Title
Public Defender's Office recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 172-2026, to approve the addition of 0.4 full-time equivalent Paralegal I/II to the Public Defender's authorized allocations; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Transfer increasing Revenue and Salaries and Benefits by $33,500.
FUNDING: The State Bar of California Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court Program.
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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 Court initiatives. The State Bar of California offered the El Dorado County Public Defender's Office $60,000 in funding for the initial period of October 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026, to represent respondents in CARE Court proceedings. The Public Defender's Office had been tracking labor and expenses related to CARE Court activities, and with the acceptance of the original funding agreement, was able to begin using the funding to recognize revenues to offset general fund program expenses for qualifying cases.
In 2025, Assembly Bill 102 (AB 102) was enacted, allowing $15,750,000 in CARE Court Funding to be distributed by the Judicial Council of California through the State Bar for the service period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, with the first annual funding period of July 1, 2025, through January 1, 2027. While the updated agreement between the County and the State Bar of California is a three-year funding agreement, the annual California Budget Act and the Fee Schedule Act provide for annual funding during the service period. As such, fund...
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