Title
Chief Administrative Office, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, recommending the Board:
1) Discharge the Chief Administrative Office from further accountability to collect the debts identified on the attached Discharge of Accountability report pursuant to Government Code Sections 25257 through 25259, for the period 2013 through 2021 in the amount of $1,740,418.81;
2) Approve a one-time discharge of accountability of ambulance fee debts older than 3.5 years due to a change in outside collections agencies, in the amount of $5,912,166.96; and
3) Authorize the County Auditor-Controller to adjust the accounts receivable by a total of $7,652,585.77 in the County Service Area (CSA) 3 & 7 funds accordingly.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Annual Discharge of Accountability
The Board’s authority to discharge debts is based on California Government Code, Section 25257 to 25259, which states in part, the “Board of Supervisors may make an order discharging the department, officer or employee from further accountability and if appropriate may direct the County Auditor to adjust any change against the department, officer, or employee in a like amount.”
When County debts are determined to be uncollectable for any of the following reasons, the accounts are presented to the Board annually for discharge from further accountability to collect the debts:
1. Bankruptcy
2. Death of the Debtor
3. Expiration of Statute of Limitations; and
4. Uncollectable Debts
Discharge for Bankruptcy and Death of Debtor require legal documentation. The County’s previously contracted collection agency, Access Capital, obtained confirmation prior to recommending discharge of accountability. The statute of limitations for ambulance debt is 7 years from the date of service which is the time that the collection agency is allowed to legally collect on the debt. The accounts in this category have passed their statute of limitations. The unco...
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