Question
: Are JPA’s governed by the same codes (Education, Civil, PCC, etc.) as school districts? Specifically, we have a JPA (Schools Insurance Authority) who leases a building from the State and is doing a major overall of one of the suites in the building - contract over $500,000. Are they required to get a payment bond and file a notice of completion?Response: According to the state code section below, a joint power agency (JPA) is considered a "public agency" and, therefore, must follow any and all codes that apply to a public agency including the Public Contract Code (PCC).
6500. As used in this article, "public agency" includes, but is not limited to, the federal government or any federal department or agency, this state, another state or any state department or agency, a county, county board of education, county superintendent of schools, city, public corporation, public district, regional transportation commission of this state or another state, or any joint powers authority formed pursuant to this article by any of these agencies.
Good prudent business practices would require payment, performance and bid bonds during the bidding process; (See public contract code sections 20111, etc.)
5/8/08
