Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the board of supervisors of a county may, by resolution, establish and maintain a reserve account to insure against its liability or the liability of its employees for injuries, for liability under the workers’ compensation laws, for casualty losses incurred by the county, and for providing health and welfare benefits for its employees. In such event, a county may elect to be wholly or partially self-insured, and if such reserves are established, the board of supervisors shall prescribe procedures whereby the reserves may be used to pay for settlement of claims; payment of property losses; payment of attorney and investigator fees; and payment of insurance and broker fees if the county elects to be partially insured. If such reserves are established, appropriations shall be made to such reserves, and payments may be made from such reserves for the above purposes without specific appropriation. All interest earned by the reserve shall be credited to the reserve.

The board of supervisors may authorize any district for which the board is the governing body to establish and maintain the reserves authorized by this section.

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 737.)