Title
Child Support Services (CSS) recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to negotiate an agreement between the County of El Dorado CSS and the County of Inyo CSS, where the County of Inyo will compensate the County of El Dorado for the provision of legal attorney services to the County of Inyo CSS; and
2) Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to provide legal services to the County of Inyo CSS during the negotiation period, to include travel, for a period not to exceed 90 days of Board approval, as long as services do not increase CSS’s Net County Cost.
FUNDING: State and Federal Child Support Funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Family Code Section 17304(a) mandates that the Director of the Department negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with county and state agencies to fulfill the requirements of the state plan for administering the Title IV-D child support program. Family Code 17304(a) also states, “The director, in consultation with the impacted counties, may consolidate the local child support agencies, or any function of the agencies, in more than one county into a single local child support agency, if the director determines that the consolidation will increase the efficiency of the state Title IV-D program and each county has at least one local child support office accessible to the public.”
On July 30, 2024, with Legistar item 24-1074, the Board approved a Plan of Cooperation with the County of Tehama, where the County of Tehama will compensate the County of El Dorado CSS in the monthly amount of $6,250, allowing El Dorado County CSS to provide legal attorney services to the County of Tehama Child Support Services during the term of August 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with the option to extend the agreement to June 30, 2026.
El Dorado CSS was approached by the Inyo County Local Child Support Agency with a request to provide legal services through a contractual agreement. Under this agreement, Inyo County would compensate El Dorado County monthly for legal services. El Dorado CSS currently employs three attorneys. As caseloads continue to decrease across California, more small counties are seeking such agreements to facilitate the administration of the Title IV-D program statewide. These agreements help the state Department of Child Support Services promote cost-effectiveness and ensure continuity of legal access and full services for the families we serve. The intent of the agreement would be to ensure that Inyo County CSS can effectively manage child support cases within their jurisdiction, while allowing El Dorado County to supplement its allocation and minimize adverse impacts on each jurisdiction’s cost-effectiveness measures. Similar agreements exist throughout the child support program. Given the current size of El Dorado CSS's caseload, 4,564 cases, the County Tehama CSS' caseload of 2,731, and the addition of the County of Inyo's caseload of 718 cases for a total of 8,013 cases, three attorneys can effectively also assist Inyo County CSS without compromising the level of service provided to El Dorado County's staff and clients. The impact on El Dorado CSS would be minimal to none.
In Fiscal Year 2022-23, the State Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), reduced the allocation of State Funding to the El Dorado County Child Support Services (CSS) Department. The County purchased the Ponderosa building with the CSS Department sharing space with the Health and Human Services Agency and Elections Office, significantly lowering lease costs. These cost-saving measures resulted in Child Support Services being able to maintain the Net County Cost of $5,000 in the current FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. The current DCSS SFY 2024-25 budget includes a $10 million reduction in funding to local child support agencies, which impacted El Dorado CSS’ allocation, with a $109,657 reduction. This same reduction is also included in the Initial SFY 2025-26 Administrative Allocation from the DCSS. Therefore, additional funds from this conceptual agreement would allow CSS to retain current staff, and allocate resources for special projects, outreach, and building improvements, without relying on General Fund monies.
The department is seeking conceptual approval of the pursuit of shared legal attorney services with the County of Inyo CSS. If approved, the department will negotiate an agreement with County of Inyo CSS and return to the Board for approval of the agreement.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to authorize the Director of CSS to negotiate the revenue generating agreement with Inyo County CSS, thereby stopping CSS from engaging in collaboration with another local child support agency as requested, and the ability to acquire additional funds to prevent CSS from needing additional General Fund support or to reduce filled CSS positions.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the County General Fund resulting from authorizing the CSS Director to negotiate an agreement or authorizing the Director of Child Support Services to provide legal services to the County of Inyo CSS during the negotiation period. All CSS legal services are funded with state and federal funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Ron Ladage, Director of Child Support Services