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Adopt a resolution accepting a grant award from the California Highway Patrol, Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program in the amount of $71,318 to continue an educational campaign directed toward high school students, for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; Authorize the District Attorney, with County Counsel concurrence, to sign and submit all grant documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the grant scope within the current award amount; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $71,318 in unanticipated State Grant Revenue offset by grant related expenditures (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The District Attorney’s Office recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1) Adopt a resolution accepting a grant award from the California Highway Patrol, Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program in the amount of $71,318 to continue an educational campaign directed toward high school students, for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026;
2) Authorize the District Attorney, with County Counsel concurrence, to sign and submit all grant documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the grant scope within the current award amount; and
3) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $71,318 in unanticipated State Grant Revenue offset by grant related expenditures. (4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY:
On August 6, 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution accepting a grant award from the California Highway Patrol, Cannabis Tax Grant Fund Program (CHP) in the amount of $145,199 for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This grant would allow the District Attorney (DA) to create an educational campaign directed toward high school students that increases knowledge and awareness of the inherent dangerousness of the consumption of controlled substances which are contributing factors to impaired driving. On June 13, 2025 the DA was approved for an additional $71,318 to continue this educational campaign.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Acceptance of the grant award has no General Fund cost. The $71,318 grant award will be utilized to develop content and messaging for school assemblies, funding for promotion of public safety announcements on the radio and social media, and educational materials reminding students of the dangers of driving while impaired. An Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) is required to recognize the grant revenue offset by the grant expenditures.
DISCUSSION:
The District Attorney’s Office was awarded $149,199 from the California Highway Patrol, Cannabis Tax Grant Fund Program (CHP) for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 to create an educational campaign directed toward high school students that increases knowledge and awareness of the inherent dangerousness of the consumption of controlled substances which are contributing factors to impaired driving.
This project focused on the creation of an outreach program for Solano County high schools where the department coordinates and facilitates in-school assemblies and access to increased information about impaired driving, illegal and legal controlled substances and the fentanyl epidemic targeting today’s youth. The DA’s Office also created the slogan “Be Smart, Be Sober, Be Safe”, developed a video that shows the impacts of driving while impaired, created educational materials promoting safe driving, and created a website with information on the risks of driving while impaired and resources on safe driving.
During the grant performance period the District Attorney’s Office contacted school districts and high schools throughout Solano County seeking to book dates for assemblies and presentations. Assemblies were held at 12 high schools in FY2024/25:
• Maine Prairie High School (Dixon) on 10/29/24
• Early College High School (Fairfield) on 11/1/24
• John Finney High School (Vallejo) on 11/4/24
• Vacaville Christian School on 11/20/24
• Rodriguez High School (Fairfield) on 12/6/24
• Heritage Peak Charter School (Vacaville) on 2/27/25
• Dixon High School on 3/6/25
• Kairos Luminary Academy Vacaville on 3/27/25
• Sierra School of Solano County (Fairfield) on 4/2/25
• Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy (Vacaville) on 4/16/25
• Liberty High School (Benicia) on 4/23/25
• North Hills Christian School (Vallejo) on 4/30/25
Death and injury due to substance abuse and impaired driving is both tragic and preventable. Solano County is actively working to increase awareness in order to reduce the number of deaths caused by impaired driving, substance abuse, and the unknowing consumption of fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death in this country for young people and so the Solano County District Attorney’s Office is engaged in a cooperative effort with justice partners and the schools to increase education about this dangerous behavior.
The CHP partners with local agencies of the state to address California’s highway safety needs using California Cannabis Tax Grant program funds. On June 13, 2025, the DA received notification that the Solano County District Attorney’s Office would receive $71,318 California Cannabis Tax grant award administered by the CHP to continue an educational campaign directed toward high school students that increases knowledge and awareness of the inherent dangerousness of the consumption of controlled substances which are contributing factors to impaired driving. For this grant award the District Attorney’s Office seeks to hold assemblies at high schools that did not get a presentation in FY2024/25 while also presenting at schools that requested another assembly in FY2025/26.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to not accept this grant. This is not recommended as this funding will allow the District Attorney’s Office to promote awareness of the dangers of impaired driving to high school students.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDAT