About Us

Trindel Insurance Fund Profile

Trindel Insurance Fund (Trindel) is a Joint Powers Authority established pursuant to California Government Code Section 6500 et. seq. Membership is limited to California counties. Trindel is dedicated to assisting with the insurance needs of its members by providing the most stable, cost-effective, risk-financing mechanisms; insurance program monitoring; and loss prevention services available. Trindel was originally formed by Del Norte and Trinity counties in 1980. Trindel then expanded with the addition of five (5) counties (Alpine, Colusa, Lassen, Modoc and Sierra) during the insurance crisis of the mid- 80s. Trindel added San Benito County in 1991, Mono County in 2000, Plumas in 2010, Sutter County in 2014, and Tehama County as of July 1st, 2022. At Trindel’s January 2014 board meeting the Board of Directors prepared for growth in services and membership through a strategic planning session. As of July 1, 2022 the members employed 4,790 staff to serve a population of 358,254. Trindel’s daily operations are managed by an Executive Director under the general direction of the Board of Directors, consisting of one voting member from each county and generally meets three times a year. There is also an Executive Committee that includes the Board President, Board Vice-President and two at large members, which meet as needed. Due to the small number of members all policy decisions are made by the Board with implementation and initial enforcement of the policies handled by the Executive Director. Trindel was originally formed for the purpose of gaining size as leverage in the market place for the purchase of insurance/reinsurance; and, if necessary, to pool resources in hard market times. Trindel continues with this purpose today.

In concept and practice Trindel is a banking arrangement with its members wherein, over time, each member is fiscally responsible for its own losses and costs. All members share the Administration and Safety Officer costs equally. Trindel acts as the cash flow mechanism for the members. Should a member be responsible for several large losses in any given year or time period the pooled cash will pay the bills and the member will, over time, repay Trindel. Trindel uses its ability to combine the size of the members in order to obtain better insurance and pricing for selected insurance programs and the purchase of services to benefit all members. July 1, 2018 Trindel entered into a workers’ compensation pooling arrangement for losses over $300,000 up to $1 million.

The Trindel Board also employs fifteen positions. Seven of Workers’ Compensation claims handling, three full time Risk Control Services positions, two full time Liability/Property positions, one Financial Analyst, and one Administrative Assistant, under the supervision of the Executive Director. The Workers’ Compensation and Liability/Property employees provide claims handling for members. Risk Control Services  provides training, safety programs, inspections, etc. to each of the members on a regular basis (see section titled Services and Programs below for additional information on the Safety Officer). The Financial Analyst provides financial analysis for the members and Executive Director. The Administrative Assistant provides clerical support for the Executive Director; the Executive Director provides risk management services for its members and directs the JPA.

Trindel is audited by four different outside agencies. First, a financial audit is performed annually by and outside firm. Secondly, a claims audit is performed for both major programs every two years by CSAC EIA. Third, an accreditation audit is performed every three years by CAJPA. Lastly, an audit is performed by the Department of Industrial Relations Workers’ Compensation. All excess insurance coverage’s are purchased through either the CSAC-Excess Insurance Authority or Alliant Insurance Services.