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District Attorney recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the District Attorney to accept and execute Grant Agreement DI21023 in the amount of $233,072 with the California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, for the prosecution of alcohol and drug impaired driving cases for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021; and
2) Delegate authority to the District Attorney to execute any agreement amendments or extensions which do not increase net county cost, contingent upon approval by County Counsel.
FUNDING: California Office of Traffic Safety Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program Grant Funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney recommends the Board approve and authorize the District Attorney to execute Grant Agreement DI21023 in the amount of $233,072 with the California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, for the prosecution of alcohol and drug impaired driving cases.
Approval of this recommendation will allow the District Attorney's Office to efficiently and effectively investigate and prosecute Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases. The grant will fund 1.0 FTE Deputy District Attorney and costs associated to program-related travel and training.
The investigation and prosecution of DUI charges have historically absorbed a great amount of resources in the District Attorney's Office due to the number of offenses within El Dorado County. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) ranked El Dorado County 26 out of 58 counties for alcohol involved collisions in 2017 based on daily vehicle miles traveled.
The District Attorney's Office has implemented many programs pursuant to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program grants, which includes community awareness programs, DUI checkpoints and the prosecution of DUI offenses.
This department was initially awarded funding for this program in FY 2013-14. Funding was discontinued in FY 2016-17 and the program was supported by the general fund. Funding was restored by OTS in FY 2017-18.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not accept the Grant Agreement, and the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 19-1352, September 24, 2019 - Board approved the acceptance of Federal FY 19/20 California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program Grant Agreement DI20002, for the prosecution of alcohol and drug impaired driving cases for the period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 in the amount of $230,154.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. The revenue is included in the FY 2020-21 budget. This grant carries no County match requirement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney