REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 24, 2023
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award Agreement with the California Insurance Commissioner for the Organized Automobile Fraud Activity Interdiction Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Award Agreement with the California Insurance Commissioner to accept $437,669 for the investigation and prosecution of organized automobile fraud cases in San Bernardino County for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by the California Department of Insurance, approving the Grant Award Agreement and authorizing the Chief Deputy District Attorney to electronically sign and submit all documents and non-substantive amendments in relation to the acceptance of this Grant Award Agreement, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chief Deputy District Attorney to transmit all Grant Award Agreement documents in relation to the acceptance of this Grant Award Agreement, 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 the need for additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant will provide $437,669 from the California Insurance Commissioner to fund the following existing positions assigned to the County’s Organized Automobile Fraud Activity Interdiction Program (Program): one Deputy District Attorney and one Senior Investigator. Funds assessed annually against insurers, in the amount of $0.560 for each insured vehicle, provide the funding source for this grant, and no matching funds are required. Revenue and appropriation for this program is included in the District Attorney’s (Department) 2022-23 budget and will be included in the Department’s 2022-23 Adopted Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the direction of the California Insurance Commissioner and pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 1874.8, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) administers the Program. In accordance with the Program, the CDI distributed grant funds to district attorneys statewide for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting organized automobile fraud. The acceptance of this grant aligns with the goal of providing for the safety of County residents by assisting the Department in funding the investigation and prosecution of these crimes. The Department has been receiving grant funds for this purpose for the past 18 years.
On June 22, 2021 (Item No. 42), the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized the Department to submit a grant application to the California Insurance Commissioner requesting funding for the Program for a three-year period effective July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024. This is a three-year grant cycle, but the Department receives the official award notice on an annual basis, which is taken to the Board for approval.
On December 19, 2022, the Department received notification that the Grant Award Agreement would come from their newly established online Grants Managements System and would require electronic signature via DocuSign on December 21, 2022. This item is being presented at this time, as it is the first available date following required operational, fiscal, and legal review. Approval of this grant award by the Board at this time will have no impact on the Department’s grant related services and activities.
The State of California, Department of Insurance requires a resolution from the Board approving the Grant Award Agreement and authorizing the Chief Deputy District Attorney to electronically sign the agreement. The January 20, 2023 date to return the electronically signed Grant Award Agreement have been extended to January 27, 2023 to ensure adequate time to obtain Board approval.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 28, 2022; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on January 5, 2023: and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 6, 2023.