REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 13, 2023
FROM
TRACY REECE, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve a Grant Agreement (State Grant No. BSCC 389-22) with the Board of State and Community Corrections, for the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program, for purchase of three vehicles, equipment, telecommunications, and other technology, to establish mobile probation service centers, in the amount of $1,253,000 for the period of May 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027.
2. Designate the Chief Probation Officer, as required by the Board of State and Community Corrections, to execute the Grant Agreement and any subsequent non-substantive amendments and documents in relation to the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chief Probation Officer to transmit the Grant Agreement and amendments in relation to the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Tracy Reece, Chief Probation Officer, 387-5692)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Approval of the Grant Agreement will provide $1,253,000 in funds, funded by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program, which will be used to operate mobile probation service centers. No matching funds are required. Sufficient appropriation and revenue will be included in the Probation Department (Department) 2023-24 recommended budget and in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program was established in the State Budget Act of 2022 to increase reporting and supervision contacts within targeted populations in the vast geographical regions of San Bernardino County. Implementation of the program shall be in the form of scheduled stops by specially equipped vans at remote areas in the county where clients can access Department services. Each van will be assigned to a specific geographical area and stored at a Probation facility within the region. The County’s Department of Fleet Management Services will provide all service and maintenance requirements for the vans.
The services to be provided by the Department include orientation and assessment, mobile check-ins, document submission and review, re-charging of GPS devices, distribution of emergency items such as clothing, hygiene kits, etc., and referrals for treatment. Additional benefits include expanded services such as virtual courts, virtual classes, and expedited documentation processing. The vans will be furnished with the necessary supplies and equipment including computer workstations and secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) access to the County network, required to conduct full-service Probation Supervision functions.
On January 6, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer approved the Department’s grant application for the Mobile Probation Service Centers Grant Program. On April 14, 2023, the Department received notification that the grant application was approved for $1,253,000.
Recommendation No. 2 authorizes the Chief Probation Officer to execute the Grant Agreement as the BSCC requires the agreement be signed and fully executed by the County before full execution and release of grant funds. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first available date following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews.
The terms in the Grant Agreement are set forth by the BSCC, which differ from the County standard contract terms. The non-standard term includes the following:
1. The Grant Agreement does not require BSCC to meet the County indemnification standard.
• The County standard contract requires contractors to indemnify the County in accordance with County Policy 11-07.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify the State of California, the County would be responsible to defend and reimburse the State for cost, expenses and damages.
The Department recommends approval of the Grant Agreement, including the non-standard terms, to establish critical mobile probation service centers that will benefit clients within the community that are struggling to meet mandated probation requirements. The exception of the County’s standard contract language is a non-negotiable State of California requirement for this grant. County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and approved the non-standard language for mutual indemnification by the County and the State of California.
PROCUREMENT
Following approval of the Grant Agreement, the Department will procure the three vehicles, equipment, telecommunications, and other technology to establish mobile probation service centers, in accordance with County procurement policies.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Probation (Jennifer Villa, Deputy Chief Probation Officer,
387-5567) on April 21, 2023; County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 22, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Director, 387-8623) on May 23, 2023; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on May 25, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-4342) on May 25, 2023.