News

Pooling Community Resources (Nov. 12, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the Nov. 12, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. RISK MANAGEMENT Strategies for   easing the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder among employees   (MIIA) Advice on   general winter weather property preparedness   and   preventing roof collapses due to snow   (County Mutual newsletter) Tips to   avoid electronic funds transfer fraud attacks   (ASCIP)   LIABILITY Advice to school districts about   assessing and setting liability limits   (CSD Pool)   WORKERS’ COMPENSATION Article on   uncertainty surrounding cancer, COVID-19, PTSD ...
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How To Use Pooling Today Content Like a Learning Organization (November 10, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director In his 1990 book The Fifth Discipline , systems scientist Peter Senge defined a “learning organization” as one with the following characteristics: (a) systems thinking, (b) personal mastery, (c) mental models, (d) shared vision and (e) team learning. For a more condensed look at Senge’s concept, I recommend this 1993 Harvard Business Review article that simplifies the definition and focuses on key activities a learning organization engages in: (1) systematic problem-solving, (2) experimentation, (3) learning from past experience, (4) learning from others and (5) transferring knowledge. ...
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Pooling Community Resources (Oct. 22, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the Oct. 22, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 U.S. district court   refuses to dismiss a pandemic-related business interruption case against an insurer   ( Business Insurance ) Pool communication to members on   virtual annual membership meeting   (LARM) Access more COVID-19 pooling resources   via our website .   RISK MANAGEMENT Precautions for   keeping buildings safe during wildfires   (AMERIND) Tips for   dealing with politics in the workplace   without triggering employment discrimination claims or encountering other legal issues ...
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How Public Entity Pools Are Beginning to Address Health Inequities (October 9, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Given the future-minded nature of public entity pooling and heightened awareness surrounding social and economic inequalities, it’s no surprise some health pools are taking up the issue of health equity for public employee subscribers. In conversations I’ve had over the past two months, I’ve heard of member health pools seeking to address health outcome disparities by: Asking whether pool wellness incentives are respectful of income differences between the highest- and lowest-paid public employee subscribers in their membership Revising pool wellness programs to recognize fundamental health ...
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Pooling Community Resources (Oct. 1, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the Oct. 1, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Newly enacted  law in California  codifying a COVID-19 workers’ compensation presumption for: Essential workers (including firefighters and law enforcement) Any employee at a workplace with more than five workers where there is an outbreak over a 14-day period New  COVID-19 presumption in New Jersey  for essential workers, including police, firefighters and emergency reponders New  COVID-related liability protections in Ohio  (including for schools) Safety culture case study  from a Virginia ...
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Pooling Community Resources (Sept. 10, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the Sept. 10, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 New COVID-related liability protections in  Georgia  (see Chap. 16),  Mississippi  (see Sec. 2 and 3),  Nevada  (see Sec. 29) and  Tennessee Hand sanitizer storage safety recommendations  (NIRMA) School sanitization measures  shared by a Virginia public school district (VRSA) Face mask hygiene tips  (OMAG) Recommendation to  check HVAC systems to reduce coronavirus spread in schools  (KASB) RISK MANAGEMENT Webinar recording on  managing transparency-related risks  such as cyberattacks ...
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Remember to Celebrate Successes During Trying Times (Sept. 8, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Since March, AGRiP has been highly cognizant of the way we communicate with members, including what information and news we share and how we share it. In consideration of the many competing priorities pools are dealing with, we’ve kept our member outreach simple and direct, filtering away what’s nonessential so as to streamline our communications. I know many pools are doing much of the same thing for their member entities. As we minimize distractions, it’s easy to gloss over successes or “feel-good” news because it might seem less important than the crisis du jour (of which there are plenty). Almost ...
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Pooling Community Resources (August 20, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the August 20, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 White paper examining  communicable disease exclusions in the property-casualty insurance market  (Dr. Robert Hartwig and APCIA) Recommendations to mitigate risk from  private business operations (e.g., dining, retail sales) taking place in public spaces during the pandemic  (CJPIA) Preliminary injunction that had  mandated stringent COVID-19 safety measures at a California jail  lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court (Council of State Governments) RISK MANAGEMENT Tips on  preparing roads for safe school ...
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Consider Your Pool’s Role in Influencing Member Entity Outcomes (Aug. 12, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Perhaps today more than ever, local public officials find themselves dealing with seemingly no-win, “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” decisions: Should we reopen schools? Should masks be mandated? Should we restructure the funding and mission of our policing agency? To manage for these and other issues, local public entities regularly weigh the benefits of their actions (or inaction) against community norms, perspectives and acceptance of change.  A similar evaluation about taking action exists for pools with regard to how and whether a pool should influence decisions made by its public entity members. ...
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Pooling Community Resources (July 30, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the July 30, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Updated AGRiP memorandum analyzing COVID-19 developments at the federal and provincial levels in Canada that may affect reciprocals Connecticut’s new COVID-19 workers’ compensation presumption covering essential workers Checklist for returning to the workplace amid the pandemic (AMERIND) Strategies to manage staff well-being and human resources risks during reopening (MIIA) Telecommuting benefits, drawbacks and tips (CSD Pool) Guidance on new COVID-19 workplace regulations in Virginia ...
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Pooling Community Resources (July 9, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the July 9, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Updated AGRiP memorandum analyzing COVID-19 developments at the federal and provincial levels in Canada that may affect reciprocals Analysis of recent legislative and IRS rule modifications to employee benefit plan coverage and administration (ASCIP) Webinar on reopening parks and recreation programs and facilities (CIRMA) Recommendations for reopening parks and recreation facilities (Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society via KLC) Recommendation that members hold important ...
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U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Qualified Immunity Review, But Congress May

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a number of petitions relating to qualified immunity protections for law enforcement actions. This means the Court will not hear and decide on these cases. The Court also recently denied several similar petitions for review this term. Over the last few years,  qualified immunity  has been criticized by a number of organizations and legal scholars. In recent weeks, it has faced even more intense scrutiny (e.g., in this  Washington Post   commentary  by Joanna C. Schwartz), and some in Congress have now drafted legislation to end or alter the doctrine. Two bills that would eliminate qualified immunity defenses ...
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A Good Time To Be Hiring (July 6, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for pools in many ways, and some have made the difficult decision to furlough or lay off employees. However, for those pools fortunate enough to be hiring new talent, the current employment market provides something of an opportunity: Plenty of qualified professionals are now seeking jobs.  Historically, the insurance industry has added jobs back more quickly than have other sectors following a recession. This suggests it would be wise to hire slightly ahead of an economic rebound, if you can.  If you do open recruitment for a position, be prepared for a large ...
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Responding to Two Common Pooling Misconceptions (June 22, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director AGRiP has been approached by three national news organizations interested in learning more about how pools influence local law enforcement policies and practices. Some of our members have also been contacted, as have several law enforcement agencies, cities, counties and public entity membership associations. If your organization receives a media inquiry and you want additional information or assistance from AGRiP, let me know .   In response to this sort of outreach, I find myself sharing two core pooling realities many outside our community don’t readily appreciate: 1. If you’ve seen one pool, ...
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Pooling Community Resources (June 18, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the June 18, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 New  liability protections for Louisiana public entities  relating to COVID-19 exposure Updated AGRiP memorandum  analyzing COVID-19 developments at the federal and provincial levels in Canada that may affect reciprocals Pool announcement that  member entities may pay their annual contributions in two installments  (CJPIA) Risk control considerations for public entities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic  (Legacy-level QEI Patron Travelers) Insights on  talent-related shifts resulting from COVID-19 ...
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Using the Overton Window to Anticipate Change (June 9, 2020 Pooling Perspective)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Note: Throughout the pandemic, Ann Gergen has been offering regular insight into COVID-19 issues AGRiP members are experiencing and related trends to monitor. With pools now once again broadening their focus beyond COVID-19, Ann’s perspective pieces will address additional timely topics, returning to the pandemic and its effects on pools as relevant. -- Regardless of what you might have expected from 2020, this year has been – and will likely continue to be – a time of significant upheaval. As of this writing, both the COVID-19 pandemic and policing practices are generating widespread public ...
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Pooling Perspective on COVID-19 (June 1, 2020)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been participating in small weekly meetings with people from different backgrounds who share a keen interest in local public entities. Each week, we’ve shared “weak signals” (i.e., underappreciated, hard-to-spot and often surprising indicators of upcoming change), looking for connections and ways to make sense of current events and future possibilities. One important weak signal we’ve talked about is the pent-up frustration and anger likely to arise out of our current coronavirus-affected environment. These stressors extend beyond the virus itself but may be related ...
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Pooling Perspective on COVID-19 (May 27, 2020)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Benefit pools are providing early indicators of the overall impact and cost of COVID-19 on local public entities and the broader pooling community.  Here are a few of the most notable coronavirus-related trends, influences and service impacts among benefit pools: 1. COVID-19 testing and oftentimes treatment is fully covered.  Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act , and some state laws, all COVID-19 testing in the U.S. must be covered without subscriber cost-sharing. In many cases, health pools are also covering COVID-19 treatment ...
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Pooling Perspective on COVID-19 (May 18, 2020)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director And, just like that, many pools are now focused on topics related to reopening.  You are likely beginning to guide your members on whether, when and how they can safely reopen facilities and restart services. You’re probably also developing plans for pool staff to come back to the office and resume member visits.  Whether looking at your own operations or providing member guidance, there are a number of tactical questions you might consider: What jurisdictional guidance applies to your pool or member entities? How many people can reasonably be in one space at the same time? How can your pool or member entities ...
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Pooling Perspective on COVID-19 (May 11, 2020)

By Ann Gergen, Executive Director Last week, I shared a common sentiment I’ve heard from pools : “It’s hard to plan, because we just don’t know what to expect from the coronavirus.”  Another related question being explored is: “When might things return to normal?” We all want to know what public entity pooling will look like after the pandemic – and it’s comforting to expect to go back to our familiar environments, interactions and processes.  I’m not sure it’s realistic (or, frankly, wise) to expect this snapback. You could leave your pool unprepared for the future and create greater long-term discomfort by holding out for an unlikely ...
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