REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 23, 2025
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Revenue Contract with Liberty Healthcare of California, Inc. for Early Access Stabilization Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-888 with Liberty Healthcare of California, Inc., to administer the Early Access Stabilization Services program for County inmates and provide reimbursement of the County’s cost, by an additional $399,996, increasing the estimated reimbursement amount of $1,199,988 to $1,599,984 plus the cost of medication, extending the term for an additional one-year, for the period of September 28, 2022, through September 27, 2026.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
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.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Liberty Healthcare of California, Inc. (Liberty) will continue to reimburse the County for the cost of 1.425 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Deputy Sheriff positions in the amount of $399,996 ($33,333 per month), which covers both direct and indirect costs associated with providing security for Liberty’s staff while delivering services covered by the Early Access Stabilization Services (EASS) program. Additionally, Liberty will reimburse the actual cost of psychotropic medications prescribed by Liberty’s physicians to inmates admitted into the EASS program. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s 2025-26 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Department of State Hospitals (DHS) is responsible for returning to competency individuals charged with a felony who have been determined to be incompetent to stand trial by the California Superior Courts and committed to a state mental hospital. After that determination occurs, the state mental hospital has 90 days to make a written report to the Court concerning the defendant’s progress toward recovery of mental competence. The demand for restorative programming services and treatment at state mental hospitals has increased, causing many individuals to wait in a county jail until a bed is available. This creates an extended period of incarceration for the inmate and delays the adjudication of their criminal charges. To reduce the waiting period and allow inmates to begin treatment sooner, DSH has entered into a contract with Liberty to assist in restoring such individuals to competency by providing the same specialized treatment services in a county jail that inmates would receive at a state mental hospital.
The contract between the County and Liberty provides space and safety staff at the West Valley Detention Center for Liberty to provide restorative mental services and psychotropic medications to County inmates admitted into the EASS program.
On September 27, 2022 (Item No. 63), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 22-888 with Liberty to administer the EASS program for County inmates, including the reimbursement of 1.425 FTE Deputy Sheriff positions in the amount of $33,333 per month, which includes the actual cost of medications, for an estimated amount of $1,199,988, for the period of September 28, 2022, through September 27, 2025. Additionally, the Board approved a non-standard term to allow mutual indemnification, requiring the County and Liberty to indemnify each other based on comparative fault.
On August 11, 2025, the Department received a notification from Liberty stating the EASS program will continue past September 27, 2025, and will extend the original period for an additional one-year, through September 27, 2026.
Approval of this item will allow for the continuation of the EASS program to provide restorative mental services and prescription medications to patient inmates, including reimbursement to the County.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Miles Kowalski, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 29, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on September 8, 2025.