REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 8, 2022
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of the grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for funding in the amount of $74,899 under the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program to provide training to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Crime Laboratory personnel and for overtime costs from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
2. Find that the grant application and usage is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, 14 California Code of Regulations §15321(b) and 15061(b)(3) and direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
3. Designate the Chief Executive Officer as the official authorized to execute the grant application documents and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary on behalf of the County, as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Chief Executive Officer to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to this application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: John Ades, Deputy Chief, 387-3760)
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 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program Grant (Grant), in the amount of $74,899, will provide funding for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) Crime Laboratory’s personnel to attend specified training, and overtime costs. If the application is successful, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the grant award and may request budget adjustments, if necessary, as part of a future quarterly budget report presented to the Board for approval. No matching funds are required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has been allocated approximately $2,138,330 in federal Grant funds to improve the quality, timeliness and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s 26 accredited forensic laboratories based on established criteria. The Department has applied annually and received funding from the Grant since 2002.
The Department is requesting funding to supplement the Crime Lab’s operational training budget. This Grant will fund training in six disciplines: 1) firearms; 2) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN); 3) trace evidence; 4) blood alcohol; 5) controlled substances; and 6) crime scene investigations. The additional training will increase the knowledge of the laboratory’s staff with the goal of increased efficiency and faster turn-around time in analyzing evidence.
The application is legally binding and requires the County to designate an “Authorized Official” to sign the application. The Department’s application lists the County’s Chief Executive Officer as the Authorized Official. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance, included in the application, further requires a County official to confirm the individual listed on the application is the Authorized Official. The Chairman of the Board, on behalf of the Board, will make the confirmation that the Chief Executive Officer is the Authorized Official to execute and submit the application documents on behalf of the County.
The Grant term is from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The Department received the Request for Application from the State on December 14, 2021. The application is being submitted for Board approval at the first available date upon completion of the grant application and legal review.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 14, 2022; Finance (Carolina Mendoza, Administrative Analyst, 387-0294) on January 18, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 21, 2022.