DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Elizabeth Diaz, Public Defender
SUBJECT: Retroactive California Endowment Grant Award Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Public Defender’s previous submittal of grant application to The California Endowment for the Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Health Resources Grant;
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute retroactive Agreement 20162616 with The California Endowment for the period of January 15, 2016 through January 14, 2017 ($25,000); and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2015-16 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Public Defender Org 2880 in the amount of $25,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no net County cost associated with these actions. The California Endowment awarded this grant to the Public Defender to support outreach, education, and other assistance in order to connect formerly incarcerated individuals to health, social services, and legal programs to improve health and well-being in Fresno County. The recommended actions will retroactively authorize and approve the agreement with The California Endowment to accept the Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Health Resources Grant in the amount of $25,000. The Public Defender will use this grant to fund one extra help Defense Attorney I to conduct community outreach, educate, and legally assist eligible formerly incarcerated individuals in reclassifying their convictions under Proposition 47 (Prop 47).
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant award will be withdrawn.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The California Endowment contacted the Public Defender regarding the grant on December 21, 2015, and completed an internal application during the phone conference. The Department was notified January 20, 2016, that the application was accepted for funding, contingent on your Board’s retroactive approval. It should be noted the deadline to accept the grant award is March 4, 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost associated with these actions. The grant award includes $25,000 for the Public Defender for calendar year 2016. There is no match requirement for receipt of the funds. Approval of the third recommended action will increase the FY 2015-16 appropriations and estimated revenues for Public Defender Org 2880 in the amount of $25,000 using funds received from the California Endowment grant. The Public Defender’s Office anticipates expending $6,490 of the grant for FY 2015-16 to fund one extra help Defense Attorney I position for 16 hours per week beginning March 14, 2016. Any unexpended funds will be re-budgeted for use within the first half of FY 2016-17.
DISCUSSION:
The calendar year 2016 Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Health Resources Grant in the amount of $25,000 was awarded to the Department to support outreach, education, and other assistance in order to connect formerly incarcerated individuals to health, social services, and legal programs to improve health and well-being in Fresno County.
On November 4, 2014, California voters passed Prop 47, which reduced nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors for current and past convictions. Reducing nonviolent felonies also reduces significant barriers to obtaining jobs, housing, student loans, and other economic opportunities which help ensure successful reintegration into productive society. The Public Defender will use the grant to fund one extra help Defense Attorney I, primarily responsible for conducting community outreach to find and educate eligible individuals who have completed their sentences. As the liaison between the Department and local nonprofits, churches, and Legal Aid clinics, the extra help Defense Attorney I will provide legal assistance for the filing of PCR-80: Application for Reduction of Felony Conviction, to the Fresno County Superior Court. An Attorney position is needed for this grant to provide legal expertise. The extra help Defense Attorney I, as utilized by Public Defender offices statewide; will endeavor to reach as many eligible individuals as possible before the provision of Prop 47 that allows for reclassification of their convictions expires on November 5, 2017.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Grant Award / Agreement with California Endowment
On file with Clerk - Resolution (2880)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck