrone Spears, Chief, Workers’ Compensation Division, City of Los Angeles
Thursday, September 23, 2021 8:30AM – 9:15AM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
There has been a recent legislative shift chipping away at prior legislation that raised the bar required for employees to establish compensable industrial psychiatric claims. With the enactment of LC 3212.15 in 2019, the legislature established a presumption that PTSD among police and firefighters is compensable, placing the burden on employers to disprove industrial causation. Since then, each year has seen additional bills introduced that would expand the presumption. We will explore from a forensic standpoint what is required in psych reports to establish substantial evidence of a PTSD diagnosis, which employees are subject to the Presumption, and the legal defenses available to employers to successfully rebut the Presumption. We will also discuss trends surrounding these Presumption claims since the enactment of LC 3212.15 in 2019.
Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matters for Organizations
Regina W. Romeo, CHRO & DEI Program Leader, CPS HR Consulting
Jacques S. Whitfield, Principal HR Consultant, CPS HR Consulting
Thursday, September 23, 2021 8:30AM – 9:15AM
Location: South Shore Room, Harrahs
The current call for social and organizational change and heightened focus on diversity that started in 2020 is transforming the world we live in as well as the places we work. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices that were in place before 2020 are significantly different in 2021. Research has consistently shown that organizations that embrace diversity report higher rates of retention, employee satisfaction and organizational performance. Now, more than ever, employees, members of the public and other stakeholders are expecting organizations to take meaningful and thoughtful action regarding diversity.
While many organizations want to begin or continue their DEI journey, there is uncertainty or confusion on how to revamp and revitalize their DEI efforts in sustainable ways. Executives, organizational leaders and advocates are responsible for advancing organizational changes around DEI, culture, compliance and workplace well-being but may be unsure of how to make that happen.
CAJPA Accreditation v.2021
Kimberly Dennis, Accreditation Committee Chair
Michael Mischkot & Michael McAfee, Accreditation Consultants
Jim Marta, Accreditation Program Manager
Thursday, September 23, 2021 10:15AM – 11:00AM
Location: South Shore Room, Harrahs
Learn how the Accreditation Program can improve your pool and how it can help address pool operating risks. The CAJPA Accreditation Program is designed to ensure quality and professional standards for all risk management pools regardless of size, scope of operation, or membership structure. In this session experienced Accreditation Committee members, the Accreditation Program Manager and Accreditation Consultants describe the accreditation process and key changes made to improve the program.
“There’s an App for That” – Innovation in Health Plan Design, Administration and Healthcare Delivery
Tom Sher, Senior Vice President, Alliant Employee Benefits
Thursday, September 23, 2021 10:15AM – 11:00AM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
Technology is helping to move healthcare from treatment to prevention, from reactive to proactive and from episodic to holistic. Technology is also changing employer-sponsored health plan design, plan administration, how your employees interact with healthcare providers and how they care for themselves. Learn how public employers are deploying new technology to slow the rate of increase in health care costs by improving employee health.
This Bud May Not Be for You: Litigation Exposure for Cities and Counties Arising Out of Cannabis Cultivation
Adam Ambrozy, Partner, Lenahan, Slater, Pearse & Majernik LLP
Thursday, September 23, 2021 10:15AM – 11:00AM
Location: Emerald Bay Ballroom, Harveys
With Cities and Counties now allowing cannabis cultivation within their borders and regulating the same, cannabis cultivators have been initiating litigation when these same Cities and Counties require, they comply with the rules. This session will discuss strategies to combat such litigation, the importance of crafting effective local ordinances relating to cannabis cultivation, and strategies to use when working with law and code enforcement in abatement operations.
Obtaining Warrants to Take Minors into Protective Custody
Christie Swiss, Partner, Collins + Collins LLP
Megan Lieber, Partner, Collins + Collins LLP
Thursday, September 23, 2021 10:15AM – 11:00AM
Location: Stamford/Blaisdale, Lake Tahoe Resort
This session will provide a history of the development of procedures and protocols among police and social services departments in California regarding warrant requirements for the removal of minors from their parents. By discussing a variety of case examples, we will explore the constitutional issues surrounding government interaction with families and discuss recommended risk management strategies for police and social services agencies.
General Session: The CAJPA Story and Awards Ceremony – Legal Affairs Committee Annual Case Law Update
Rob Greenfield, General Counsel, ACWA
Mike Pott, Chief Legal Counsel, PRISM
In this session the speakers will provide a summary of decisions that have been handed down by Courts in the 9th Circuit and in California during the past 12 months. The cases discussed will be in the subject areas of employment law, civil rights, workers’ compensation, dangerous condition, inverse condemnation, immunities, claims presentation, and coverage.
Deductible Strategies for Dummies (confirmed)
Michael Mischkot, Principal, Embros, LLC
Michael McAfee, Principal, Embros
James Marta, Accreditation Program Manager
Thursday, September 23, 2021 3:00AM – 3:45AM
Location: Emerald/Nevada, Lake Tahoe Resort
This session frames various approaches to member deductibles and defines environments in which they may be appropriate. An alternative claims financing mechanism that enables members to keep their capital in their own jurisdiction while recognizing significant savings over time will also be examined. A spreadsheet model that enables pools to easily quantify and project strategy outcomes using their own data will be presented and made available to interested JPAs.
Qualified Immunity: Where It Is; Where It’s Going (confirmed)
Daniel P. Barer, Partner, Pollak, Vida & Barer
Thursday, September 23, 2021 3:00AM – 3:45PM
Location: Stamford/Blaisdale, Lake Tahoe Resort
The Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit status of the controversial Qualified Immunity Defense and its future in the courts and Congress.
Paying Your Fair Share: Proposition 51 after B.B. v. County of Los Angeles (confirmed)
Kimberly Chin, Partner, Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth LLP
Thursday, September 23, 2021 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Location: South Shore Room, Harrahs
This session will provide a refresher on Proposition 51 and discuss the implications of the California Supreme Court’s decision in B.B. v. County of Los Angeles (2020) 10 Cal.5th 1 in which the Supreme Court held that an intentional tortfeasor is not entitled to a reduction or apportionment of non-economic damages. This case has implications on a wide range of public entities because most cases involving intentional tortfeasors are high profile, high value cases such as sexual abuse or constitutional claims based on 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The effects of B.B. could potentially reduce or increase exposure in an already high exposure case depending on whether an intentional tortfeasor is involved.
Embracing Our New (Virtual) Reality and Taking Pooling to New Heights through Technology (confirmed)
Rick Brush, Chief Member Services Officer, PRISM
Tom Pelster, Chief Information Officer, PRISM
Maria Williams, Sr. Member Services Specialist, PRISM
Thursday, September 23, 2021 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Location: Emerald Bay Ballroom, Harveys
With the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, public entities learned to pivot quickly and embrace the (virtual) reality that technology can take pooling to amazing new heights. In this presentation, attendees will be equipped with tools to enhance their technological prowess in the areas of: improved employee productivity & morale, enhanced data gathering capabilities, and increased digital transparency and compliance, all while maintaining a secure network.
Friday, September 24, 2021:
Legislative Session, Keynote Speaker and Breakfast
Speaker: Dan Walters
Friday, September 24, 2021 8:00AM – 10:00AM
Location: Lake Tahoe Resort Ballroom