REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 5, 2021
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Subaward for the 2021-22 San Bernardino County Victim/Witness Assistance Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Subaward Agreement (No. VW21 40 0360) with the California Office of Emergency Services to accept grant funds in the amount of $3,189,558, with a local match of $487,853, for the San Bernardino County Victim/Witness Assistance Program for the period of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by California Office of Emergency Services, authorizing the District Attorney to execute all documents, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments upon review by County Counsel, in relation to the Grant Subaward Agreement.
3. Authorize the District Attorney’s Chief of Victim Services and the Chief of Bureau of Administration to sign and submit quarterly invoices as required by California Office of Emergency Services.
4. Approve non-financial agreement between the City of Ontario and the District Attorney’s Office to provide onsite Victim Advocacy Services to victims of crime from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.
5. Direct the District Attorney to transmit all documents related to this grant, including any non-substantive amendments, 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 and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The receipt of grant funds, in the amount of $3,189,558 from Cal OES, will help fund the cost of the District Attorney’s (Department) Victim/Witness Assistance Program. This grant requires a local cash match of $487,853, which supports the remaining cost of the program and is funded within the Department’s existing budget allocation. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department’s 2021-22 Adopted Budget and will be included in the 2022-23 Recommended Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In accordance with Penal Code Section 13835 et seq., the Department has administered the Victim Witness Assistance Program (Program) for the County since 1980. The Program has received grant funding annually since its inception to provide a wide variety of social services to victims of and witnesses to crimes, including referrals to physical and mental health providers, coordination of volunteer support from the community, and assistance in applying for benefits from the Victim of Crime funds for economic losses. Department staff (Advocates) assist victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system by explaining the process, accompanying victims to court and providing transportation to and from court when necessary.
On June 8, 2021 (Item No. 42), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Department’s grant application to Cal OES requesting grant funding in the amount of $3,189,558 with a local match of $717,516 to fund Program costs for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. Due to funding cuts in the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding in the amount of $918,655, the State of California provided State general funds in the amount of $918,655. This funding did not require a local cash match, thus reducing the Department cash match for the grant cycle. This grant is used to fund (1) Assistant Victim Services Chief position, (2) Supervising Victim Advocate positions, (21) Victim Advocate II positions, (22) Victim Advocate I positions, and (3) Office Assistant III positions. On August 30, 2021, the Department received notification from Cal OES of the approval of the application and grant award. This notification was not received in time to obtain Board approval prior to the start of the grant cycle. The Department continues to provide services to victims of crime, and after the grant award is received, the Department will submit claims to Cal OES for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the grant cycle.
The Cal OES Recipient Handbook, Section 1350, requires all grant recipients to obtain written authorization, in the form of a resolution or letter from the Board, that the official executing the agreement is, in fact, authorized to execute the document. Recipients must maintain this written authorization on file and make it available upon demand during audits. Historically, Cal OES has requested that each county’s District Attorney be the authorized official to execute the grant agreement and any necessary subsequent non-substantive amendments.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5437) on September 9, 2021; Finance (Carl Lofton, Finance Analyst, 387-5404) on September 20, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 20, 2021.