Board of Supervisors actions, June 25 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

A graphic banner with First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret), Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

Board urges state to declare an insurance emergency

The Board of Supervisors unanimously urged the state to declare a state of emergency and take immediate emergency regulatory and legislative action to strengthen and stabilize California’s marketplace for homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance.

“The reduction of insurance options in the state has had a direct negative impact on our consumers’ ability to get coverage and it’s putting our homeowners and businesses at risk of catastrophic loss,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe.

In 1988, California voters enacted Proposition 103, which established a robust set of consumer protections designed to keep insurance rates fair and affordable and to ensure a competitive marketplace.

Last year, two of the state’s largest insurance carriers, representing over 27 percent of the admitted insurance market in California, announced they would stop issuing new homeowners and commercial property insurance policies in California. Several others, representing more than an additional 36% of the market, announced plans to limit new policy origination.

The reduction of insurance options in the state has a direct negative effect on consumer access to coverage. In all parts of California, homeowners, business owners, and farmers are now unable to obtain new insurance policies.

Access to insurance allows existing homeowners to protect what is for many their largest and most important asset, and empowers homebuyers to secure a mortgage for a home that can build generational wealth, but a scarcity of options may freeze real estate transactions and slow or stop the rate of new housing development, including attached dwelling units like affordable housing projects, apartments, and condominiums, exacerbating the state’s critical housing shortage.

Californians who cannot obtain coverage are forced to apply for protection through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, a state-established risk pool intended to operate as California’s insurer of last resort providing temporary coverage as consumers pursue insurance in the traditional market. The collapsing market has caused steadily increasing enrollment in the FAIR Plan over the past five years, threatening the ongoing stability of the plan, putting even this safety net at dire risk.

Policy decisions have placed Californians’ homes and businesses at risk of catastrophic loss that can only be prevented by stabilizing the homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance markets while providing rates that remain fair and affordable to consumers, and maintaining the ongoing viability of the FAIR Plan, which provides a vital safety net to Californians whose policies are nonrenewed and to homebuyers who cannot secure a mortgage without insurance.

The California Insurance Commissioner has released draft regulations to address this immediate crisis but the Little Hoover Commission hearing on March 28, 2024, reports that reforms “will not go into effect until at least 2026, and it may take a few years after that for the market to react … this timeline, of course could be delayed further if lawsuits by any party, including insurers or consumers, were to occur.”

The California Insurance Commissioner has broad authority under the Insurance Code to adopt emergency regulations to promote the public welfare, to adopt emergency regulations governing the prior approval process for insurance rate change applications, and to adopt emergency regulations.

Supervisors extend low-cost pet adoptions to save shelter animals

In an effort to find homes for a growing number of stray and abandoned dogs and cats, the Board of Supervisors extended low-cost adoptions from San Bernardino County animal shelters for up to two more years.

Adoption, spay/neuter and vaccination fees will remain at $10 for cats and kittens and $20 for dogs and puppies through June 30, 2026, extending a program launched by the Board of Supervisors in September, resulting in more than 1,200 adoptions in less than nine months.

Since 2020, the county has seen a steady increase in the intake of stray, surrendered, or abandoned animals. Adoptions have increased as rescue groups continue to be a substantial resource and the county has held many successful adoption events, but these measures have not resulted in enough adoptions to keep up with the arrival of new animals, creating an urgent need to find homes for them as quickly as possible.

The county encourages everyone to visit County Animal Care and consider adopting a friend and companion.

Board acts to bring medical and dental care to remote communities

The Board of Supervisors agreed to expand the availability medical and dental services throughout San Bernardino County by obtaining three mobile health clinics that will bring care directly to county residents where they live.

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the nation, more than double the size of many states. Many residents live hours away from the nearest medical and dental care.

The mobile clinics will be deployed in multiple locations throughout the county to offer healthcare services, particularly in areas lacking medical and dental facilities. The clinics will be equipped with exam rooms, dental operatories, medical and non-medical lighting, electricity, and plumbing. The county is currently recruiting state-licensed physicians and dentists to staff the mobile clinics.

One unit will be dedicated to Havasu Landing and Needles. The other two will provide services throughout the county, including additional support for the Havasu Landing and Needles area on a rotational basis.

Supervisors increase availability of senior meals

The Board of Supervisors expanded contracts with providers of meals, adding the Joslyn Senior Center in Redlands as a place where older residents can gather for food and conversation.

Family Service Association, which provides meals in various locations including Ayala Park in Bloomington, will now add the Joslyn Senior Center in Redlands as a location. The Barstow Senior Citizens Center, which serves meals in Barstow and Helendale, will have funding to support an increasing demand for services.

The county has administered the Title III C Older Californians Nutrition Program since 1978. The program provides nourishing meals and nutrition education to people 60 years of age or older, their spouses, and disabled persons. The services offered are intended to reduce hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, and promote socialization. Together, these services promote older adults’ ability to maintain the highest possible levels of health, function, participation, and dignity in the community.

The county currently has eight nutrition contractors who provide approximately 312,600 balanced meals at 34 congregate settings and approximately 703,763 balanced home-delivered meals to older and disabled homebound individuals.

Board supports funding for Phelan public safety project

The Board of Supervisors approved a proposal by Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) to provide $500,000 to the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District towards construction of a building that will include a 3,592-square-foot emergency operations center.

The district and federal funding will provide the remaining $12 million needed to complete the project. The building will be constructed on vacant land owned by the district on Sheep Creek Road in Phelan.

The county’s share will come from the First District Priorities Program budget. Priorities Program projects help promote the Countywide Vision by recognizing the unique traits of each supervisorial district. Board offices work with community partners through county services and contractual agreements to identify programs, projects, and initiatives that support the vision, meet a public purpose and provide services to residents. The projects that receive funding promote health, safety, economic well-being, education, and recreation.

Funding for projects under the District Specific Priorities Program is initiated by individual board members and must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Additional County Update News – June 27, 2024