REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 10, 2020
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Positions for the Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian and Budget Adjustment
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Authorize the addition of 14 new regular positions for the Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian, under the following classifications:
a. Eight Deputy Public Guardian positions, Technical and Inspection Unit, Range 47 ($46,945 - $64,418).
b. Three Senior Deputy Public Guardian positions, Technical and Inspection Unit, Range 49 ($49,275 - $67,620).
c. One Supervising Deputy Public Guardian position, Supervisory Unit, Range 53 ($54,350 - $74,630).
d. One Mental Health Nurse II position, Nurses Unit, Group 6 ($74,734 - $100,485).
e. One Mental Health Program Manager II position, Management Unit, Range 70C ($83,740 - $115,336).
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the adjustments as indicated in the Financial Impact section below to the Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian 2019-20 budget in the amount of $1,744,928, for the addition of 14 new regular positions (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
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 result in the use of $523,478 of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost to fund the addition of 14 positions is $1,744,928. The positions are requested to be funded by $523,478 of additional on-going Discretionary General Funding and by $1,221,450 of reimbursements from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). The total cost for the positions includes $1,509,969 in salary and benefits, $207,759 for services and supplies, and $27,200 for an increased share of building lease costs. The department requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post the following adjustments to the Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian 2019-20 budget:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item/GL |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
5360001000 |
51001010 |
Regular Salary |
Increase |
$1,509,969 |
|
5360001000 |
52002000 |
Operating Expenses |
Increase |
$207,759 |
|
5360001000 |
55405012 |
Svcs/Sup Transfer Out |
Increase |
$27,200 |
|
5360001000 |
55415011 |
Sal/Ben Transfer In |
Increase |
$1,053,959 |
|
5360001000 |
55415013 |
Svcs/Sup Transfer In |
Increase |
$167,491 |
|
1280001000 |
56006000 |
Appr Contingencies |
Decrease |
$523,478 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) - Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is appointed by the Superior Court to act as conservator for individuals who require conservatorship as defined by law and where no other viable option exists. The OPG may be appointed conservator of the Person, the Estate, the Person and the Estate, or the Successor Trustee. Conservators are sworn officers of the Superior Court, entrusted with the responsibility to arrange and ensure daily essential needs (food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare), locate and manage all income, assets and liabilities, and maintain compliance with legal mandates set forth in both California Probate Code and Welfare and Institutions Code.
LPS conservatorship is provided to gravely disabled individuals as determined under the LPS Act by the Department of Behavioral Health. A grave disability is defined as an individual’s inability to provide for his/her basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter as a result of a mental disorder. Probate conservatorship, as determined by the OPG conservator investigator, is provided to individuals unable to provide for their personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter; manage their financial resources, or resist fraud or undue influence. LPS and Probate conservatorships petitions are filed with the Superior Court.
Since 2015 OPG has experienced an average of 12% annual growth in Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) cases and an average of 21% annual growth of Probate cases. The current average caseload per worker is 123 for LPS cases and 116 for Probate cases. However, DAAS-OPG recommends an LPS caseload of 50 cases and a Probate caseload of 35 cases. Therefore, DAAS-OPG is requesting the addition of 14 regular positions in order to lower the current caseload ratio and maintain compliance with legal and program mandates and requirements. In addition, this item will allow the use of Discretionary General Funding to fund a portion of the salary expense upon approval of the additional positions. Human Resources (HR) recently conducted an organizational review of OPG and supports the additional 14 positions being requested to address the current caseload volume and department staffing needs.
Based on historical data from 2015 through 2019, the department projects that caseloads will continue to rise over the next five years at a rate of 12% for LPS cases and 21% for Probate cases. In addition, future legislation could impact the department by adding mandates to the Probate Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. The department will continue to analyze its organizational structure to determine the impact of the 14 requested positions. However, in order to meet the possible increase to caseloads in future years, the department estimates it may require additional positions.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 25, 2020; Human Resources (Mark DeBoer, Human Resources Assistant Director, 387-5570) on February 18, 2020; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Lisa Lazzar, Accounting Manager, 382-3196) on February 18, 2020; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on February 12, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on February 12, 2020.