Title
Child Support Services recommending the Board adopt Resolution 054-2013 to establish a victim restitution trust account for the Revenue Recovery Division for the purpose of disbursing payments to victims of crime.
FUNDING: Victim Restitution Funds.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
None
Background
Pursuant to Resolution #147-2012, executed on October 16, 2012, the Department of Child Support Services, Revenue Recovery Division is to assist victims of crime by collecting and distributing restitution on their behalf. The victims that receive these specific services are post-probation status and the victims themselves have directly applied for collection services.
Reason for Recommendation
A separate agency fund (trust account) is necessary to ensure victim restitution funds are not co-mingled with any other funds collected by Revenue Recovery for the Court or other county departments.
Additionally, Penal Code Section 1203.1(b) requires that payments be forwarded to the victim within 30 days from the date the payment is received by the department if the form of payment is cash or money order. If the payment is in the form of a check, the agency has 45 days to disburse the payment to the victim thereby allowing sufficient time for the check to clear the bank.
Payments will be deposited with the Treasurer's Office and these funds will be held in the trust account until available for disbursement to the victim via a check request to the Auditor's Office.
Action(s) to be taken following Board approval
1) Board Chair to sign Resolution
2) Auditor's Office to establish a trust account for post-probation private application victim restitution collection processing.
Contact
Laura D. Roth, Director Child Support Services
Concurrences
Auditor-Controller's Office
District Attorney's Office
Treasurer/Tax Collector