REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
ROXANNE J. YOUNG, Executive Director, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority
SUBJECT
Title
Renewal of General Liability, Optional Excess Liability, and Cyber Liability Programs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority:
1. Approve Joint Powers Authority Agreement with Golden State Risk Management Authority, including a non-standard term, to allow San Bernardino County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority to participate as a public entity, beginning on July 1, 2026 and continuing until terminated by either party.
2. Approve the purchase of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority’s various Liability insurance programs with the following coverages, for an estimated total premium of $258,750 for the one-year period of July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2027:
a. General Liability Insurance Program with Golden State Risk Management Authority, with a coverage limit of $25,000,000, for a premium cost of approximately $209,300.
b. Optional Excess Liability Insurance Program with Golden State Risk Management Authority, with a coverage limit of $25,000,000, for a premium cost of approximately $49,450.
3. Approve the renewal of the Cyber Liability Insurance Program with Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management, with a coverage limit of $25,000,000, for a premium cost of approximately $17,020.
4. Approve non-financial Memorandum of Understanding with Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management for Cyber Liability Insurance effective July 1, 2026 and continuing until terminated by either party.
5. Authorize the Executive Director of In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority to execute the Memorandum of Understanding for Cyber Liability Insurance with Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management and the binding order with each insurer, on behalf of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, subject to County Counsel review.
6. Direct the Executive Director of In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority to transmit the Memorandum of Understanding to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Roxanne J. Young, Executive Director, 891-9102)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The approximate premium of $275,770 is funded by State (50%) and Federal (50%) grants. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority (IHSS PA) 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2002, San Bernardino County (County) established IHSS PA to serve elderly, blind, or disabled individuals who are not able to remain in their homes without assistance. On January 8, 2002 (Item No. 58), the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted Ordinance No. 3842 establishing the IHSS PA to act as the employer of record for San Bernardino In-Home Supportive Services providers pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 12301.6, subdivision (c)(1) and to perform other IHSS PA functions as required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 12301.6, subdivision (e) and not retained by County.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 3842, IHSS PA is an entity separate from the County. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of members of the Board and is a corporate public body exercising public and essential governmental functions with all powers necessary and convenient to carry out the delivery of in-home supportive services.
Additionally, the IHSS PA is charged by the state legislature with providing mandated services to include the following: a registry of potential care providers, background and qualification investigations of potential care providers, referrals to IHSS PA consumers of potential care providers from the registry, training for both IHSS PA care providers and consumers, and performance of other functions related to the delivery of in-home supportive services as designated by the Governing Board.
The Department of Risk Management administers IHSS PA insurance programs for workers’ compensation claims. IHSS PA procures general liability insurance, optional excess liability insurance, and cyber insurance policies for additional protection as recommended by the County’s broker, Alliant Insurance Services (Alliant). These insurance policies have previously been procured with Purchase Orders issued within the authority of the Purchasing Agent.
On April 8, 2025 (Item No. 56), the Board approved the renewal of the General Liability, Optional Excess Liability, and Cyber Liability Insurance Programs with Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM) for a total cost of $206,800, which represents the entire cost of estimated premiums due. A subsequent increase of actuarial assessment by PRISM resulted in a higher total cost of $236,737.
For the upcoming policy year, IHSS PA was informed that the deductible for their current General Liability and Optional Excess Liability policies provided by PRISM are going to increase from $10,000 per occurrence to $100,000 per occurrence. IHSS PA consulted with Alliant to explore cost saving options. Alliant engaged multiple carriers on behalf of IHSS PA and recommended Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA) as the carrier for General Liability and Optional Excess Liability Insurance due to their higher limit and first dollar coverage (no deductible). A signed Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) by the Board of Directors is required to join GSRMA. Once the signed JPA is received, GSRMA’s Board of Directors will then ratify IHSS PA’s membership at their Board meeting and countersign the JPA.
Insurance policies purchased through the JPA include terms that differ from the standard County Contract and are non-negotiable.
The policies automatically bind the County for successive one-year terms unless the County withdraws from the JPA by providing 12 months’ notice or its membership is cancelled by a two thirds vote of the Governing Board.
• County policies 11-05 and 11-06SP1 do not permit indefinite terms or automatically renewing contracts except for end user license agreements, software/hardware licenses and subscriptions, and master service agreements or unless approved by the Board.
• Potential Impact: The County is bound to renew the policies annually unless a notice of withdrawal is submitted in writing to the JPA at least 12 months prior to the end of the policy year.
Approval of Recommendations No. 1 and No. 2 will allow IHSS PA to join GSRMA as a public entity member and will permit IHSS PA to purchase General Liability and Optional Excess Liability Insurance through GSRMA for the period of July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2027. Pursuant to County Code section 12.4207, IHSS PA will provide evidence to the County of the type and amount of coverage acquired and will ensure that the policies are endorsed to include the County as an Additional Insured. IHSS PA will return to the Board in subsequent years for approval of future insurance program renewals.
Alliant has recommended IHSS PA renew its Cyber Liability Insurance Program through PRISM, the insurance carrier that provides current coverage. An executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the program is required for participation. Approval of Recommendation No. 3 will provide a new one-year coverage period of July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2027, for the Cyber Liability Insurance program for a total premium of approximately $17,020. This represents an increase of $7,220, or approximately 73%, over last year’s final premium of $9,800. Several factors contributed to this increase, including the frequency, severity, and complexity of ransomware incidents and breaches affecting private and public entities during the previous year.
Approval of Recommendation No. 4 will authorize the Executive Director of IHSS PA to execute the MOU and binding order with each insurer to ensure a timely renewal process with no lapse in coverage.
A final premium amount will not be available until closer to the renewal date of July 1, 2026. This is due to the complexity of negotiations Alliant engages in with the insurance carriers on behalf of IHSS PA to develop the liability insurance coverages.
PROCUREMENT
As a member of GSRMA’s JPA, IHSS PA will be eligible to purchase General Liability and Optional Excess Liability insurance through GSRMA’s shared limits options. As a current member of PRISM’s JPA, IHSS PA is eligible to purchase Cyber Liability Insurance through PRISM. This eliminates the need for a County facilitated procurement process, resulting in cost savings to the County through volume discounts and shielding from insurance market swings, which minimizes risk and uncertainty at renewal time.
The Purchasing Department, which provides purchasing services to IHSS PA pursuant to an interagency agreement between County and IHSS PA, concurs with this noncompetitive procurement based on GSRMA’s and PRISM’s specialized credentials, including their access to multiple brokers and extensive knowledge of the County’s needs.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services (Patty Steven, Administrative Manager, 388-0241) on May 22, 2026; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 18, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on May 27, 2026; Risk Management (Stephanie Pacheco, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on May 29, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on June 1, 2026.