Frequently Asked Questions

How do I login to your web site?
Members who have already registered can click on "Member Login", then type your ID Number and Password. Once logged in, members have access to categories of information through the Insurance, Reference Library, Newsletter, Best Practices, and Support tabs. If you are not currently registered, follow the directions for "How do I register on your web site" below.

This site has been tested for and supports the following browsers at resolutions 800x600 dpi or higher:

How do I register on your web site?
Place your cursor over the word "Register" at the top of www.sdao.com. From the menu select "SDAO Member Site." If you are an employee or board member of a Special District select "Member", or if you are with an insurance company select "Agent," then click "Continue." Choose your district or agency name from the pull down menu and click "Continue." Complete the short survey that appears and click "Submit." SDAO staff will be notified of your request for access. Once approved you will receive an e-mail from SDAO confirming your account has been activated.

Why was my registration never activated or deactivated?
For the protection of all of our members all requests for access to our web site are compared to our membership database. Registrants who are not active members of a member district or known agency will be denied access to our site. Accounts will also be deactivated when the registrant's e-mail address is invalid.

What do I do if I forget my password?
After clicking on "Member Login" select the link called "Forgot Login Information?" located directly underneath the Member Site Login box. Complete the "Request Login Information" information and click "Submit." Your password and ID will be e-mailed to the address you provided when you registered for access to our site.

Who do I call if I need to file or have questions about a Workers' Compensation or Property Casualty claim?
Our claims staff is available to help you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding holidays by calling 1-800-305-1736. If your district experiences an emergency after hours or on weekends, dial (503) 972-8520.

How do I get 801 forms online?
Select Member Login and sign in using your member ID and password. (If you don't already have this you will first need to register for access to our site.) Click on the Insurance tab at the top of the page and then click on Workers' Compensation in the left margin. In the box titled Workers' Compensation 801 Claim Form you can select either a PDF version or Microsoft Word version.

Who do I call if I have a question about my health care coverage?
SDAO staff is available to help you with health care coverage questions by calling 1-800-285-5461.

How do I get a listing of names and addresses of districts by type of district and/or county?
Special Districts publishes an annual directory of our membership database that is available to member districts by logging in on our web site. Oregon special districts are not required to be members of SDAO, therefore our directory is not a complete listing. The Secretary of State Municipal Audits Division may be able to provide more complete municipal district information.

Does SDAO offer members Drug and Alcohol Testing and Background Checks services for their members?
Yes. Contact SDAO at 1-800-285-5461 to request more information. Following your call, Bio-Med Testing Services will mail your district a packet of information. This packet includes a description of services available, pricing information, and a customer agreement form. Once the completed paperwork is returned to Bio-Med Testing Services your district may take advantage of five complementary Drug and Alcohol Testing tests and five complementary Background Checks annually. Additional tests will be charged to your district.

How do we schedule a loss control inspection of our facilities?
Call 1-800-285-5461 to schedule a site visit with one of our Loss Control Consultants. It's that easy!

Who do I call when I have pre-loss or legal questions?
Pre-loss, legal, and technical assistance questions can be answered by contacting SDAO's Information and Resource Manager at 1-800-285-5461.

What can you tell me about SDAO's FlexLease program?
Districts interested in SDAO's "FlexLease" Asset Acquisition Program and "FlexTran" Cash Flow Borrowing Program need to contact David Ulbricht at Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-234-0480. Click here to view our Cooperative Financing Programs brochure.

How do I complete the Best Practices online?
Once logged in, select the Best Practices tab. You can read about Best Practices and district Size Classifications, or you can click on the "Take Survey" button to continue. Each district needs to complete the Board of Directors, Management Responsibilities, and one of the following surveys that best describes their type of district: Fire, Irrigation, Park and Recreation, Port, Transit, or Supplemental (for any type of district not already listed). It is important to complete all three surveys for your district to receive the maximum number of points, and in turn receive the highest discount on your district's insurance premium.

Can agents issue an insurance certificate?
An insurance certificate is a document that can be required to simply confirm that there is insurance in force. The insurance can be property, auto or liability. Most often the certificate is provided to confirm that there is a liability policy in force for the entity required to have such insurance. Supplying such a certificate in no way guarantees that the party receiving the certificate is in any way protected by the insurance party.

Agents can issue these types of certificates without prior approval and provide SDAO with a copy.

Can agents issue an insurance certificate with an "Additional Insurance" provision?
In this situation the insured requesting the certificate is asking the issuer to include an outside third party on the policy, by endorsement, as an "insured" with respect to certain activities. This development usually arises due to hold-harmless, indemnity or additional insured provisions of a contract between two or more entities. This certificate basically establishes a responsibility by one party to assume the liability risk of another policy under the terms of the contract. All terms and conditions of the insurance policy, except those related to a "named insured", will apply.

Agents can issue these types of certificates with the following provisions: If a contract is involved, send a copy of the contract to SDAO for a review of the insurance provisions at least ten days prior to signing of the contract; Certificate must reference a specific contract, project or event; Certificate must be for a specific period of time; Use the term "Additional Participant" to more accurately reflect the SDAO Liability Coverage Document.

Can agents issue an insurance certificate with a "Named Additional Insured" provision?
To be included as a "named additional insured" means that the certificate holder stands in the "shoes" of the original named insured. For an insurer it becomes absolutely impossible to deny defense for any reason other than a material breach of the policy or a policy exclusion. Because SDAO is only authorized by statute to cover public entities, we cannot issue an insurance certificate listing an outside, non-public entity as a "named additional insured" because we can only provide coverage to public entities.

Agents cannot issue certificates with a "Named Additional Insured" provision unless an exception is made by SDAO on a case-by-case basis.

What happened to the SDAO's Oregon Education Risk Pool?
Special Districts Association of Oregon and the Oregon School Boards Association formed PACE in 2006 to serve the unique needs of Oregon's public school districts, community colleges and education service districts. By merging their school district insurance programs, SDAO and OSBA formed the largest property and liability risk pool of school entities in Oregon. For more information, including Coverage Details and a Competitive Comparison, visit the PACE web site.