REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award for the 2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award from the California Office of Emergency Services (Award No. CQ22 16 0360) in the amount of $88,653, for the 2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program, to provide training for the Crime Lab personnel, from April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
2. Designate the Chief Executive Officer to execute the grant award documents and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to this grant award to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
4. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post adjustments to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s 2023-24 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Ernie Perez, Deputy Chief, 387-3760)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This grant award in the amount of $88,653 will provide funding for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) Crime Lab personnel to attend specified training. No matching funds are required.
The Department requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post the following adjustments to the 2023-24 budget, as detailed below:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4438001000 |
52942941 |
Conference/Testing/Seminar Fees |
Increase |
$88,653 |
|
4438001000 |
40509094 |
Federal-Grants |
Increase |
$88,653 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) received federal funds for the 2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program (Grant) to improve the quality, timeliness and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s accredited forensic laboratories, including San Bernardino County, based upon established criteria.
The Department’s allocation of $88,653 will be used to supplement the Crime Lab’s operational training budget. This grant will fund the following trainings: General criminalistics, firearms, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), trace evidence, blood alcohol, controlled substances, crime scene investigation, and Ten Prints/Latent Comparisons. The additional training will increase the knowledge of the laboratory’s staff with the goal of efficiently analyzing evidence.
On December 6, 2022 (Item No. 54), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the submission of the Grant application to Cal OES. The award notification was released on June 8, 2023 and is being submitted to the Board for approval at the first available meeting date after completion of the review process. The Grant term is April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The Department can submit claims for reimbursement retroactively to April 1, 2023.
The Grant award was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be exempt from future environmental review in accordance with 14 California Code of Regulations §15061(b)(3), "it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment," and 14 California Code of Regulations §15321(b) “as law enforcement activities by peace officers acting under any law providing a criminal sanction”. The County made this finding on December 6, 2022, and fulfilled its obligation under CEQA for this project with the filing and posting of the Notice of Exemption by the Clerk of the Board.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 1, 2023; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Division Manager, 382-7022) on July 31, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on August 4, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 7, 2023.