REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Acting Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase and Distribution of Prepaid Bus Passes to Clients to Assist with Transportation Needs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the purchase and distribution of prepaid bus passes to provide eligible clients with transportation assistance, in an amount not to exceed $682,083, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Acting Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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 purchase of prepaid bus passes, in an amount not to exceed $682,083, will be funded through multiple sources. These include existing and ongoing California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids funds, provided through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Transitional Assistance Department. Funding will also come from the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant and the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, both from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and passed through the California Department of Health Care Services. Additional funding sources include the Behavioral Health Services Act, as well as 1991 and 2011 Realignment funds. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2026-27 adopted budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DBH is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to county residents experiencing severe mental illness and/or SUD. In accordance with DBH’s Bus Pass Program Policy, DBH utilizes prepaid bus passes to support client cooperation and participation in DBH programs and services. Bus passes are provided to assist clients with transportation needs and to ensure continued access to scheduled appointments with physicians, clinicians, and other treatment providers, thereby supporting clients in achieving their recovery goals. Eligible clients may include individuals attending outpatient therapy or medication appointments, participants in SUD treatment programs, clients enrolled in community-based recovery or wellness services, and those engaged in vocational, housing, or case management activities that support their behavioral health treatment goals.
Prepaid bus passes costing $60 for adults and $45 for senior citizens are purchased from transportation vendors throughout the county to provide countywide transportation access for DBH clients. Bus pass vendors include, but are not limited to, the following agencies:
• Basin Transit
• Mountain Transit
• Needles Area Transit
• Omnitrans
• Victor Valley Transit Authority - Direct Access
• Victor Valley Transit Authority - Senior Disability
In accordance with the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Internal Controls and Cash Manual, DBH maintains and adheres to internal policies and procedures regarding the safeguarding and proper handling of prepaid negotiables.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health (Marianna Martinez, Administrative Supervisor II, 383-3940) on May 28, 2026; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 28, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Denise Mejico, Deputy Chief Auditor, 382-3107) on June 2, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on June 4, 2026.