Title
Public Defender recommending the Board:
1) Approve and ratify the Public Defender's signature on a Funding Agreement between the El Dorado County Public Defender's Office and the State Bar of California to receive $60,000 in reimbursement for the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court program between October 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026; and
2) Authorize the Public Defender to execute amendments, programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to the CARE Court Funding Agreement, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, as applicable, which do not increase Net County Cost.
FUNDING: The State Bar of California CARE Court Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In 2022, Senate Bill 1338 was enacted, creating the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program. In 2024, Assembly Bill 107 was enacted, allocating $16,750,000 in CARE Court Funding to be distributed by the Judicial Council of California through the State Bar. Funds have been made available to County Public Defender Offices to provide qualified legal services and projects related to CARE Act initiatives.
The State Bar of California has offered $60,000 in funding for the initial period of October 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026, for the El Dorado County Public Defender's Office to represent respondents in CARE Act proceedings. The Public Defender's Office has been tracking labor and expenses related to CARE Court activities, and with the acceptance of the funding agreement, is able to begin using the funding to recognize revenues to offset general fund program expenses for qualifying cases.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the CARE Court funding and the Public Defender would be ineligible to receive funding for the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Applicable CARE Court re...
Click here for full text