In 1986, So Cal ReLiEF was created as a response to skyrocketing premiums and decreasing availability of liability insurance for California schools. The original steering committee, meeting in early 1985, consisted of representatives of northern and southern school districts and statewide representatives for community colleges. Because of the diversity of need and location, the committee split into three groups, eventually forming So Cal ReLiEF (SCR), Nor Cal ReLiEF (NCR), and the Statewide Association of Community Colleges (SWACC).

Still, in 1985, joint power authorities and individual districts were unable to purchase primary liability and property coverage at a reasonable cost. Recognizing California schools' needs and using their experience in joint powers authority organizations and management, Keenan & Associates assisted the committee of select southern California schools in the formation of So Cal ReLiEF.

To the original steering committee, the concept of "pooling" was not new. More than 22 years ago, several concerned business officials met in San Francisco to discuss the liability crisis that then existed. The result was the first local joint powers authority for schools.

So Cal ReLiEF's property and liability program was designed as an excess coverage program exclusively for the coverage needs of JPAs, county offices and individual districts. By forming a "Super Pool", So Cal ReLiEF self-insures member districts from the member's individually selected retained limit (MRL) to a "pooled" JPA self-funded retention, the level of which depends on insurance market conditions. Currently, the liability self-funded retention is $1,000,000 per occurrence, and the pooled property self-funded retention is $250,000 per occurrence.

In the 18 years since its inception, So Cal ReLiEF has grown to represent 70 districts with combined ADA of 817,044 and property values over $7,500,000,000. So Cal ReLiEF's members come from virtually every county in Southern California. We continue to attract new members through the breadth and diversity of our risk management services, our constant innovation with respect to school coverage needs, and the enthusiastic participation of our dedicated members.