DATE: September 13, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Michael L. Elliott, Interim Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Juvenile Drug Testing Fee
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Probation Department to charge parents/legal guardians of juvenile probationers for drug testing in accordance with the Master Schedule of Fees and the sliding scale included in Attachment A of Agenda Item.
REPORT
There is no increase to Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended action will require the parents/legal guardians of juvenile probationers to pay a fee, based on a sliding scale, each time a drug test is administered to their youth through the Probation Department. The effective date will be 30 days from the date your Board approves the action to allow the Department time to establish processes and procedures to accept payments for juvenile drug tests.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, your Board may choose to: continue not charging parents/legal guardians for drug testing fees; require that parents/legal guardians pay the full drug testing fee, currently $12.00 each test; or, use an alternative sliding scale than the one included in the recommended action as provided in Attachment A.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase to Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Revenues received in drug testing fees will partially offset the cost to administer the drug test and related toxicology services. It is estimated that approximately $12,000 will be collected in revenue annually from juvenile drug testing.
DISCUSSION:
On June 21, 2016 your Board requested the Probation Department look into options to charge juvenile drug testing fees in order to hold parents/legal guardians more accountable for the actions of the juvenile probationers. Your Board also requested staff determine if Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Project benefits could be used to pay for drug testing...
Click here for full text