To: Board of Supervisors
From: District Attorney
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Authorizing the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office to Apply for, Accept and Administer Funding Made Available by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services through the Victim Witness Assistance Program
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the Humboldt County District Attorney and the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller, or designees thereof, to execute any and all certifications, agreements, amendments and other documents necessary to apply for, accept and administer funding made available by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services through the Victim Witness Assistance Program;
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board to execute the attached Certificate of Assurance of Compliance regarding compliance with any and all laws, regulations, standards and requirements applicable to funding made available by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services through the Victim Witness Assistance Program; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one fully executed certified copy of the attached resolution and Certificate of Assurance of Compliance to the District Attorney’s Office for submission to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; Victim Witness Assistance Office; Victims of Crime Act, Victim Witness (1100-208)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County District Attorney’s office is requesting to submit an application for annual funding made available by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) through the Victim Witness Assistance Program for fiscal year 2021-2022. The funding is available through the Victim Witness Assistance Office (VWAO) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which are a combination of state and federal funds that are managed and dispersed annually to eligible counties by Cal OES. The annual application for funding is in the amount of $32,463 in VWAO state funding and $381,465 in VOCA federal funding.
Funding received from Cal OES through the Victim Witness Assistance Program has allowed the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office to provide increased direct services to victims and witnesses. Services provided, include, without limitation, crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource and referral assistance, direct counseling/therapy, victim of crime claim assistance, property return, orientation to the criminal justice system, court escort, presentations and training for criminal justice agencies, public presentations and publicity, case status/case disposition, notification of family/friends, employer notification/intervention and restitution. All of these services are mandated by California Penal Code Sections 13835.4 through 13835.5. Other direct services provided that are not mandated, include, without limitation, temporary restraining order assistance, providing crime prevention information, witness notification and funeral/burial arrangements.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the Board adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the Humboldt County District Attorney and the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller, or designees thereof, to execute any and all certifications, agreements, amendments and other documents necessary to apply for, accept and administer funding made available by Cal OES through the Victim Witness Assistance Program. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the Chair of the Board to execute the attached Certificate of Assurance of Compliance regarding compliance with any and all laws, regulations, standards and requirements applicable to such funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the attached resolution will allow the County of Humboldt to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $413,928 for services performed in accordance with the scope of work described in the grant application for the period of Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022. Such funding covers salary and benefits totaling $406,853 along with operating expenses of $7,075 in budget unit 1100-208. There is a cash match obligation totaling $95,366 which has been waived by Cal OES due to community resource limitations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Adoption of the attached resolution will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County, providing community-appropriate levels of service and investing in County of Humboldt employees.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County District Attorney and the Humboldt County Auditor-Controller, or designees thereof, to execute any and all certifications, agreements, amendments and other documents necessary to apply for, accept and administer funding made available by Cal OES through the Victim Witness Assistance Program. However, this alternative is not recommended as it would cause a loss of anticipated funding that is necessary to support the provision of services to victims and witnesses of crime in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Grant Subaward Face Sheet (Cal OES form 2-101)
2. Grant Subaward Contact Information (Cal OES form 2-102)
3. Grant Subaward Signature Authorization (Cal OES form 2-103)
4. Grant Subaward Certificate of Assurance of compliance Authorization (Cal OES form 2-104f)
5. Grant Subaward Budget Pages (Cal OES form 2-106a)
6. Grant Subaward Budget Narrative (Cal OES form 2-107)
7. Grant Subaward Program Narrative (Cal OES form 2-108)
8. Subrecipient Grants Management Assessment form
9. Grant Subaward Service Area Information (Cal OES form 2-154)
10. District Attorney Victim Witness Organizational Chart
11. Match Waiver Request
12. Operational Agreement Summary (Cal OES Form 2-160) and Current Operational Agreements
13. Grant Agreement Resolution
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-10
Meeting of: May 18, 2021
File No.: 21-546