REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program for 2026-27
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Ratify the submission of the grant application by the Chief Deputy District Attorney to the California Labor Commissioner, for the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant, in the amount of $226,444, for the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chief Deputy District Attorney to execute and electronically submit any subsequent, non-substantive amendments to the grant application and all related documents, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chief Deputy District Attorney to transmit any non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Chief Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
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). The District Attorney (Department) requested a grant budget of $226,444 to fund the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program (Program) for the period January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2027. The grant does not require matching funds. Proposed staffing includes one Full-Time Employee (FTE) District Attorney Senior Investigator, one FTE Paralegal, and auditing costs necessary for the Program. If the Department is awarded the grant, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) to accept the award, add two new positions, and request any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On July 10, 2023, in accordance with the Budget Act of 2023, (AB102), Section 219, the State of California appropriated $18 million to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to institute a Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program, administered by the California Labor Commissioner’s office (LCO). On June 30, 2026, in accordance with the Budget Act of 2026, (SB111), Section 156, the State of California extended the Program to appropriate $9 million a year, minus 5% administrative costs to DIR, as a permanent funding source. The Program is designed to enforce workers’ rights, specifically targeting wage theft, prevent unfair competition, and protect state revenue.
On August 27, 2026, the California Labor Commissioner’s office conducted a Zoom meeting with all District Attorney Offices statewide to discuss this funding opportunity. After the initial Zoom meeting, the Department reviewed the Program requirements and determined this Program would benefit the residents of San Bernardino County. The application period opened September 14, 2026 and the Department determined, on September 25, 2026, that it would prepare and submit the application by the deadline of October 16, 2026.
Due to the timing of the Department’s decision to apply for the grant, there was not sufficient time for internal reviews of the Board Item and grant application prior to the application deadline. Some of the internal review deadlines had already passed. The rush to obtain internal reviews prior to submitting to the Board would have caused delays in other priorities and workload for reviewers. The grant application does not bind the County to offering the Program. This meeting is the first opportunity to present the item, in compliance with review and submission deadlines, following the Department’s decision to apply for the grant.
If awarded, the grant will fund the Program for a six-month period from January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2027. The only allowable costs are personnel and a small amount of funding for a Program audit as required by the State. The Department did not apply for this grant until this grant cycle and does not currently have staff who can be exclusively assigned to cases that qualify for grant funding. Therefore, the grant application requests two new positions. If the Department applies for the grant next year, it will request funding for the entire year because the grant cycle follows the typical fiscal year dates of July 1 through June 30. If the Department does not apply for the grant in future years, or if grant funding is reduced, staff will be transitioned to vacancies within the Department and the position(s) will be deleted.
The DIR will notify applicants on December 1, 2026 of the grant awards or denials. If awarded funding, the Department will return to the Board to accept the award and add the new positions.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 6, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on October 13, 2026.