To: Board of Supervisors
From: District Attorney
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Acceptance of Grant Funding Made Available by the California Department of Insurance through the Automobile 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 documents necessary to secure, accept and reapply for grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Automobile 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) 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 automobile fraud, and providing community outreach regarding identification and reporting of insurance fraud in all three regional areas.
On August 30, 2022, the California Department of Insurance awarded the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office grant funding through the Automobile Insurance Fraud Program in the amount of Sixty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($68,991.00) to allow for the continued operation of the regional Insurance Fraud Unit during fiscal year 2022-2023.
This is the twelfth (12th) year the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has participated in the Automobile Insurance Fraud Program. The grant funding made available thereunder will be used locally to fund a .50 full time equivalent (“FTE”) District Attorney Investigator position.
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 for grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Automobile Insurance Fraud Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
As noted above, acceptance of the grant funding made available by the California Department of Insurance through the Automobile Insurance Fraud Program will allow the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office to be reimbursed up to a maximum of Sixty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($68,991.00) for services performed in accordance with the scope of work described in the grant agreement for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
The originally anticipated grant amount of Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($65,000.00) was included in the approved fiscal year 2022-2023 budget for budget unit 1100-205. As a result, acceptance of the grant award of Sixty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($68,991.00) will create a supplemental budget of Three Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($3,991.00). This additional funding will be used to support outreach costs of assigned District Attorney Investigator.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by creating opportunities to enforce laws and regulations to protect residents, providing community-appropriate levels of service and building inter-jurisdictional and regional cooperation.
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 Automobile 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. Resolution
3. Supplemental Budget
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-14
Meeting of: December 14, 2021
Staff Report # 21-1787