Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Accept the grant award for the Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant Program in the amount of $1,361,848;
2) Authorize the Chair to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (FENIX 4610) with the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) for the term July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023;
3) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant Program required Governing Body Resolution 077-2020 for the purpose of authorizing the applicant to enter into a contract with the state and identifying the Sheriff as the authorized person to execute future amendments to the contract; and
4) Direct the Chief Administrative Office to include two Limited Term Deputy Sheriff I/II in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget, to be funded with the accepted grant funds.
FUNDING: CA DOJ Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant Program has been established to provide funding to local law enforcement agencies to assist in the reduction of illegal sales and marketing of all tobacco products to minors. The CA DOJ understands that the use of tobacco products varies greatly across the state and encourages applicants to this program to tailor their strategies to meet the unique needs and use variations that exist locally.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Furthermore, approximately 4.7 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. This statistic has held true since the Sheriff’s Office originally applied for Prop 56 funding in 2018 and was awarded $924,085. That grant cycle ends on June 30, 2020 so it was necessary to apply for another award.
The Sheriff’s Office applied for the next round of funding on July 11, 2019 and was awarded $1,361,848 with a grant term of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023. The original application submitted included requests to fund 2.0 FTE Deputy Sheriff I/II to act as a School Resource Officers (SROs) who will assist in promoting tobacco mitigation through training materials, social media, and community engagement.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue to use these funds to:
1) Have two SROs connect with teenagers in a way that impacts how they perceive tobacco products. Our SROs will work with the youth to make them aware that these products can cause severe health problems, including death;
2) Enforce the laws that limit access to tobacco products by individuals under the age of 21, reduce interior and exterior tobacco marketing, enforce/ensure compliance with all tobacco laws;
3) Educate retailers about the types of tobacco products covered under the law including electronic smoking devices; and
4) Collaborate with the El Dorado County Public Health Department as a partner of the Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community (HSHC) campaign on surveys to gather data on the use of tobacco and related products by minors.
The Sheriff’s Office received Letters of Support for our grant application from the El Dorado Union High School District, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley and the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District.
The CA DOJ requires a Governing Body Resolution that authorizes the applicant to enter into a contract with the State and identifies the person authorized to execute the contract for the applicant. It also is recommended to authorize future amendments, if any, for the purpose of increasing funding provided in the original contract, without an additional resolution from the governing body. The resolution attached will authorize the Sheriff to execute any future amendments to this contract.
Funding has been added to the Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Year 2020/21 budget and will be included in each subsequent budget for the duration of the grant term.
ALTERNATIVES
If recommendation is not approved, funding for the Sheriff’s Office’s proposal will be forfeited.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
None
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk approved the MOU. Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Department has taken the lead role on the HSHC campaign with the Sheriff’s Office as a partner.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No change to Net County Cost. Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant Program funding for the program costs and the 2.0 Limited Term FTEs will be provided for FY20/21, 21/22 and 22/23. Unless new funding is received, those 2.0 FTEs will be deleted and the program will be eliminated at the end of the grant period.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please forward signed Governing Body Resolution to the Sheriff's Office for submittal.
Provide two originals of the signed MOU to the Sheriff's office for submission to CA DOJ for final signatures.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Cooperation with other governmental agencies promotes public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Randy Peshon