Title
District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to accept a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Program with a total project cost of $270,060 for the period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 161-2025 designating the District Attorney, or his designee, as the Authorized Agent for the purposes of submitting, accepting, and executing award documents via the CalOES Grants Central System;
3) Approve and authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically agree to and accept the associated grant Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance; and
4) Authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically submit the grant application and execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost, contingent upon review and approval by County Counsel.
FUNDING: Services Training Officers Prosecutors Violence Against Women Formula (75%) and General Fund (25%).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 2, 2025, the District Attorney's Office received notification from the CalOES that they intend to fund the department for participation in the VV Program in the amount of $202,545 for the period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026. The funding requires a local match amount of $67,515, which brings the total project cost to $270,060. This will be the District Attorney’s eighth consecutive award under this grant program. The purpose of this program is to vertically prosecute violent crimes against women.
Funding provided by this program will continue to support 1.0 FTE Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney, 1.0 FTE Victim Advocate through a contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships (The Center), a District Attorney Investigator on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement, and as-needed operating expenses. The purpose of the Program is to improve the criminal justice system’s processing of violent crimes against women through a coordinated, multi-disciplinary, prosecutorial response, including specialized units with a highly qualified prosecutor and victim advocate.
Due to the continuation of this grant program, the associated Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney position expiration date has already been extended through December 31, 2026 during the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Recommended Budget process.
As part of the current Request for Application (RFA) process, CalOES requests the acknowledged Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance be included with the submitted application. For the purpose of this Board item, CalOES has provided a letter of intent to fund the program. Additionally, as of July 15, 2024, CalOES has implemented a new Grants Central System (GCS) for applicants to manage their grants. It is via this online portal that the grant application shall be submitted, along with certifications complying with assurances and proof of authority. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance includes details regarding Federal Grant Funds, Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Drug Free Workplace Compliance, California Environmental Quality Act, Lobbying, Debarment and Suspension requirements, Proof of Authority from the Governing Board, Civil Rights Compliance, and the special conditions of Subaward. The enclosed resolution is being requested for adoption by the Board Chair, designating the El Dorado County District Attorney, or his designee, the Authorized Agent role in GCS, resulting in permission to initiate, submit, and accept the VV Program grant agreement and related documents for period January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026, including any future grant modifications/amendments that do not increase Net County Cost, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the grant, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
11/12/2024 Legistar file 24-1376: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the VV Program funding in the project cost of $270,060 for period January 1, 2025-December 31, 2025, executes associated Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney extension, and executed Amendment I to Agreement 7881 with The Center for continued Victim Advocacy services.
10/24/2023 Legistar file 23-1820: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the VV Program funding in the project cost of $270,060 and executed agreement 7881 with The Center.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost for accepting this grant award. Of the total $270,060 project award, $67,515 is earmarked as a local match requirement. The department anticipates using the assigned District Attorney Investigator salary and benefits and a portion of the assigned Deputy District Attorney salary and benefits as the cash match. Adequate funding is included in the department’s FY 2025-26 budget and no amendments are necessary.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to return one certified copy of the Proof of Authority resolution to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Justene Cline.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney