REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 14, 2022
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2022-23 San Bernardino County Automobile Insurance Fraud Prosecution Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve grant application to the California Insurance Commissioner, including the Joint Investigative Plan between the Inland Empire Fraud Division Regional Office and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, for the San Bernardino County Automobile Insurance Fraud Prosecution Program in the amount of $1,002,091 for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by the California Insurance Commissioner, authorizing the District Attorney to execute and submit all documents electronically, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments, subject to review by County Counsel, in relation to the grant application and the Joint Investigative Plan between the Inland Empire Fraud Division Regional Office and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
3. Direct the District Attorney to transmit all documents related to this grant application including 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
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 use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The costs of the County’s Automobile Insurance Fraud Prosecution Program (Program) are fully funded by the grant and matching funds are not required. The requested grant amount of $1,002,091 requested for 2022-23 will be used to fund the following staffing: one Deputy District Attorney, two District Attorney Investigators, and one Secretary I. The District Attorney’s Office (Department) 2022-23 budget includes $760,898 from this grant, based on the actual award received in 2021-22. Once awarded, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for award acceptance and any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Section 1872.8 of the California Insurance Code and California Code of Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 5, Subchapter 9, Article 4, Section 2698.65 authorize the California Insurance Commissioner to distribute funds assessed against insurers to agencies statewide for the investigation and prosecution of automobile insurance fraud cases. Since 1991, San Bernardino County has received grant funding from the State for this purpose. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to seek continued Program funding for 2022-23. The prosecution of automobile insurance fraud often results in reduced insurance claims payments and a commensurate decrease in automobile insurance premiums for County residents.
The grant application includes, as a required attachment, a Joint Investigative Plan between the Inland Empire Fraud Division Regional Office and the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office. A sample of the Joint Investigative Plan that will be signed and included as part of the application is being submitted as an attachment to this Board Agenda Item.
The California Insurance Commissioner sent notice to all participating agencies statewide that the due date to submit a grant application for the Program would be July 1, 2022. Due to the requirement to include statistical information through mid-June 2022, the Department anticipates that the final application will be completed by June 24, 2022. After completion, the Department will electronically submit the grant application to the State. A copy of this application will be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Approval of this item adopts the resolution that authorizes the Department to electronically execute and submit the application, as required by the California Insurance Commissioner for this grant.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 20, 2022; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on May 20, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 27, 2022.