Church & Casualty Insurance Agency (CCIA) is here to help you navigate California Senate Bill 1454 (SB 1454) and its implications for your house of worship.
Our resident safety expert, Jeffrey Kearnan of Kearnan Consulting Group and Church Security Solutions, has written a detailed overview of the new bill:
This bill now allows the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) to have oversight of faith-based organizations. Ultimately, do not rely on an insurance agency or broker to determine your compliance with this new oversight. Consult legal counsel, as well as our safety expert, Jeff Kearnan, whom customers can reach at:
AskSafety@ccia.com.
In a nutshell, Jeff has conveyed the following:
Safe Volunteer Practices (Generally Outside BSIS Oversight)
• Call your team “Safety” or “Hospitality” instead of “Security.”
• Keep volunteers in plain clothes or simple identifiers (lanyards, badges).
• Ensure volunteers are unpaid and clearly serving in a ministry role.
• Train for observe, report, deescalate, and assist, not enforcement.
• Focus on situational awareness, trauma-informed response, and evacuation support.
Triggers BSIS Oversight (Regulated Security Role)
• Advertising or introducing volunteers as “security.”
• Wearing uniforms, tactical gear, or law enforcement style clothing.
• Paying or compensating volunteers for protective duties.
• Directing volunteers to patrol, confront, detain, or use force.
• Allowing volunteers to be armed or carry defensive tools (batons, tasers, firearms).
Jeff has also developed legally vetted, SB 1454 compliant Safety Team Procedures and Guidelines tailored specifically for California houses of worship. These “plug-and-play” plans are available at a deeply discounted rate through the end of 2025, making it easy for your ministry to become instantly compliant.
- Access the plans: Safety Plans for California Houses of Worship
What About Insurance?
The insurance carriers we work with have consistently underwritten volunteer and employee armed security through application and underwriting review. If approved, coverage is typically provided. We encourage you to review your policy or contact your CCIA account manager to confirm your current coverage.
Understanding the Intentional Acts Exclusion
Most general liability policies include an exclusion for:
“Bodily injury” or “property damage” expected or intended from the standpoint of the insured.
However, this exclusion does not apply to “bodily injury” resulting from the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property. Also note that “reasonable force” is not defined in most policies. Policy language varies by carrier and form. Please review your specific policy for exact terms, conditions, and exclusions.
What If I’m Told My “Intentional Acts Exclusion” Has Been Removed?
We’re aware of a competitor form that provides “Unreasonable Use of Force Coverage for Innocent Insureds.” This applies to individuals who do not engage in or actively direct the use of force. The intentional acts and unreasonable use of force exclusions continue to apply to anyone who actually engaged in or directed unreasonable force. Policy language varies by carrier and form. Please review your specific policy for exact terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Have Additional Questions?
You’re always welcome to reach out directly to your CCIA Account Manager, or contact Jeff with safety-specific questions at: asksafety@ccia.com.
Jeffrey C. Kearnan
Kearnan Consulting Group, LLC
Church Security Solutions | Emergency Planning Consultant CA
Jeffrey C. Kearnan (jeffkearnan.com)
About Jeff Kearnan
Jeff Kearnan is a retired Assistant Sheriff, former director of Emergency Services, former Assistant Deputy Director of the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, former USAF noncommissioned officer, holds degrees in Homeland Defense and Security Studies and Criminal Justice Management. Mr. Kearnan is a security consultant for Church and Casualty Insurance Agency and owns a successful consulting firm that specializes in expert witness testimony in civil lawsuits involving negligence, premises liability, standard of care, and police practices and use of force cases. Mr. Kearnan is called upon to perform threat and vulnerability security risk assessments for houses of worship, corporations, and government infrastructures. Mr. Kearnan uses his training, education, and experience to help houses of worship stay safe by preparing and planning for predictable surprises in way of policy, procedure, training and response plan writing.