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District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $272,667 from the California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program for the period of October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance;
3) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase Net County Cost; upon County Counsel review and approval; and
4) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute Amendment III to Agreement 4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships in the updated amount of $243,769 extending the service period covering October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023, to continue providing one full-time Sexual Assault Counselor to the grant program.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services: Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant Program as authorized by the Violence Against Women Act.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On May 23, 2022, the District Attorney’s Office received a “Letter of Intent to Fund” from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) regarding the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program for the grant period October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023. In response to the ST Program Request for Application (RFA), the department has prepared a grant application per instructions. The purpose of the ST Program is to support and enhance specialized units to provide a coordinated response to adolescent (age 11 and older) and adult victims of sexual assault, through compassionate investigative interview, immediate victim advocacy, training for patrol officers/first responders, and the development/updating of effective protocols and practices.
The plan for the ST Program is to continue funding 1.0 FTE District Attorney Investigator, 0.10 FTE Program Manager, 1.0 FTE Sexual Assault Counselor (SAC) through a participating staff contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships, training/travel expenses, training materials, and dedicated phone line costs. A portion of the District Attorney Investigator and Program Manager’s salary/benefits, and the dedicated Investigator phone line expenses will be used to meet the 25% cash match requirement.
Amendment III to The Center for Violence-Free Relationships agreement #4458, extends the service period for the Sexual Assault Counselor (SAC) by one year, increases the monthly service rate from $4,924.25 to $5,188, adds an additional $3,000 for training related expenses and $720 for cell phone stipend, and increases the total not to exceed amount of the contract to $243,769. The amendment will allow the dedicated Sexual Assault Counselor to continue to work specifically with the ST Investigator through the term of the grant award period, October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.
The objective of this project is to continue to dedicate personnel to enhance the ability to effectively provide services to adolescent and adult sexual assault victims and to thoroughly investigate the sexual assault crimes against them. Having a dedicated project team allows the District Attorney's Office to expeditiously conclude cases, reducing victim trauma. This grant cycle is the second cycle of the three-year award period for this program.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the District Attorney to accept the grant award and execute Amendment III to agreement 4458, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 21-1491, September 28, 2021 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2021-22 CalOES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2021- September 30, 2022 and approved the Purchasing Agent to executed Amendment II to Agreement #4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships.
Legistar 20-1104, September 22, 2020 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2020-21 CalOES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2020- September 30, 2021 and executed Amendment I to Agreement #4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. Funding is included in the FY 2022-23 Budget. The total project award of $272,667 carries with it a match burden of $68,167. The grant proposal submitted identified using a portion of the Program Manager and the District Attorney Investigator's salary/benefits, and dedicated Investigator phone line costs to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these services is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirement, the County would be responsible for the difference.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to:
1) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline; and
2) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of Amendment III to Agreement 4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney