REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 11, 2020
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title v
Grant Application to the California Office of Traffic Safety for the San Bernardino County Alcohol and Drug Impaired Vertical Prosecution Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Ratify action by the Chief Executive Officer to formally approve the grant application to the California Office of Traffic Safety in the amount of $1,173,113 for the San Bernardino County Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021 and authorize the District Attorney to submit the application on January 30, 2020.
2. Adopt Resolution authorizing the District Attorney to sign and submit the grant application, including any non-substantive grant application amendments, subject to review by County Counsel, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
3. Direct the District Attorney to transmit all grant application documents and amendments in relation to this grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the need for additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). If awarded, the grant revenue in the amount of $1,173,113 will be used to help fund the cost of salaries, benefits, and training for 3.0 Deputy District. Should funds be awarded, the District Attorney will return to the Board of Supervisors for award acceptance.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant application requests funding for the San Bernardino County Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program (Program). This program allows a specialized team to prosecute and manage alcohol and drug impaired driving cases throughout each step of the criminal process.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office (Department) will implement the program through staff augmentation, outreach and coordination with law enforcement and DUI training programs; including data compilation and management with an emphasis on cases involving injury and death. The Vertical Prosecution Team will review, file and prosecute DUI cases from beginning to end. By having a vertical prosecution group, the Deputy District Attorneys will be able to work with the investigating law enforcement agencies directly to provide guidance during investigation, initial review of the case, additional investigation if required, filing, prosecution and eventual sentencing of a criminal defendant. These cases range from misdemeanor DUI through felony DUI vehicular homicide.
The Department is requesting ratification of the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) action which authorized submission of the grant application for the San Bernardino County Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program in the amount of $1,173,113 for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. CEO action was required as the deadline to submit the grant application was January 30, 2020. The Department has performed a staffing rotation that assigned a new Deputy District Attorney to the current vertical prosecution unit. Due to the short time of the attorney’s assignment and the statistical information required on the application, the Department was unable to complete the application in time for normal Board authorization.
Should the Department receive a grant award from this application, they will return to the Board for approval of acceptance of the grant award.
PROCUREMENT
N/A.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5437) on January 23, 2020; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst III, 387-5404) on January 27, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Office, 387-5423) on January 28, 2020.