The CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS INSURANCE AUTHORITY was created by the members, for the members. When the insurance industry abandoned cities in the mid-1970s, a group of 33 progressive cities joined together to form the CALIFORNIA JPIA for the purpose of providing liability protection for its members. Today the CALIFORNIA JPIA is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state.

The CALIFORNIA JPIA has an investment portfolio of over $170 million. Funds are conservatively invested according to a policy reviewed and adopted annually by the Executive Committee. Each year the financial records are audited, and an independent actuarial evaluation of the reserves is conducted to ensure the continued financial ability for the members to protect themselves.

The members take an active role in determining the programs and services that will be provided. Councilmembers, city managers, finance officers and risk managers all participate in setting the direction for the organization to ensure that it continues to be on the cutting edge in serving the members.

A Board of Directors, consisting of one elected official appointed by each Member Agency, governs the CALIFORNIA JPIA. The Board elects a President, Vice President and seven Members of the Executive Committee, which meets monthly to supervise and conduct Authority affairs. The Executive Committee has an advisory City Managers Committee that meets monthly and a Finance Officers Committee that meets quarterly. A full-time staff headed by an Executive Director, employed by the Executive Committee, handles the day-to-day business of CALIFORNIA JPIA.

The CALIFORNIA JPIA works with the members to reduce the frequency and severity of claims. Through risk analysis and continuous education, the CALIFORNIA JPIA helps its members identify exposures and prevent losses. Each CALIFORNIA JPIA member agency is assigned a professional Risk Consultant to serve its specific needs and to help the agency determine its risk management strategy.

Training is a major element of CALIFORNIA JPIA's risk management philosophy and an important asset for its members. CALIFORNIA JPIA offers extensive year-round training in critical issues facing agencies today such as violence in the workplace, sexual harassment, driver's awareness, care of the back, confined space entry, ergonomics and other specialized areas found to present large exposures to the members.