Volume 30 
                                                Issue 2
                                                February 2020
                                                 www.pacounties.org
                                                                                         

INSURANCE MATTERS

An e-newsletter of the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania Insurance Programs
Owned by Members     Governed by Members     Service to Members
In This Issue
Specialty Lines

 
 

With one month under our belts, 2020 is set to move along. We've been getting lots of good questions from newly elected commissioners, and starting some visits to the members to talk about the various insurance programs of which their county is a member. If you are interested in having CCAP insurance staff visit to review your county's participation, experience and coverage, let us know! We will also be reaching out to counties who have new commissioners to schedule visits in the spring and throughout the rest of the year.
 
As you can imagine, questions this time of year are mainly about general coverage for bonds, crime coverage and other administrative matters. If there is new staff at the county we can help with training about how and when to report claims for workers' compensation, property, liability and cyber issues.
 
The insurance programs team also offers a service for new chief clerks, county administrators and risk managers - an in-house day with meetings/trainings from our staff about the various programs of which the county is a member. If you have a new chief clerk, administrator or risk manager, we would love to host them at CCAP - just contact me and we can set up a date.

Make sure you contact us when you need help with something, 
                                 John Sallade
Annual PComp Membership Dinner Meeting - March 23

The annual meeting of the PComp members will be Monday, March 23 at 6 p.m. at the Harrisburg Hilton, during the CCAP Spring Conference. Plan to be there to receive updates on the workers' compensation coverage and services for your county. PComp members and their spouses or guests are welcome to attend.  Please click
here  to register for the dinner meeting.
2020 UC Trust Risk Control Incentive Program

The UC Trust Risk Control Incentive Program was created to provide members with an opportunity to earn up to a five percent credit toward each of their four quarterly contributions. The credits are applied in the year succeeding the year in which the credits are earned (e.g., credits earned in 2020 will be applied to 2021 contributions). Click here to access the document, which outlines the ways in which UC Trust Members can earn those credits!
2020 PCoRP Board of Directors Finalized

Jeff Snyder, CCAP President completed his appointments to the PCoRP Board of Directors in November 2019, in order for the board to be ready for its first meeting of the year in January. New appointees are Molly Mudd, Adams County; Angela Harding, Clinton County; and Eric Hern, Warren County.
 
The 2020 PCoRP Board Members are:
 
Appointed By CCAP (All terms expire 12/31/21)
Angela Harding (Clinton County Commissioner)
David Witchey (Columbia County Chief Clerk)
Jamie Wolgemuth (Lebanon County Administrator)
Frank Staudenmeier (Schuylkill County Commissioner)
Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner)
Eric Hern (Warren County Director of Finance and Administration)
Bill Gaylord (Wyoming County Chief Clerk)
                                                                                               
Elected By Members (All terms expire 12/31/20)
Krista Davis (Centre County Risk Management Coordinator) (4th & 5th Class)
Mark Sather (Huntingdon County Commissioner) (6th Class)
Norm Wimer (Forest County Coroner) (7th & 8th Class)
Molly Mudd (Adams County Solicitor) (At Large)
Mark Partner (Juniata County Commissioner) (At Large)
Larry Maggi (Washington County Commissioner) (At Large)
           
County Related Entity Representative (appointed annually by the PCoRP Board)
Jim Jones (Central Counties Youth Center Administrator)
 
Our thanks to these individuals for agreeing to serve on the PCoRP Board!
 
For more information, contact John Sallade .
 
Hot Topics
Snow and Ice Risks

Just a short reminder this month to watch for risks associated with snow and ice. The most obvious is the need for prompt clean up of areas where your employees and/or the public will be walking. And don't forget to remind your employees to choose the proper footwear for the season - if needed they can change into dress shoes once inside, but falls due to improper shoes and cost you in workers' compensation claims.
 
Also watch your buildings' roofs and gutter for snow and ice buildup. If you can safely clear it away you could avoid damage, and possibly leaking into the building when melting starts. Your maintenance staff is probably ready for these issue - but it doesn't hurt to remind them.

For more information, contact John Sallade .
CCAP Insurance Programs Overview
 

Each edition of Insurance Matters in 2020 will focus on one of our CCAP Insurance Programs.  Our goal is to educate our new members on all of the programs we offer, as well as refresh our current members on our programs. We hope you enjoy this new article, and should you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
 
This edition is a brief overview of The Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool (PCoRP). PCoRP provides property, liability, automobile, crime, cyber and other related insurance coverages, loss control, claims services and training to Pennsylvania counties and county related entities. 

Some benefits of PCoRP include:
  • Members are eligible to apply for up to a total of $20,000 in funding during each grant policy year to be used for Loss Prevention Grants!
  • PCoRP membership affords county employees to attend Risk Management Training Workshops (GLIMPSE) for FREE if PCoRP is sponsoring the workshop!
  • FREE Risk Control Services provided to members include evaluating member's exposure and helping to minimize risk. The department can also provide specific on-site trainings and building assessments, as requested!
  • Risk Control Prevention Credit Program rewards members who participate in risk control activities with a reduction of their premium costs, up to 5 percent annually!
  • Claims are handled in-house!!
 
 
Did you know that CCAP Insurance Programs offers 10 insurance and financial solutions for your county? CCAP Insurance Programs were created by counties, for counties and are tailored to meet the specific needs and risks of counties! Interested in any of our programs - make sure to ask us first because we cover it all!
 
Unsure which program(s) you are in? Click here to see if your county is a member.
UC Trust - 40th Anniversary!

2020 marks the 40
th Anniversary for the CCAP UC Trust. To celebrate this milestone, the UC Trust is providing FREE onsite training to every member through Mazzitti and Sullivan, EAP. Please see the flier below for more information on this training opportunity and as always, thank you for your membership!

Contact Nelson Breisch or Ethan Troutman from Mazzitti and Sullivan, EAP to schedule your FREE training session!


Let's Think Spring

The CCAP Insurance Programs will be offering a full slate of excellent training opportunities again starting in March. Planning is underway to offer sessions on defensive driving, workers' compensation, anatomy of a cyber claim, county building risk management, dealing with difficult and challenging employees and situations, our always popular prison risk management workshop and HR Boot Camp. Please refer to our save the date flyer on our website for dates and location.  
 
The spring edition of the GLIMPSE will be coming out in early February and registration will be available February 5th. If you don't already receive the training catalog but would like too, please let me know .
 
We continue to collaborate with The Academy for Excellence in County Government  and are able to offer additional opportunities to fulfill some of your required courses as well as some elective credits.
 
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Linda Rosito , Risk Management Training Director at (717) 736-4728.
 
Thank you for your continued support of the CCAP Insurance Programs trainings! I look forward to seeing you in the spring!
Wellness Matters
Snow Shoveling Heart Safety

As the temperature plummets and snow falls, add snow shoveling and removal to your list of household chores.
For some, the combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart and the risk for heart attack.

The American Heart Association and the National Safety Council offer these practical tips for safe snow removal:
  • Stretch before you begin - snow shoveling is a workout! Consult your physician if you have a medical condition or do not exercise on a regular basis
  • Pace yourself - there is no reward for being the first to have a clean driveway
  • Do not shovel after eating- this puts an extra load on your heart
  • Avoid caffeine and nicotine before and during shoveling - stimulants increase your heart rate and constrict blood vessels which puts more stress on the heart
  • Use a small shovel to lighten the load - the act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure
  • When possible, push the snow
  • Get started early and keep up throughout the snowfall- powdery snow is lighter and easier to move than wet, packed down snow
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages before, during, or immediately after shoveling -  heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia; alcohol may increase your sensation of warmth
  • Take breaks and don't work to the point of exhaustion
  • Stay hydrated - dehydration forces the heart to work harder and can increase risk for stroke so drink plenty of water
  • Dress in layers - as your body heats up, shed extra layers 
  • Carry your cell phone in your pocket - even if you are not sure, call 911 immediately if you experience any signs of a heart attack - squeezing pain in the chest, shortness of breath, pain that radiates down the left arm, cold sweat, nausea, jaw pain or lightheadedness. Put down the shovel, go inside, and make the call. Do not wait to call.
  • Reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease by managing your weight, reducing your triglycerides and cholesterol levels, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking

Some of our Pennsylvania counties have already had a measurable snow fall; it's only a matter of time until we all get to experience one. Shovel smart and safely.

Drone Regulation Updates for Counties

Recently (October 2019), the FAA made a major change to their policy regarding law enforcement agencies. This would include Pennsylvania's Sheriff Departments.

Originally, law enforcement was only permitted to fly drones under the FAA's Certificate of Operation (COA). This was a very restrictive and cumbersome, taking up to six months for approval. Now, law enforcement can also fly under Part 107, which means an operator must take an exam consisting of 60 questions relating to drone operations and airspace regulations. A 70% is required to successfully pass.

This method can take as little as 2 weeks, upon successful completion of the exam. Under Part 107, the certified operator can fly anywhere in the county or country, provided they comply with FAA regulations. Testing methods are being reviewed / revised and will include hobby operators (flying drones over .55lbs).

On December 27th, 2019 the FAA published a "public inspection" copy of its Notice of Public Rulemaking (NRPM) on the Remote Identification (RID) of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

NASA is currently tasked with developing a transponder system for drones to track their position in national air space. All drones (including hobby use / drones over .55 lbs.) will be required to carry a transponder. This system may be approved as early as 2021, with the final rule put in place in by 2023.

Counties and law enforcement agencies are still not permitted to fly at night, out of line-of-sight, or over people without a special exemption from the FAA. These restrictions are currently under review and may change soon.

Please remember, the county will not be insured for drone use until the UAS is scheduled with PCoRP.

If you have any questions regarding county drone use, please contact me.
Senior Risk Control Specialist
Quote of the Month
 
" I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature."
 
Paulo Coelho
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Contact Us: John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs