To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Public Health Reserve Corp (PHRC) State Standard Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached state standard MOU with the CDPH to accept state-assigned personnel to assist with public health emergency response;
2. Authorize the Director of Public Health, or a designee thereof, to sign the MOU; and
3. Authorize the Director of Public Health, or a designee thereof, to sign all future amendments and documents directly related to the MOU upon review and approval of County Counsel and Risk Management.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Funds (1175).
DISCUSSION:
CDPH established the PHRC, which gives state employees the opportunity to be trained as part of a strike team that can provide support in (a) any Governor-declared state of emergency that poses a risk to public health emergency, and/or (b) when CDPH determines that there is a need for additional personnel to support the State of California or local health officers in responding to any of the following: a public health emergency declared pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 101080, a significant outbreak of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, or other significant or catastrophic events, where immediate public health measures and actions are needed (a) and (b) hereinafter each alone or together “State of Emergency”. Such volunteers (“PHRC Personnel”) can be deployed to support Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) during a State of Emergency.
CDPH shall assign PHRC Personnel to assist the county with its State of Emergency response by providing administrative, technical, and/or operational support (“Services”). The number of assigned PHRC Personnel will be based on availability and CDPH’s sole and exclusive discretion. Each individual PHRC Personnel will only be deployed for up to two deployments per 12-month period equating to a maximum length of 180 calendar days. and each deployment reflecting a period of no more than 90 calendar days. Within these parameters, the timing and duration of deployment of PHRC Personnel shall be by mutual written agreement between the county and CDPH. A deployment may end before the maximum length of deployment for the individual of 180 calendar days PHRC Personnel being reached.
The MOU is valid upon execution through June 20, 2025.
Approval of the MOU before your Board today will allow Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health to request and utilize PHRC Personnel for emergency response. Although requests are limited to COVID-19 emergency response at this time, CDPH may also allow requests for other future Public Health States of Emergency as they develop. CDPH has encouraged all LHJs interested in receiving PHRC support at any time in the future to begin the MOU process prior to needing assistance. This MOU comes before your Board after the start date due to late receipt from CDPH.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are no direct costs associated with the attached state standard MOU with CDPH. The state shall retain sole responsibility to provide the wages and benefits of the PHRC Personnel, including accurate timekeeping and payroll. PHRC Personnel services shall be provided to the county at no cost. Therefore, approval of the attached agreement with the CDPH will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health, and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may choose to not approve the MOU with CDPH; however, this is not recommended as it would prevent DHHS - Public Health from requesting state-assigned personnel to assist the county with any future State of Emergency response.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CDPH PHRC MOU 07/2022
2. CDPH PHRC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for LHJs
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A