To: Board of Supervisors
From: District Attorney
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Acceptance of Grant Funding Made Available by the California Department of Insurance through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program and Supplemental Budget Approval (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the Humboldt County District Attorney, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents necessary to secure, accept and reapply for grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program; and
2. Approve the attached supplemental budget in Fund 1100, Budget Unit 205, District Attorney (4/5 vote required); and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed, certified copy of the attached resolution to the District Attorney’s Office for submission to the California Department of Insurance.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Insurance
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with both the Del Norte and Trinity County District Attorney’s Offices for the purpose of developing and operating a regional Insurance Fraud Unit. The regional Insurance Fraud Unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting workers’ compensation fraud, and providing community outreach regarding identification and reporting of insurance fraud in all three regional areas.
On July 17, 2023, the California Department of Insurance awarded the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office grant funding through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program in the amount of Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($276,553.00) to allow for the continued operation of the regional Insurance Fraud Unit during fiscal year 2023-2024.
This is the Thirteenth (13th) year the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has participated in the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program. The grant funding made available thereunder will be used locally to fund one (1) full time equivalent (“FTE”) District Attorney Investigator position and a one-half (0.5) FTE Deputy District Attorney position that will be assigned to the regional Insurance Fraud Unit.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County District Attorney, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents necessary to secure, accept and reapply grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100205) |
FY23-24 |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Additional Appropriation |
$64,533.00 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$276,553.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1100205) |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected* |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$276,553.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$276,553.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
As noted above, acceptance of the grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program will allow the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office to be reimbursed up to a maximum of Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($276,553.00) for services performed in accordance with the scope of work described in the grant agreement for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
The originally anticipated grant amount of Two Hundred Twelve Thousand Dollars ($212,000.00) was included in the approved fiscal year 2023-2024 budget for budget unit 1100-205. As a result, acceptance of the original grant award and additional grant funding for a total of Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($276,553.00) will create a supplemental budget of Sixty-Four Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($64,553.00). This additional funding will be used to supplement overtime, minor investigation equipment, investigative software, outreach, office supplies, travel expenses for inter-jurisdictional investigations as well as enhance staff development and training costs.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Authorization to accept the funding made available by the California Department of Insurance will allow the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office to continue funding one (1) full time equivalent District Attorney Investigator position and a one-half (0.5) full time equivalent Deputy District Attorney position.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework:
Core Roles: Enforce laws and regulations to protect residents
New Initiatives: Build interjurisdictional and regional cooperation
Strategic Plan: 3.1 - Improve the economy of Humboldt County
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Insurance
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County District Attorney, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents necessary to secure, accept and reapply for grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program. However, this alternative is not recommended since it does not allow for the continued operation of the regional Insurance Fraud Unit.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Grant Award Letter
2. Supplemental Budget
3. Resolution
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-18
Meeting of: December 22, 2022
File No.: 22-1731