Hermosa Beach : Crackdown on Insurance

The City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance requiring all city employees to sign a statement under penalty of perjury saying they are eligible for the insurance benefits for which they apply.

For more than two years, employees have been signing such statements, but the requirement was used only as an administrative policy.

The ordinance was passed after the district attorney’s office said several former city employees obtained insurance benefits to which they were not entitled.

Under the new law, which takes effect Nov. 12, new employees must provide copies of marriage and birth certificates for any dependents they claim for insurance coverage.