DATE: October 23, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Letter of Intent with the State Department of State Hospitals for Jail Diversion Funding
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to submit a Letter of Intent to the California Department of State Hospitals, for non-competitive one-time funding for a Jail Diversion Program, in the amount of $7,012,440; and,
2. Approve and authorize the Department of Behavioral Health to operate as the Lead Entity and for the Department Director to serve as the primary contact for Fresno County related to the one-time funding opportunity.
REPORT
California Assembly Bill 1810 (AB 1810) and Senate Bill 215 (SB 215) enacted a non-competitive funding opportunity for the top 15 California counties that utilize State Hospitals for inmates who have been found incompetent to stand trial (IST). Approval of the first recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to apply to the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) for Jail Diversion funding.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board opt not to approve the recommended actions, the Department would not pursue the funding opportunity and the IST individuals who have significant mental health challenges will remain incarcerated.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The one-time non-competitive funding made available by AB 1810 and SB 215 will be in the amount of $5,843,700. There is a required 20% County contribution match to these funds in the amount of $1,168,740. The 3-year combined total for the DSH Diversion program will be $7,012,440. DSH and DBH will work collaboratively to develop a work plan for the Diversion funds and will return to your Board with a contract for execution to receive the funds.
Sufficient appropriations and estimated reven...
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