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Affirm acceptance of the Office of the State Public Defender, Expanded Public Defense Services (Holistic Defense) Grant of $440,601 for February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028; Adopt a resolution amending the list of Numbers and Classifications of Positions to add 1.0 FTE Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited-Term Project) for February 1, 2026 to May 15, 2028; and Approve Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $58,702 in unanticipated State Grant Revenue offset by Salaries and Benefits (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Public Defender recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Affirm acceptance of the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD), Expanded Public Defense Services (Holistic Defense) Grant of $440,601 for February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028;
2. Adopt a resolution amending the list of Numbers and Classifications of Positions to add 1.0 FTE Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited-Term Project) for February 1, 2026 to May 15, 2028; and
3. Approve Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $58,702 in unanticipated State Grant Revenue offset by Salaries and Benefits. (4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY:
The 2025-2026 State Budget Act (SB 102) appropriated funding to support the expansion of public defense services, specifically holistic defense. $14,250,000 is available for direct grant awards. Holistic defense is a client-centered approach to public defense that addresses client needs beyond their immediate criminal case, including drivers into the criminal legal system and collateral consequences of legal system involvement.
The Public Defender’s successful application (Attachment B), which the Board approved submission of on October 7, 2025, requested funding to hire a 1.0 FTE Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited Term - Project) (“LMHC”) to service the clients of both the Public Defender and the Alternate Public Defender’s Offices. The LMHC will serve as a Mitigation Specialist for clients with mental health and substance use challenges. As a Mitigation Specialist, the LMHC will conduct evaluations and recommend treatment plans with the goal of getting clients into treatment instead of incarceration.
The Public Defender is requesting to amend the List of Numbers and Classifications of Positions to add 1.0 FTE Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited Term - Project) position from February 1, 2026 to May 15, 2028.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Public Defender’s requested increase in a 1.0 FTE Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited Term - Project) position from February 1, 2026 to May 15, 2028 is entirely offset by available funding from the OSPD Grant. Therefore, approval of the recommended position will have no financial impact on the County General Fund. The associated Appropriation Transfer Request increases Grant Revenue to offset the FY2025/26 Public Defender’s Salary and Benefit costs for this position. Both Grant Revenue and associated Salary and Benefit costs will be included in the FY2026/27 Requested Budget.
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The State created the Expanded Public Defense Grant Program to encourage holistic defense in public defender offices. Holistic defense is a client-centered approach to public defense that addresses client needs beyond their immediate criminal case, including drivers into the criminal legal system and collateral consequences of legal system involvement. It generally relies on multi-disciplinary teams. Holistic defense programs benefit entire communities by connecting clients to supportive services that address the root causes of system involvement. Research demonstrates the strong public safety benefits of such an approach. Multiple studies document that steady income, stable housing, and access to services drastically reduce crime and make our communities safer.
The grant period begins February 1, 2026. Services will be provided through May 15, 2028 and all grant funds expire on June 1, 2028.
The Solano County Public Defender’s application “Expanding Mitigation Services to Solano County Public & Alternate Defender Clients” (Attachment B) focused on increasing access to mitigation services for the clients of both the Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender. Mitigation specialists are members of the defense team that focus on sentencing advocacy to reduce incarceration and increase opportunities for successful re-entry. The Board of Supervisors approved submission of this application at its meeting on October 7, 2025.
Following a competitive grant application process, Solano County received a Grant Award Letter (Attachment C) on December 16, 2025, that it would receive an award allocation of $440,601 from OSPD for the period of February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028. The Board authorized the County Administrator to sign the grant award agreements and any associated documents, amendments, operational contracts, or reimbursement claims at its October 7, 2025 board meeting; therefore, the County Administrator signed the award agreement and the Public Defender submitted it to the State by the January 2, 2026 deadline.
The Public Defender will receive funding for a Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (Limited Term - Project) to conduct psychosocial assessments, individualized treatment plans, and sentencing recommendations for clients. This will provide expanded opportunities for clients to receive diversion and/or treatment in lieu of incarceration. The Public Defender is requesting an effective date of February 1, 2026 but anticipates filling the position by approximately April 1, 2026. The grant funds two years of salary and benefits and all work must be completed by May 15, 2028.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to affirm participation in this grant program; however, this alternative is not recommended as nonparticipation will result in the loss of $440,601 in grant funding that would be used to expand services to clients of the Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender’s Offices with substance use and mental health disorders.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrator’s Office has reviewed this submittal and assisted with the grant application. Human Resources has reviewed this submittal.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION