DATE: April 11, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Antoinette Taillac, Public Defender
SUBJECT: San Joaquin College of Law Federal Work Study Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the San Joaquin College of Law to provide the Public Defender's Office access to and utilize law students from San Joaquin College of Law to provide case support, effective April 11, 2023 through April 11, 2024, not to exceed three consecutive years, which includes a one-year base contract and two automatic one-year extensions, total not to exceed $22,000.
REPORT
This recommended agreement will allow the Public Defender's Office to continue the existing work study program, providing the Public Defender's Office access to and utilizing law students from the San Joaquin College of Law (SJCL) who are interested in becoming defense attorneys. Seventy-five percent of the associated cost will be offset through the Federal Work-Study Program implemented by SJCL. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the Public Defender's Office will receive less case support provided by law students, and will not be able to take advantage of the Federal Work-Study Program offered by SJCL.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Public Defender's Office estimates that no more than 10 students per year will be accepted to participate in the program. Seventy-five percent of the costs will be offset through the Federal Work-Study Program implemented by SJCL. Twenty-five percent of the cost, estimated to be $22,000 over the three-year term, will be absorbed with the Department's Net County Cost allocation. There are sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues in the Public Defender Org 2880 FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Fresno County Public Defender's Office was contacted by SJCL regarding employing law students, and offsetting seventy...
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