DATE: March 9, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney
SUBJECT: Salary Resolution for District Attorney IHSS Fraud Pilot Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding two Senior District Attorney Investigators, and one Investigative Technician position to the District Attorney Org 2860, effective March 22, 2021 as reflected in Appendix D;
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenues in the amount of $181,782 in the District Attorney Org 2860 (4/5 vote); and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Internal Services Department, Fleet Services-Equipment Org 8911 in the amount of $35,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions at this time, which will add two Investigator positions and one Investigative Technician position to the District Attorney Org 2860 Adopted Budget for the FY 2020-21 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Fraud Pilot Program. Also included is funding for an investigative vehicle to include up-fitting of law enforcement equipment. It is anticipated the Department has sufficient savings to cover the costs associated with this Program until the Mid-year Budget agenda item at which time the County Administrative Office will allocate additional Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the District Attorney would not be able to continue a revised version of the IHSS Fraud Program for FY 2020-21.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The second recommendation increases appropriations and revenues in the amount of $181,782 to fund the new IHSS Fraud Pilot Program for FY 2020-2021. Of this amount $90,586 will be funded with Federal Pass Through Funds and $90,586 will be Net County Cost. At this time, the Department has sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues to cover expenditures in their FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget Org 2860 until the Mid-year Budget agenda item comes before your Board. The additional Net County Cost will be allocated by the County Administrative Office during the Mid-year Budget agenda item. The third recommended action increases appropriations and estimated revenues by $35,000 in Internal Services Department, Fleet Services-Equipment Org 8911 to facilitate an investigative vehicle purchase for the IHSS Fraud Program.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of the recommended actions will provide two Senior District Attorney Investigators and one Investigative Technician to investigate IHSS Fraud in Fresno County.
On January 12, 2021, the Department took actions to reallocate the positions to other areas of need due to the elimination of the previous version of the IHSS Fraud Program. The Department of Social Services has processed cases of fraud through their administrative functions since the dissolution of the IHSS Fraud Program. Based on your Board’s direction on January 12, 2021, the Departments met with the County Administrative Office and held discussions on how to continue this Program. This has resulted in a reimagined approach to addressing IHSS Fraud through Early Prevention that will address the primary types of fraud that are systemic to the IHSS Program. This program will include oversight and community messaging regarding the integrity of IHSS, greater impact on addressing fraudulent cases through early prevention fraud, and detection of criminal activity in the home to protect the most vulnerable in our community. This new focus on early prevention fraud will result in savings to the County by identifying suspect cases and removing them from the Program.
This new investigative model is significantly different from the investigative model used in the Program earlier this year. This new approach is necessary due to the many new state regulations which have made both investigations and prosecution more difficult. The results of this new Program will be evaluated at the end of a twelve-month period and brought back to the Board to determine if it is successful and appropriate to continue funding.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #15, January 12, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Salary Resolution Amendment - Appendix D
On file with the Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 2860)
On file with the Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 8911)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck