To: Board of Supervisors
From: District Attorney
Agenda Section: Consent - Received Too Late For Review (TLFR)
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)
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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 agreements, amendments, certifications, attestations, and other 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 for District Attorney budget unit 1100-205 (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
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities and Core Services
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
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 9, 2024, 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 Forty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($241,932.00) to allow for the continued operation of the regional Insurance Fraud Unit during fiscal year 2024-2025.
This is the fourteenth (14th) 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 District Attorney Investigator position and a one-half (0.5) full-time equivalent 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 agreements, amendments, certifications, attestations and other 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.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Insurance
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100-205) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Additional Appropriation |
$29,932.00 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$241,932.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1100-205) |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$241,932.00 |
$212,000.00 |
$212,000.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$241,932.00 |
$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 Forty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($241,932.00) for services performed in accordance with the scope of work described in the grant agreement for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The originally anticipated grant amount of Two Hundred Twelve Thousand Dollars ($212,000.00) was included in the approved fiscal year 2024-2025 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 Forty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($241,932.00) will create a supplemental budget of Twenty-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($29,932.00). This additional funding will be used to supplement outreach, office supplies, and 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.
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 agreements, amendments, certifications, attestations and other 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 FY 2024-25
3. Resolution
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: December 19, 2023
File No.: 23-1622