REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 25, 2024
FROM
MYETTE CHRISTIAN, Acting Executive Director, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority
SUBJECT
Title
Request for Additional American Rescue Plan Act Funding for One-Time Payment for In-Home Supportive Services Care Providers
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body for the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, approve additional $308,750 funding for In-Home Supportive Services Care Providers who qualify for the one-time payment as established in the Memorandum of Understanding for the In-Home Supportive Services Provider unit.
(Presenter: Myette Christian, Acting Executive Director, 891-9108)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The additional one-time cost of approximately $308,750, which is expected to be funded through San Bernardino County’s (County) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, contingent upon meeting the eligibility criteria refenced in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the In-Home Supportive Services Provider (IHSS) Public Authority (PA), and the availability of County’s ARPA funds, for a total amount not-to-exceed $8,828,250. Any future obligation associated with the one-time payment under the MOU will be funded with the County’s unallocated ARPA funds, additional one-time Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost), or departmental revenue (if available).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2002, the County established the IHSS PA to serve elderly, blind, or disabled individuals who are not able to remain in their homes without assistance. On January 8, 2002 (Item No. 58), the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted Ordinance No. 3842 establishing the IHSS PA to act as the employer of record for San Bernardino IHSS providers pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 12301.6, subdivision (c)(1) and to perform other IHSS functions as required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 12301.6, subdivision (e) and not retained by County.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 3842, IHSS PA is an entity separate from the County. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of members of the Board and is a corporate public body exercising public and essential governmental functions with all powers necessary and convenient to carry out the delivery of in-home supportive services. Additionally, the IHSS PA is charged by the state legislature with providing mandated services to include the following: a registry of potential care providers; background and qualification investigations of potential care providers; referrals to IHSS consumers of potential care providers from the registry; training for both IHSS care providers and consumers; and performance of other functions related to the delivery of in-home supportive services as designated by the governing board.
On September 12, 2023 (Item No. 77), the Board approved the MOU between IHSS and the Service Employees International Union Local 2015 (SEIU), representing providers in the IHSS Provider Unit, effective September 23, 2023 through June 30, 2026. Under direction of the Board of Directors, representatives of the County IHSS PA, met and conferred with representatives of SEIU to reach a successor labor agreement covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for employees in the IHSS Provider Unit.
The MOU includes terms and conditions that provides a one-time payment of $250 to care providers who meet the established eligibility requirements. The one-time payment for the initial group of 34,078 care providers was funded by the County’s ARPA Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) in the amount of $8,519,500. Since issuance of the initial round of payments, an additional 1,235 care providers have been identified who meet the eligibility requirement of working 120 hours from July 2022 to December 2022. These providers submitted their timesheet for the eligibility period after the initial group of 34,078 eligible care providers were identified. Per the California Department of Social Services, there is no deadline for timesheet submission.
IHSS PA requests additional ARPA funding in the amount of $308,750 to source the one-time payment for the additional 1,235 care providers for a total cost not-to-exceed $8,828,250. IHSS PA is also requesting that any future obligation associated with the one-time payment under the MOU be funded with the County’s unallocated ARPA funds, additional one-time Net County Cost, or departmental revenue (if available).
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 11, 2024; Finance (Joon Cho, Chief Administrative Analyst, 387-5402, and Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on June 7, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238, and Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 7, 2024.